Around the State: UMHB and Belton church approve land swap

Twenty students, faculty and staff from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor participated in a two-week mission trip to England. UMHB Chaplain George Loutherback has organized the annual trip since its inception 11 years ago.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor trustees and members of First Baptist Church in Belton approved a property exchange between the university and the church. UMHB owns about 62 acres at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and Loop 121, while First Baptist owns about 10 acres one block from the south edge of the UMHB campus. University administrators determined growth toward the south, rather than to the west, would provide UMHB better opportunities for a unified campus. At the same time, First Baptist was seeking a location to build an expanded sanctuary and educational buildings. First Baptist will acquire 35 acres of the 62 acres that belongs to UMHB, and the university will acquire the 10-plus acres that belongs to the church. UMHB also will provide compensation to the church and allow the congregation to continue using its current facilities for up to 10 years during the construction at the church’s new location. Andy Davis is senior pastor at First Baptist in Belton.

Howard Payne University received $25,000 in scholarship funds from TexasBank through the James and Dorothy Doss Foundation. The community bank also contributed to Tarleton State University and Texas State Technical College Regents Circle and provided additional scholarships to students graduating from high schools in Brown, Comanche, Eastland and Erath counties. “HPU is thankful for community partners like TexasBank,” said Randy Yeakley, vice president for development at Howard Payne. “The institution’s investment in HPU students and other students throughout the community and area will pay dividends for many years to come.”

Jeremy Singleton, a Dallas Baptist University alumnus and adjunct professor who served 11 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, was the featured speaker at DBU’s annual Memorial Day service, May 28. Singleton received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in 2009, 2012 and 2014. During his time in the Marine Corps, he served as an information systems security officer, information assurance officer and data technician. He now works for Rady Children’s Hospital, based in San Diego, Calif., as an information security engineer and lives in The Colony. He earned his both his undergraduate degree in information systems and his master’s degree in management at DBU

Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary will offer its inaugural Faith and Sport Institute on the Baylor campus June 17-24. The institute will provide about 50 junior and senior high school athletes opportunities for spiritual training and knowledge designed to help them deepen integrity and leadership while developing convictions and character that help to cultivate greatness both in sports and in life, organizers explained. John White is faculty director and Cindy White is program director for the institute. Prior to the eight-day experience for student athletes, a free seminar offered by the Stanford University-based Positive Coaches Alliance will be scheduled at 10 a.m. June 16 at Truett Seminary.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor named Michael Burns as dean of students. He holds an undergraduate degree in religion from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of Education in Student Affairs degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is working toward a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies with an emphasis in higher education from Oklahoma State University, where he served most recently as director of residential life and housing. He worked previously at OBU, leading residential life, housing and student activities.

Churches within 20 North Texas counties, along with other nonprofit organizations and ministries, can register as potential beneficiaries of North Texas Giving Day. Communities Foundation of Texas sponsors the online fund-raising event, scheduled for Sept. 20 this year. Last year, North Texas Giving Day raised $39 million through more than 137,000 gifts benefiting 2,723 nonprofits. The deadline to register is Aug. 15. For more information or to register, click here.

Retirement

First Baptist Church in Slaton will recognize Cleve and Sharon Kerby at a reception from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 24 in the cafeteria at Slaton High School, 105 N. 20^th St. Kerby is retiring after 23 years as senior pastor at First Baptist in Slaton and 45 years in the ministry. He previously served churches in Bishop, Munday, Putnam and Snyder, as well as several congregations in New Mexico and worked as an industrial chaplain in Fort Worth.