Texas Tidbits

Posted: 10/27/06

Texas Tidbits

Finalists chosen for BGCT Battle of the Bands. Twelve Texas Baptist performing groups have been selected as finalists for the Battle of the Bands at the Dallas Convention Center during the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ Weekend Fest Nov. 11-12. The bands and their sponsors are Beyond Riches, Georgetown Baptist Church in Pottsboro; The Flipside, First Baptist Church in Irving; GP1, Primera Baptist Church in Fort Worth; Iconoclast, Casa View Baptist Church in Dallas; Inspired by Eden, South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena; Jonathan Stege Band, First Baptist Church in Lubbock; Look to the Sky, North Pointe Baptist Church in Hurst; Luminaria Rock, Coastal Bend Fellowship in Kingsville; Nameless, Central Baptist Church in Buna; The Opera Stage, Primera Iglesia Bautista in Dallas; 30 Coin Ransom, Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio; and Trae Castles Band, Connect Church in Arlington. The grand-prize winner will receive studio recording time and a spot on YEC fx band line-up in July 2007.

Baylor regents OK tuition increase. At their October meeting, Baylor University’s board of regents authorized an 8 percent tuition increase—raising the annual cost to $22,200 for a student taking 12 hours or more per semester in 2007-2008. The general student fee will increase 6.07 percent to $2,270 for next year. Room and board rates for undergraduates will increase by 5.02 percent and 3.61 percent, respectively. In total, a freshman entering Baylor in fall 2007 will pay 6.98 percent more in tuition, fees, room and board than a freshman entering this year. Tuition for graduate students will increase by 7.93 percent. Truett Seminary students will experience a 7.96 percent increase. Law students in fall 2007 will see a 7.52 percent increase.

Child care offered for BGCT. Free child care will be provided as a service for out-of-town messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting Nov. 13-14 in Dallas. Care for young children—ages two months through 10 years—will be offered in Room D227 at the Dallas Convention Center. MBF Agency (Mom’s Best Friend) will provide this service and is licensed by the state of Texas. All “nannies” have passed certification courses and criminal background checks and are state certified. The service will be offered Nov. 13 from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. and Nov. 14 from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Advance reservations are required. Children will receive breakfast on both days, and lunch and dinner Nov. 13. Snacks and beverages will be available at all times. For registration information, go to www.bgct.org/annual meeting, under “General Information.” To receive forms via e-mail, contact Patti Kriss at patti.kriss@bgct.org or call (214) 828-5232.

Hispanic convocation slated. The sixth annual Hispanic Baptist Convocation of the Laity will be held at Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center, near Spicewood, Oct. 27-28. Key speakers will be Baldemar Borrego, president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas; Andre Punch, congregational strategists director with the Baptist General Convention of Texas; Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio; Alfonso Flores, pastor of First Mexican Baptist Church in San Antonio; and E.B. Brooks, retired director of the BGCT Church Missions & Evangelism Section. Charles Wade, executive director of the BGCT, and Leo Smith, executive director of Texas Baptist Men, will be honored at a Double Diamond Ceremony. Eve Rodriguez, founder of the Ministers’ Wives Conference of the Hispanic Baptist Convention, will be honored at a ceremony led by conference President Delia Vela of Westway Baptist Church in El Paso.