Texas Tidbits

Posted: 3/16/07

Texas Tidbits

Board OKs changes to scholarship program. The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board approved an increase in the amount of money given to each 2007 recipient of the Mary Hill Davis Ethnic/Minority Scholarship. Each full-time student will receive $800 a semester, double what was offered in 2006. Members of ethnic and minority congregations affiliated with the BGCT who are planning to attend a BGCT-affiliated university can apply for the scholarship by April 15. More information about the scholarship and an online application can be found at www.bgct.org. The application and information also can be obtained by calling Tom Ruane or Amber Young at (888) 244-9400. The scholarship is provided by funds through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

Numbers add up for ETBU math scholarship. The Rutledge McClaran Mathematics Scholarship now honors the longtime mathematics professor and administrator at East Texas Baptist University. McClaran retired from full-time responsibilities last August, but he still is a part-time consultant at the university. He is an ETBU graduate and served on the faculty more than 41 years. He has been professor of mathematics, chair of the department of mathematics and computer science, academic dean, dean of instruction and dean of liberal arts. In 1989, he became the director of institutional planning, assessment and research. Gifts can be made to the McClaran Mathematics Scholarship by calling the ETBU office of institutional advancement at (903) 923-2070.

Gift enables Baylor to launch center. A $5 million donation by Gary Keller, chairman of Keller Williams Realty, will enable the marketing department in Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business to launch a real estate research center. The Keller Center will focus on factors that influence individual home buyers in their decisions, as well as marketing and management issues important to real estate agencies and small businesses.

HBU Guild creates Sloan Scholarship. The Guild of Houston Baptist University—a women’s service organization— has created the Robert B. Sloan Jr. Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to a career classroom teacher pursuing a graduate degree in education. It honors Sloan, who was inaugurated as HBU president Nov. 29, for his lifelong commitment to excellence in Christian higher education and the integration of faith and learning in the classroom as a scholar, teacher, author, theologian, pastor and university president. Before joining HBU, he served as professor, president and chancellor at Baylor University. He also has served as pastor and interim pastor at more than 20 churches throughout Texas and Oklahoma.

Hispanic Preaching Conference set at Truett. The 5th annual Hispanic Preaching Conference at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary will be held March 30-31. Mario Alberto Gonzalez, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in El Paso, will be the featured speaker. Other conference leaders include Baldemar Borrego, president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and pastor of Iglesia Nuevo Esperanza in Wichita Falls; Joel Weaver and Rady Roldan-Figueroa from Truett Seminary; Javier Elizondo from Baptist University of the Americas; Martin Ortega, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in Midland; Rolando Rodriguez, director of Hispanic ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas; Victor Rodriguez, pastor of South San Filadelfia in San Antonio; Leslie Gomez, minister of music from Dallas; and Rhoda Gonzales, a pastor’s wife from North Dallas Family Church. Cost is $10. For more information, call (254) 710-3755 or visit www.truettseminary.net.