Around the State_32105

Posted: 3/18/05

Around the State

A special Spring Shoe Box Collection has been organized by Samaritan's Purse for children affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami. The boxes should be mailed by April 4 to P.O. Box 3000, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C. 28607. For more information, visit www.samaritanspurse.org or call (800) 442-9120.

Danny Cullins, a 1999 graduate of Howard Payne University and pastor to students at Wallace Memorial Church in Knoxville, Tenn., is the speaker for HPU's “Resurrection Week” March 21-23. The Justin Cofield Band will lead music. Special services are held at the school each year to prepare students and faculty for Easter.

Trustees of Hardin-Sim-mons University have ap-proved 12 faculty members for tenure and 16 for promotions in rank. Tenure was recommended for Mark Beasley, Mary Christopher, J.L. Cole, Lori Copeland, Diana Flana-gan, Travis Frampton, Robert Friberg, Tido Janssen, Sue Lucas, Bernard Scherr, Judy Shipley and Roy Vogtsberger. Approved for promotion to assistant professor were Hye-Jean Choi, Tiffany Fink and Peter Isaacson. Promoted to associate professor were Kecia Ashford, Lynnette Chambers, Mary Christopher, Ray Galloway, John Hill, Nancy Kucinski, Michael Monhollon and Charles Waits. Approved for promotion to professor were Herbert Grover, Randall Maurer, Susan Pigott, Murl Sickbert and Doug Thomas. Julian Bridges and Thomas Moritz were approved for faculty emeritus status.

Three new members have joined the board of trustees at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Gary Heavin is founder and CEO of Curves Inter-national, the largest fitness franchise in the world. He is a member of Highland Church in Waco. John Messer, a lawyer, is a member of First Church in Belton. Mary Priest, who previously was a student at UMHB, is a member of First Church in Salado.

Houston Baptist Univer-sity has selected its campus Piper Professor honorees. The Piper Foundation gives 15 awards annually to professors across the state for their dedication to the teaching profession and their outstanding academic, scientific and scholarly achievement. HBU nominees are Brenda Whaley, associate professor of biology; Martha Maddox, assistant professor of psychology; Debra Berry, associate professor in nursing; David Capes, professor of Christianity and philosophy; and Phaedon Papadopoulos, professor of management. Whaley will represent HBU in the statewide selection process.

First Baptist Church in Aspermont presented Big Country Baptist Assembly with a $500 debt-retirement donation to assist in the Lueders camp's efforts of retiring a $200,000 debt. Making the presentation were church Treasurer Skip Lipham and Pastor Jason Covington, left and center, to camp representative Richard McAdams. Since entering into a debt-retirement program, the camp has reduced its debt by almost half. Several churches in Double Mountain Association have contributed to the effort.

Jean Humphreys, assistant professor of sociology, has been named faculty member of the year at Dallas Baptist University. Melissa Newman, assistant professor of communication, has been selected as the school's adviser of the year.

Bob Fuston, retired Baptist General Convention of Texas consultant with the Bible Study/Discipleship Center, was presented the Distin-guished Leadership Award by the Baptist Association of Christian Educators.

Sandy Biles has been endorsed by the North American Mission Board and is now serving as the chaplain at Plane State Women's Prison in Dayton. She is a retired school teacher and wife of Frank Biles, pastor of Eastside Church in Baytown.

The Fellowship of Baptist World Ministries elected officers during the recent trustee meeting of the International Mission Board. Elected were Tom Cox of Mountainburg, Ark., president; Danny Souder of Fort Worth, vice president; Arnold Tanner of Lubbock, secretary/treasurer; Gary Baird of Lubbock, pastor adviser; and Cheryl Wolfinger of Acworth, Ga., and Rodney Cavett of Lewisville as at-large members. The organization was formed 16 years ago by independent missions groups that have been approved by the IMB to work in partnership missions around the world.

Maurice McLeroy, 25th, as pastor of First Church in Raymondville, Feb. 27.

Hoyt Hunnicutt, 15th, as pastor of Elm Grove Church in Waelder, March 4.

Galilee Church in San Angelo, 45th, March 4-6. Floyd Crider is pastor.

Bob Becker, 20th, as music minister at Green's Creek Church in Dublin, March 20.

Belmore Church in San Angelo, 50th, April 3. Activities will begin at 9:15 a.m. with a time of welcome and fellowship. A noon meal will follow the morning worship service. An anniversary program at 2 p.m. will conclude the festivities.

Wildewood Church in Spring, 30th, April 3. A cake and punch reception will be held. George Watson is pastor.

First Church in Junction, 125th, April 4. Morris Cook is pastor.

Henry Stovall, 10th, as pastor of Trinity Church in Bryan.

Death

Gordon James, 66, March 8 in Dallas. He was pastor of churches in Dallas, Hutto, Abilene, Frankston and Waxa-hachie. He is perhaps best known as the author of Innerancy and the Southern Baptist Convention. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Emily Ann. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Mary Jo; son, Jonathan; daughter, Julie Punjak; brother, Gerald; and four grandchildren.

Retiring

Glenn Reece as pastor of Fairview Church in Levelland, Dec. 31. He had served the church since 1988. He was in the ministry 43 years.

Elbert White as pastor of Parkway Church in Houston, Feb 28. He served the church five years and was in the ministry as either a pastor or missionary more than 40 years. He plans to continue in supply or interim ministries. He and his wife, Patty, will live in Katy.

Events

First Church in Temple's Great Commission Gallery will exhibit "Looking Up" by Sandy Dusek of Moody and Rhea Brown of Killeen March 31-Aug. 29. A reception with the artists will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 31. Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. It is free and open to the public. Martin Knox is pastor.

The choir and orchestra of Gambrell Street Church in Fort Worth will present “The Seven Last Words of Christ” Easter Sunday at 6 p.m. The program features Jack Cold-iron, guest baritone soloist,and Michael Plantz, guest organist. The concert is presented without charge. Clyde Glaz-ener is pastor.

Revivals

First Church, Mobeetie; March 20-22; evangelist, Pepper Puryear; music, Doug McQueen; pastor, Harvey Patterson.

First Church, Paris; April 3-6; evangelist, Frank Harber; music, Don Blackley; pastor, Randall Perry.