Texas Tidbits

Posted: 8/04/06

BGCT contributes to relief in Middle East. The Baptist General Convention of Texas has sent $20,000 to Baptist World Aid to help Israeli and Lebanese Baptists minister to people affected by armed conflict in the region. Texas Baptists can continue to support disaster response ministries by sending funds to BGCT Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 159007, Dallas 75315.

Wayland names associate VP. Elane Seebo, dean of Wayland Baptist University’s Wichita Falls campus, has been named associate vice president of external campuses—a new position at the university. Seebo will be responsible for overseeing operations on the 13 external campuses in the Wayland system with their combined enrollment of about 5,000 students. Seebo is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, holds master’s degrees from Texas Tech University and Pepperdine University and earned a doctorate from the University of North Texas.

Baylor honors Samford dean. Baylor University’s Center for Christian Music Studies presented its award for exemplary leadership in church music to Milburn Price, dean of the School of Performing Arts at Samford University. Price served on the music faculty at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., from 1967 to 1981, with nine of those years as chair of the department of music, and dean of the School of Church Music at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., from 1981 to 1993.

Restorative Justice Ministries Network headquarters burns. In an apparent arson, facilities of the Restorative Justice Ministries Network in Huntsville burned Aug. 2. The ministry lost five computers, at least five printers, a copier, its phones and office equipment. However, most of the data crucial to the ministry is accessible. Restorative Justice Ministries Network helps connect recently released ex-offenders to churches and ministries in their hometowns. The ministry, which was launched by the Baptist General Convention of Texas and is partially supported by the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions, has moved into the facilities of First Baptist Church of Huntsville. Anita Parrish, Restorative Justice Ministries Network ministry assistant, said funds donated by Texas Baptists will be used to purchase computers, phones, printers and other office supplies. Funds can be sent to Restorative Justice Ministries Network, 1229 Avenue J, Huntsville 77340.

DBU Patriots move into new clubhouse. The Dallas Baptist University baseball team, the Patriots, recently moved into the new Harold and Mildred Sadler Patriot Clubhouse, made possible by a $250,000 pledge from the Sadlers of Henderson. Raul and Jymme Gomez of Colleyville also contributed $100,000 for the new clubhouse. Doug Tabor of Dallas, an executive at global freight distributor Team Worldwide, gave a $50,000 personal donation, along with $25,000 from Team Worldwide/Worldwide Freight Forwarders.

Foundation issues challenge grant to UMHB. The Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla., has issued a $500,000 challenge grant to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The grant will move the university into a final phase of fundraising for the Paul and Jane Meyer Christian Studies Center. Construction of the $4.1 million center will begin when all funds have been raised for the project. Under the terms of the challenge grant, the university will need to secure all funds needed for the center by July 2007.

Correction: The cover story in the July 24 print edition of the Baptist Standard, “AIDS in Africa,” carried an incorrect byline. Scott Collins of Buckner Benevolences wrote the article. News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.