Around the State

Posted: 10/12/07

Baptist Child & Family Services recently formally dedicated its South Texas Center, located in San Antonio. The center clusters together a wide range of independent family and child services. Its centerpiece is the AT&T building, named for the organization that gave $1.75 million to seed the $10 million fund-raising effort needed to complete the project. The South Texas Center offers office space to agencies ministering to children and families at about half the rate of comparable buildings in the area. Tenants include agencies that deal with family violence, alcohol and drug abuse, health issues and education. Baptist General Convention of Texas staff also are housed in the facility.

Around the State

• Dallas Baptist University has announced several additions to its faculty. They include Deborah Balyeat, assistant professor of Spanish; Ron Harris, assistant professor of communication; Jim Lemons, assistant professor of biblical studies and leadership; Joanne Morgan, assistant professor of communication; David Notgrass, assistant professor of management; and Tommy Sanders, assistant professor of Christian education and childhood ministry.

• Hal Cornish has been elected chairman of the board of trustees of East Texas Baptist University. David Massey, pastor of First Church in Hallsville, is vice chair, and Joy Howell is secretary.

• Clint Davis, pastor of First Church in Mount Pleasant and then-chairman of the East Texas Baptist University board of trustees, prays for ETBU President Bob Riley and his wife, Gayle, at the school’s 90th convocation service last month. The school’s trustees, faculty, staff and friends presented the Rileys with a 15-day cruise to Hawaii. The gift was in honor of Riley’s 15 years of service to the university.< • Laity Lodge has announced a new leadership team. Mark Roberts has been named senior director and scholar-in-residence, and Steven Purcell is director. The Laity Lodge is a Christian ecumenical retreat center located in the Texas Hill Country. It integrates theology and Scripture with a strong emphasis on artistic expression and emotional health as an avenue for spiritual renewal. • Roger Paynter, pastor of First Church in Austin, has been named the recipient of the Durstan McDonald Teaching Award at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. Paynter has taught at the school since 2000. • Houston Baptist University has established of an honors college. The program will provide students a general-education core curriculum in the liberal arts, social sciences and natural sciences. Anniversaries

• Don Parks, 20th, as minister of music and senior adults at Central Church in Marshall, Sept. 16.

• Trey Turner, fifth, as pastor of Canyon Creek Church in Temple, Sept. 22.

• Tony VanDerWilt, fifth, as minister of youth at First Baptist Church in Paris, Oct. 1.

• Cari Nix, fifth, as children’s coordinator at Longbranch Community Church in Midlothian, Oct. 1.

• First Church in Joshua, 125th, Oct. 7. Pastor Emeritus David Hampton will preach at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. An outdoor barbecue will follow at Benson Ranch. For more information, call (817) 558-8585. Jeremy Green is pastor.

• Stan McNutt, 15th, as pastor of Liberty Lighthouse in Sherman, Oct. 11.

• Emmanuel Church in Weatherford, 50th, Oct. 20-21. There will be a fellowship time Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Former Pastor Bob Farrell will preach in the Sunday morning service. A catered meal and an afternoon program will follow at Texas Star. Call (817) 594-3566 for more information. Steve McCaslin is pastor.

• Wendyl Glenn, 10th, as pastor of First Church in Sherwood Shores, Oct. 26.

• Comunidad Casa del Alfarero in Houston, 35th, Oct. 27. Guest speakers will be Cindy and Dario Parish and Antonio Zuno. For more information, call (281) 459-1245. Leopoldo Mata is pastor.

• First Church in Ingleside, 100th, Oct. 28. A meal will follow the morning service. Forrest Smith is interim pastor.

Events

• Yorktown Church in Corpus Christi will hold its global impact celebration Oct. 18-21. Fifteen missionaries from nine countries will share their stories at various events. The weekend will culminate with Randy Newberry, mobilization specialist with the International Mission Board speaking at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The theme of the event is “From the Harvest to the Harvest.” Reservations are required for the Friday night banquet, sponsored in part by Outback Steakhouse. To make reservations or for more information, call (361) 993-9675 or visit yorktownbaptist.org.

• First Church in Midland will hold its annual classic car show Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors also will be entertained by an assortment of live music from jazz to mariachi. Participants also will be invited to vote for the People’s Choice Award. The event will include jumpers and a mini race course for children. Drawings for prizes will be held. For more information, call (432) 683-0612. Gary Dyer is pastor.

• Reliance Church in Bryan will celebrate 132 years of service to the community with homecoming services Oct. 21. The church is striving to have 132 people in attendance. Kenneth Kelly will preach in the morning service, and the Reliance Quartet will provide Southern gospel music. A barbecue lunch will follow. Ray Marshall is pastor.

• “Beyond the Grave,” a dramatic performance of the consequences of never accepting Christ as Savior, will be presented Oct. 27-29 at First Church in Wink. For reservations or more information, call (432) 527-3831. Richard Ray is pastor.

• The Singing Men of Texas will present a concert Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at Calvary Church of Oak Cliff in Dallas. The 75-minute concert is free, but an offering will be taken to help the group record a new CD. Ted Kiser is pastor.

Licensed

• Aaron Connor to the ministry at Waller Church in Waller.

Ordained

• Joshua Broughton to the ministry at First Church in Center.

• Robert Dailey to the ministry at Pearl Church in Gatesville.

• Jesse Latham to the ministry at Mount Carmel Church in Tioga.

• Donald McCaig to the ministry at Waller Church in Waller.

• Garry Stephens as a deacon at First Church in Yancey.

• Alice Church, Jennifer Davis, Julie Griffin and John Gilbert as deacons at Broadway Church in Fort Worth.

• Rick Copp and Larry Crouch as deacons at Live Oak Church in Gatesville.

• Donald Mauney and Gary Mauney as deacons at First church in Gorman.

• Ronnie Blair and Randy Ratliff as deacons at Immanuel Church in Paris.

• Mark Powell, James McGwier and William Buckner as deacons at Canyon Creek Church in Temple.

Revivals

• Highland Lakes Church, Kingsland; Oct. 21-25; evangelist, Paul Cherry; music, The Cherry Family; pastor, Ron Langley.

• First Church, Devers; Oct. 21-25; evangelist, Frank Aragon Jr.; music, His Band; pastor, Harry McDaniel.

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