2007 Archives
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Conclave speakers urge youth ministers to remain faithful to divine calling
Posted: 10/19/07
David Platt, pastor of the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., told youth ministers as long as they have the word of God and the Holy Spirit of God, they have all the tools necessary to make a difference in the lives of students. Conclave speakers urge youth ministers
to remain faithful to divine callingBy John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
ARLINGTON—Following God’s leadership in youth ministry can be difficult, but it’s well worth it, keynote speakers told participants at the Baptist General Convention of Texas Youth Ministry Conclave.
The time constraints, pressures, and ups and downs of youth ministry can cause burnout and push leaders to question if they should continue serving, said Ralph West, pastor of the Church Without Walls in Houston. But that comes with the territory.
10/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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BGCT presidential nominees discuss challenges, relationships
Posted: 10/19/07
BGCT presidential nominees
discuss challenges, relationshipsThe two announced nominees for president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas answered questions posed by the Baptist Standard.
Joy Fenner, executive director emeritus of Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas, and David Lowrie, pastor of First Baptist Church in Canyon, responded by e-mail to a list of questions submitted by the Standard.
Joy Fenner David Lowrie Fenner, a former missionary to Japan, was elected first vice president of the BGCT last year. She has been endorsed by leaders of Texas Baptists Committed, a political group created to protect the BGCT from the fundamentalist movement that gained control of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Steve Wells, pastor of South Main Baptist Church in Houston, will nominate Fenner, who led Texas WMU from 1981 to 2001.
10/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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DBU president hospitalized for leukemia
Posted: 10/18/07
DBU president hospitalized
with acute form of leukemiaDallas Baptist University President Gary Cook was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia during his annual physical Oct. 12 and immediately was hospitalized.
“AML is a form of leukemia which is very aggressive, and once someone is discovered with this disease, they are required to begin treatment immediately,” according to a statement posted on the DBU website.
Gary Cook “Unlike other forms of cancer, AML does not necessarily have stages associated with it, and it is still very early in the process to know what the overall diagnosis is. … Early test results seem to indicate that the particular form of AML that he has will respond well with treatment. Also, since Dr. Cook has remained in such good shape over the years, we are very optimistic about his treatment and recovery.”
Cook, 57, received a platelet transfusion Oct. 13 and began his first round of chemo-therapy the next day. He had a second chemotherapy treatment Oct. 16, and he was placed on oxygen. A third round of chemo-therapy was scheduled Oct. 18.
10/18/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Gunter resigns as BGCT chief operating officer
Posted: 10/18/07
Gunter resigns as BGCT
chief operating officerBy Ken Camp
Managing Editor
Ron Gunter, chief operating officer for the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the person most responsible for implementing the Executive Board staff reorganization over the last two years, has resigned, effective Nov. 30.
Gunter—a former foreign missionary—joined the BGCT Executive Board staff in 2002 as regional associate in the Houston area. In 2005, the associate executive director’s position was expanded to become chief operating officer, and Gunter was tapped for the position.
Ron Gunter 10/18/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Carolyn Porterfield resigns as Texas WMU chief
Posted: 10/17/07
Carolyn Porterfield
resigns as Texas WMU chiefBy Ferrell Foster
Texas Baptist Communications
DALLAS—Carolyn Porterfield announced her resignation as executive director-treasurer of the Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas in an Oct. 16 letter to the organization’s board of directors.
“I have come to realize that the skill sets required for the position that I now hold do not match well with my gifts and abilities,” Porterfield said in the letter. “It is time for me to step aside in order for the next leader to come who can most effectively lead this wonderful organization into her future.”
Carolyn Porterfield 10/17/2007 - By John Rutledge
