Around the State

Posted: 8/31/07

Around the State

• Donald Forrester has been named vice president for programs and services for Children at Heart Ministries, an agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He previously was executive director of STARRY, Children at Heart’s foster care, counseling and emergency shelter ministry, based in Round Rock. He also has been pastor of Henly Church in Henly 27 years.

• Dallas Baptist University has announced the creation of the Piper Endowed Chair of Missions. The chair is made possible by a challenge grant from Paul and Shirley Piper through the Piper family’s Christ is Our Salvation Foundation. The foundation has pledged $100,000 per year for the next five years if the university raises $500,000 over the next five years for this endowed chair. In addition, the foundation has given a $200,000 grant for ministerial student scholarships in the Cook Graduate School of Leadership.

• Wayland University presented degrees to 24 students in its first group to graduate from the master of arts in counseling program started two years ago. The program now boasts 150 students.

• Buckner Children and Family Services has announced changes to its executive leadership team. Victor Upton has been named vice president of missions resource. Randy Daniels has been promoted to vice president of global initiatives. Felipe Garza has been tapped as vice president for ministry and missions. Melissa Opheim now is director of strategic planning.

• Baylor University conferred degrees on nearly 500 graduates during summer commencement exercises and presented two special awards. The Abner V. McCall Humanitarian Award was presented to Texas Baptist Men, marking the first time the award has been presented to an organization. U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater was presented the Price Daniel Distinguished Public Service Award.

• Several changes have been announced to the organizational structure of Howard Payne University. Donnie Auvenshine, vice president for academic affairs the last five years, has been named dean and a professor in the school of Christian studies. Justin Murphy has been appointed acting dean of the school of humanities. Gary Gramling has been named director of the graduate program in youth ministry, which he has served in an interim capacity.

• New faculty at Hardin-Simmons University include Melanie Bullock, associate professor of counseling and human development; Peggy Dean Johndrow, assistant professor of nursing; Edward Sim, associate professor of information systems; Steven Stogsdill, assistant professor of communications; Rodney Taylor, assistant professor of theology; and Carol Woodfin, associate professor of history.

• Vivian Camacho has been named director of alumni relations at Houston Baptist University.

Anniversaries

• First Church in Byers, 100th, Sept. 8-9. Festivities begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday with breakfast and fellowship. A musical program and ice cream social will be held in the afternoon. Sunday will begin with services at 9:45 a.m. and continue through a lunch and afternoon service. Former pastors and staff are expected to attend. For more information, call (940) 524-3248. Ken Johanon is pastor.

• First Church in North Zulch, 100th, Sept. 15-16. A barbecue will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, with services at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday will have a 12:30 p.m. meal, with services at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. David Peterson is pastor.

• Parkway Church in Houston, 30th, Sept. 30. The morning worship service will be followed by a lunch and an afternoon service of music and worship. Nick Van is interim pastor.

• First Church in Lake Worth, 75th, Sept. 30. George Dixon will be the keynote speaker in the morning service. A history room with photos recalling the church’s history also will be available. Tim Dahl is pastor.

Retiring

• Lanny Allen, as minister of music at First Church in Amarillo, Aug. 12. He served the church 28 years, and has been in ministry 47 years. He previoustly served at First churches in Lamesa and San Antonio.

Deaths

• Roy Lambert, 87, June 26 in Fort Worth. A graduate of Howard Payne University, he was pastor of churches in Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, including South Fort Worth Church in Fort Worth and First Church in Santa Rosa. He served with the Baptist General Convention of Texas as director of direct missions five years, and with Golden Triangle Association 15 years, retiring in 1985. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Bess; sons, Joe and Nelson; daughters, Jeanie Williamson and Maritia Blundell; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

• Billie Lou Tone, July 31 in San Antonio. She was the wife of Pastor Gene Tone 53 years. He is presently pastor of Cibolo Valley Church in Cibolo. She was a Sunday school teacher and choir member, and taught sign language and many church training courses. She had developed a homebound ministry at Cibolo Valley. She worked 20 years as a social worker for the Texas Department of Human Services. She is survived by her husband; daughters, Candy Powell, Melody Bamburg and Chere Tone; son, Timothy; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

• Gene Shelburne, 82, Aug. 19 in Midland. A Hardin-Simmons University graduate, he owned and operated City Transfer and Storage in Midland 50 years. He was a past president of the both the Lion’s Club and the Midland chapter of Gideons International. He was a charter member of Crestview Church in Midland, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school director and teacher, and as a member of every pastor search committee in the church’s 53-year history. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Cherie. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruth; sons, Paul, Richard and Kevin; sisters, Dorothy Pattison, Faye Kerr and Lois Wallace; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Events

• Mimosa Lane Church in Mesquite will hold a benefit car and bike show to benefit the Texas Baptist Men disaster relief fund Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A craft fair also be held. For more information, call (972) 270-4888. Rocky Pope is pastor.

• Meadowbrook Church in Robinson will hold a commissioning service for True Course Ministries Sept. 9. Waco Regional Baptist Network Executive Director David Hardage will attend, as will Ron Cook, director of the doctor of ministry program at Truett Seminary. Michael Godfrey is executive director of True Course Ministries, which seeks to develop mentoring relationships between pastors. Cary Killough is pastor.

• Acton Church in Acton will celebrate the completion of renovations and the opening of a new sanctuary with a dedication service Sept. 23 at 10:15 a.m. A catered meal will follow the service. Glenn Ward is pastor.

Ordained

• David Hollowell, Richard Rutherford and Miles Tucker as deacons at First Church in Jefferson.

• Lawrence Maynard and Betty Law as deacons at Gambrell Street Church in Fort Worth as deacons.

Revivals

• First Church, North Zulch; Sept. 15-16; evangelist, Steven Smith; music, Russell Welch; pastor, David Peterson.

• Calvary Church, Cuero; Sept. 16-19; evangelist, David Parks; pastor, Bill Gleason.