A documentary highlighting faith, resistance and repression in occupied Ukraine titled No God but Theirs will be featured in a screening on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at First Baptist Church of Plano at 7 p.m. This investigative film gives voice to those who continue to worship in secret and documents how religious freedom has been crushed under occupation. Admission to the film screening is free.
Wayland Baptist University and South Plains College signed a memorandum of understanding creating a direct pathway for South Plains College students with an Associate of Applied Arts in Commercial Music degree to complete a Bachelor of Christian Ministry in Worship Studies degree at Wayland. The agreement allows students to transfer up to 60 credit hours from South Plains College toward the worship studies degree at Wayland. Those credits are applied as 15 hours of general education and 45 hours of music, streamlining the transfer process. Students then complete 64 additional credit hours at Wayland to meet the 124-hour graduation requirement. These include coursework in Bible, theology, ministry, worship methods and applied music. South Plains College students who pursue this pathway become eligible for scholarships, making the worship studies degree a financially accessible next step for graduates of the college’s commercial music program.
Lisa Medlin, assistant professor and chair of the criminal justice department at Howard Payne University, and Ciera Ray, assistant professor of social work and field director, took three Howard Payne students to the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit 2025 in Houston earlier this month. Monica Prado, a criminal justice major, Jessenia Ureste, a psychology major, and Trinity Smith, an elementary education major, were able to choose from among 200 breakout sessions, including “Smart Phones and Human Flourishing,” “Helping Children Interpret Their History Through Simple Stories,” “Helping Without Hurting” and “Healing from Severe Adversity.”
High school juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to experience campus life firsthand when Wayland Baptist University hosts its Fall 2025 Pioneer Preview on Friday, Nov. 7, at the Plainview campus. The one-day event gives future Pioneers an inside look at academics, athletics, student life and the Christ-centered community at Wayland. The day begins with check-in at 9:30 a.m. in the Pete and Nelda Laney Student Activities Center, followed by a welcome message at 10 a.m. and a Wayland Scavenger Hunt that introduces students to key landmarks across campus. Parents will enjoy a parent and president mixer and tour featuring remarks from university leaders. A lunch session at noon allows students to choose from several breakout topics like faith in college, mental health, first-generation college experiences and student-athlete life.
Loyd Allen, retired professor of church history and spiritual formation at Mercer University, presented three lectures on spiritual formation during the inaugural James Shields Speaker Series at Howard Payne University on Oct. 21 and 22. During the two-day series, Allen detailed the evangelical response to Christian conversion and spiritual formation dating back to the 1500s, with a renewed emphasis that began in the 1960s among Baptists in the United States.
Dallas Baptist University is hosting its Nexus Ministry Leadership Conference on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, at 8:15 a.m. The conference theme is “Leading from Rest: Caring for Your Soul while Serving.” Barry Jones, senior pastor of Irving Bible Church and author of Dwell: Life with God for the World, is the keynote speaker. Early bird registration is $8 per person, and regular registration will be $15 per person. Group discounts are available for ministries bringing five or more attendees.
The Gary Cook School of Leadership at DBU is inviting everyone to celebrate Reformation Day on Friday, Oct. 31 at 12 p.m. on Zoom. The online event will focus on Martin Luther and his impact on the church and western society after posting his 95 Theses.
Anniversary
First Baptist Church of Cedar Hill celebrated 175 years as a church. Josh Prince joined the ministry team in 2020 as lead pastor.
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