Around the State: BWA approves two new Texas Baptist institutional members

The Baptist World Alliance General Council approved Buckner International and Baylor University as new institutional members of BWA. Albert Reyes, CEO of Buckner International remarked: “For Buckner International to be an active member of the Baptist World Alliance affirms our international presence and connection to the global Baptist family. We can serve and connect to Baptist conventions and congregations in 128 countries, add value to their ministry, deliver expertise on serving vulnerable children, orphans and families, and equip them to serve their communities well.” Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone also commented on Baylor’s membership in BWA, saying: “Baylor is the largest Baptist university in the world, and we are thrilled to join the Baptist World Alliance as a member partner. We believe this relationship will help us continue to fulfill our mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service. The Baylor board of regents recently approved expansion of our longstanding university motto by adding Pro Mundo to Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana—codifying the influence our students, faculty and alumni have across the globe. We are ‘For the Church, For Texas’ and now ‘For the World.’ We look forward to collaborating and having the ability with the Baptist World Alliance to impact the world for Christ in even more significant ways in the future.”

Dallas Baptist University Chancellor Gary Cook received the Charles D. Johnson Award from the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities. The International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities is a voluntary organization comprised of colleges, universities, and seminaries that embrace their Baptist roots, heritage and relationships. Members include 40 schools with more than 75,000 students in 16 states and three countries. DBU President Adam C. Wright and Cook traveled to Knoxville, Tenn., for this year’s annual meeting, where Cook received the award for his significant contribution to Baptist-related higher education. Cook is the 22nd recipient since the first award was presented in 1983. Bobby Hall, former president of Wayland Baptist University (retired in June 2024) and board member of the association, presented Cook with the award. “Dr. Gary Cook is a servant leader who believes in the power of Christian higher education to change lives and shape culture,” Hall said. “By his accomplishments at DBU and in the entire Baptist higher education landscape, it is clear that Dr. Cook is a true leader.” Cook arrived on the DBU campus in 1988 when he was named president. He served as DBU’s president for 28 years, until he was named chancellor in 2016.

God is working in the lives of students attending summer camps on Wayland Baptist University’s Plainview campus, according to Donnie Brown, director of spiritual life. Leadership Camp for youth from area churches was held June 23-26, and Top of Texas Kids Camp took place June 26-29. The final camp, 806 Youth Camp, runs July 8-12. Brown said God worked in the lives of 60 junior high and high school students who attended Leadership Camp. The Top of Texas Kids’ Camp brought 265 kids and sponsors to the campus for three days.

Houston Christian University hosted a special Topping Off Ceremony for Founders Hall II on June 28. The event signified completion of the structural phase of the final building in the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty complex. On behalf of HCU President Robert Sloan, Sandy Mooney, HCU chief financial officer/chief operating officer, welcomed special guests and a selection of HCU administrators, board members, faculty and staff, along with members of the construction teams. Special thanks were extended to Lisa Morris Simon and Stewart Morris, Jr. for their past and continued support and commitment to the university. HCU board of trustees Chair Garry Blackmon offered a dedicatory prayer to bless the occasion. Blackmon also expressed appreciation for the life and legacy of HCU’s Founding Father, the late Stewart Morris Sr. and members of his family. Following celebratory remarks, attendees were invited to sign the final structural beam—topped with an evergreen tree in accordance with a Scandinavian tradition dating back to 700 A.D.—to complete the building’s frame. Founders Hall II, the second ancillary building in the Law & Liberty Complex, will house academic classrooms and faculty offices to provide additional space to support HCU’s Institutional Strategic Plan (“Husky 2030”). The building is slated to open in early 2025.

As a Brownwood native, Joseph Burcham didn’t have to travel far for a college education at Howard Payne University. But his road to graduation as an engineering science major led to an innovative way to light rural interstate highways. “My project is a system-based design harvesting mechanical electrical power from roadways,” Burcham said. “It’s an embedded system, designed to go inside roadways. As cars drive down the streets, they’ll rotate the system and create a current that will charge a battery pack. At night, when the photo sensor goes off, it’ll illuminate the streetlights.” Burcham, who graduated from HPU in May, collaborated on the project with Martin Mintchev, professor of engineering and chair of HPU’s division of engineering. Burcham enjoyed the project’s extensive development process. “We went through Google patents, searching all the databases to make sure there wasn’t a patent out there for it,” he said. “Then we made a miniature model, or prototype, to make sure it’s actually feasible, and then we made it bigger and made it look nice.”

Anniversary

George W. Truett Theological Seminary is celebrating 30 years of theological education. All are invited to attend Truett’s 30th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 27. During this event, the Truett community will reflect upon the seminary’s history, enjoy worship and fellowship and consider a future marked by growth and development in an effort to prepare well the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders.