Around the State

Posted: 8/19/05

Around the State

San Jacinto Baptist Association will present its third annual single adult conference Oct. 1 from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Northside Church in Baytown. Don Piper, author of the book 90 Minutes in Heaven, will be the speaker. The cost of $25 includes lunch and an autographed copy of the book. To register, call (281) 422-3604.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship endorsed 32 chaplains and pastoral counselors at its endorsement council meeting held in Grapevine. Texans receiving endorsement include Cherry Moore, chaplain with Hospice Brazos Valley in Bryan; Joseph Gross, chaplain with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Dallas; Mary Lewis, a CPE resident at Audie Murphy Veterans Memorial Hospital in San Antonio; and Cindy Goza, board certified chaplain for the Association of Professional Chaplains in Houston.

After 25 years as worship leader for Paisano Baptist Encampment, Ed Wittner has retired. Wittner's connection to the camp began in his youth. His parents, Robert and Lillie Wittner, lived on the grounds while his father was a pastor and director of missions for District 7, which included the Big Bend area. Nathan McBride, pastor of First Church in Lamesa, will begin his term as worship leader in 2006.

Dallas Baptist University awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees to 211 students at its summer commencement held Aug. 5. Keith Bruce, coordinator of institutional ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, was presented an honorary doctor of divinity degree during the ceremony.

Howard Payne Univer-sity's School of Business has been granted specialized accreditation of business degree programs by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education Board of Commissioners. HPU has been working toward this special accreditation seven years. It places the school among the top 30 percent of business programs in the nation, said Les Plagens, dean of the School of Business.

Shane Fuller, an East Texas Baptist University assistant professor of theater arts, has won a sketch-writing contest sponsored by the Christians in Theatre Arts organization. His sketch titled “Love for a Lifetime” was originally written for Life Point Church in Longview to complement a series on love preached by his pastor.

Houston Baptist Univer-sity has announced several faculty promotions. Dan Kram-lich has been named professor of music; Connie Michalos, professor of English; and Lilita Olano, professor of bilingual education. Promoted to the rank of associate professor are Jamie Johns, Christianity; Tom Kennedy, psychology; Martha Maddox, psychology; and Eric Van Caemelbecke, chemistry. Attaining the rank of assistant professor are Lisette Barton, nursing; and Alexis Knapp, management.

Austin Daniel, a senior music composition major at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, served as a student conductor for the Texas Choral Directors Association at its annual convention. Twelve collegiate conductors from across the state were selected to participate in the exercise which includes constructive coaching from reknown conductors.

First Metropolitan Church of Houston recently broke ground on a 43,000-square-foot sanctuary that will have a seating capacity of more than 1,500 people. The building campaign has followed the theme of “Taking Stake–For God, For Others, For Eternity.” John Ogletree Jr. is pastor.

Jana Allen, director of Baylor University's Executive MBA program in Dallas, has been elected to serve as the next chair of the Executive Council Board of Trustees for the Executive MBA Council. The council has more than 200 member colleges and universities worldwide that offer more than 300 programs in 25 countries. She will assume her role at the council's annual conference to be held Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Barcelona, Spain.

Dale Coln will retire as director of pediatric surgery at Baylor University Medical Center this month after 18 years of service. He will be honored at a celebration at the Texas Rangers baseball game Aug. 27. Tickets can be purchased at jcange@texas rangers.com.

Anniversaries

David Vernon, 10th, as pastor of First Church in Taft, Aug. 14.

Pamela Culbertson, fifth, as minister of youth at Gaston Oaks Church in Dallas, Aug. 15.

Wayne Watkins, fifth, as education minister at First Church in Rosenberg.

Harris Avenue Church in San Angelo, 65th, Sept. 11. Former pastors A.J. Kennemer and Earl Dunn will preach in the morning service, and the Sons of Light music group will perform. A brisket lunch will be served at noon. The afternoon program will feature music and former Pastor Travis Monday. Milton Tyler is interim pastor.

