Around the State

Posted: 12/14/07

Around the State

• The School of Christian Studies at East Texas Baptist University will sponsor a trip to Greece next summer. The trip will focus on locations associated with the Apostle Paul and his ministry. The trip departs May 30 and returns June 10 after a final evening in Vienna, Austria. A $500 deposit is due Feb. 1. For more information, call (903) 923-2182.

• William Brackney was the keynote speaker for Dallas Baptist Univeristy’s Gallup Lecture. He addressed issues of Baptist identity and tradition within the academic world.

• Howard Payne University bestowed two honorary degrees during Dec. 15 commencement ceremonies. James Guenther and Cynthia Clawson each received honorary doctor of humanities degrees. Guenther has served as general counsel of the Southern Baptist Convention more than 40 years. An alumnus of HPU, Clawson has been a Christian recording artist more than four decades and is a member of the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Seventy-two undergraduate degrees also were awarded.

• Nearly 800 Baylor University students expected to participate in commencement exercises Dec. 15. During the ceremony, the Abner V. McCall Religious Liberty Award was to be presented to U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards.

• The Collegian, Houston Baptist University’s student newspaper, has received an All-American rating from the Associated College Press—the seventh time the publication has received the designation. The staff also garnered seven Baptist Press Excellence in Journalism awards.

Anniversaries

• Dan Stephens, 10th, as minister of music and senior adults at First Church in Wimberley, Nov. 11.

• Lee Rickaway, 10th, as minister of education at First Church in Duncanville, Dec. 9.

• First Church in Mineral, 125th, Dec. 9. Joe Burke is pastor.

Event

• First Church in Alvin is planning homecoming activities for April 12. For more information, go to www.fbcgathering.com or contact Delane Hargrove at (281) 331-4827 or Billie White at (281) 585-6095.