Crescent Park Church in Odessa, 50th, Sept. 16-18. Activities will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. with a meal to welcome former ministers. Saturday will feature a look at the church's past from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a music ministry reunion from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be no Sunday school the next morning, but a special service will begin at 10 a.m. Former Minister of Music Barry Owens will lead the music, and former Pastor C.B. Hogue will preach. A meal, with a cost of $5 for adults and $3 for children, will follow the service. Reservations are requested at (432) 366-4476. Wayne Shuffield is interim pastor.

Handley Church in Fort Worth, 100th, Sept. 17-18. A potluck dinner will be held Saturday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sunday's activities will

begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue through the afternoon. Robert Bennett is pastor.

Oak Crest Church in Midlothian, 20th, Sept. 25. A meal will follow the morning service, which will include former Youth and Associate Minister Bryan Richardson as guest preacher. The afternoon program will include old photographs, memorabilia, videos and guest speakers including Larry Johnson, director of missions for Ellis Association. Former staff members expected to attend include youth ministers Patrick Wilson and Paul Stohler, and Minister of Music Chris Wagner. Jerry Hall is pastor.

Retiring

T.J. Norvell, as pastor of Quietwood Church in Dallas. He served the church almost nine years and was in ministry 40 years. He is available for supply at (214) 381-7046.

Bill Ballou, as pastor for senior adults at First Church in Abilene, July 9. He had served the church nine years in that capacity. His ministry spanned 42 years as he served as minister of education at Travis Avenue Church in Fort Worth and First Church in Amarillo, as well as churches in Georgia and Mississippi.

Linda Dudley, as children's minister at First Church in Amarillo. She served the church 10 years.

Deaths

A.W. Blaine, 97, July 25 in Bonham. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Seminary, he was pastor of churches in Benjamin and Vera until 1941, when he was called to active duty as a military chaplain. After his time in the service, he was missionary of Palo Pinto Association before becoming pastor of First Church in Muleshoe from 1945 until 1954. He was pastor of North Park Church in Sherman from 1954 until his retirement in 1972. He moved to Collinsville and continued to serve on boards and committees of Grayson Association and Lake Lavon Baptist Encampment. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith, in 1995. He is survived by his son, Al; daughter, Barbara Thomas; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

David Wivagg, 61, Aug. 10 in Waco. He was professor of biology and director of undergraduate studies at Baylor University. He taught at Baylor from 1979 until his death. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca; daughter, Jennifer Wivagg; sons, Jonathan, Peter and Eric; brothers, Peter and Bob; stepson, Cody Cassell; step-daughter, Kelly Margot; and three grandchildren.

Clift Brannon Sr., 87, Aug. 11 in Longview. His life's pursuit was the conception, publication and distribution of the Soul Winner's New Testament, of which more than 5 million have been printed. Beginning his adult life as an attorney, he worked as a lay minister for 10 years before entering full-time evangelism in 1945. He served as vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, president of Texas Baptist Men and president of the Conference of Texas Evangelists. He was a deacon at First Church in Longview since 1946. Brannon witnessed to General Manuel Noriega in his prison cell after his arrest by U.S. authorities. He later baptized Noriega in the Federal Court House in Miami, Fla. He was preceded in death by his brothers, George, Wesley, Bill and Louis; and sisters, Polly Cross and Vera Robinson. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ruth; daughters, Beverly Brown and Madeline Jones; son, Clift Jr.; sisters, Mary Ellen Hall and Grace Betts; five grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Event

Northside Church in Victoria will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its school Sept. 18. Former teachers and alumni are invited to be recognized in the morning worship services. A reception will be held from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. For more information, call (361) 578-1568. Tim Williams is pastor.

Revival

First Church, Floydada; Aug. 27-31; evangelist, Homer Allison; music, Zechariah's Song; pastor, Anthony Sise-more.