Around the State: Five BGCT executive directors meet

Four former Baptist General Convention of Texas executive directors and their spouses—Bill and Bobbie Pinson (1983–1999), Charles and Rosemary Wade (1999–2008), Randel and Sheila Everett (2008–2011), and David and Kathleen Hardage (2011–2022)—joined the newest BGCT executive director and spouse Julio and Monica Guarneri at Dallas Baptist University for a dinner hosted by the university. “I invited them to campus to honor their leadership and welcome Dr. Guarneri as the new executive director. I wanted them to be able to learn from one another, and consequently, I wanted to learn from them as well. It was a very special time,” DBU President Adam Wright said. The dinner in the Hillcrest Great Hall on the DBU campus was to commemorate Guarneri’s appointment as the new executive director, while also celebrating the past, present and future of Texas Baptists as the Lord continues to guide the work of the BGCT. The dinner also was hosted to thank Texas Baptists for how much they continue to do for DBU and for God’s kingdom partnership between the two organizations.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor celebrated the dedication of the Marek-Smith Center for Teacher Preparation with a special ceremony and ribbon cutting March 1. “This amazing and beautiful building is another game changer for UMHB. It raises the bar for teacher education and reflects our commitment to offer exceptional academic programs,”said UMHB President Randy O’Rear. During his remarks, O’Rear explained the facility’s name honors the special relationship between Evan Smith and Logan Marek. “Logan is … a remarkable young man. He is generous. You will notice his name on the donor wall inside. He used his own hard-earned money to support this project because he wanted to make a gift to honor his friendship with Evan,” O’Rear said.

Nine Houston Christian University students in a cross-cultural counseling course are providing counseling to 20 individuals in Nepal and Egypt. Students are working with clients, many of whom are refugees or victims of human trafficking, in one-on-one or group meetings through video calls and instant-messaging apps with the help of a translator. “Students are learning how to work with clients with diverse backgrounds and are researching the countries their clients are from to better understand and help them,” said Andrea Johnson, assistant professor of counseling at HCU. In this counseling internship, HCU students are gaining diverse experiences in a multicultural setting and witnessing the impact their profession has on the growth and healing of the clients they serve. “This course gives students the opportunity to be living disciples for Christ in their profession, which is their mission work,” said Johnson.

Dallas Baptist University hosted the 32nd Annual Patriot Baseball Banquet on February 9. Current Texas Ranger and World Series Champion Nathaniel Lowe headlined the event. He was joined on stage and interviewed by DBU’s Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations Reagan Ratcliff. “This is bigger than what you guys do on the mound; it’s bigger than what you do in the field or the batter’s box. It’s about who you are as people. Your identity is not found in what you do, but your identity is in Christ,” Lowe said. Ratcliff asked him about how it felt to be a part of the Texas Ranger’s incredible 2023 season and their World Series Championship victory. Lowe explained their victory is not an end point, but rather a brief highlight during their careers, and they will continue to work hard. “We are bigger than our jobs. It’s cool to win, but there is a whole lot more to life than winning and losing,” Lowe said. He closed by imparting some advice to the Patriots, “Make the most of your time here because it doesn’t last forever. You are going to be a former player a lot longer than you are a current player. So, go out there and enjoy it, make the most of it, and leave everything on the field.”

East Texas Baptist University recognized the Thomas Whitfield Davidson Foundation as the 2024 ETBU Good Samaritan Award recipient on Feb. 27. Inspired by the parable in Luke 10:25-37, the Good Samaritan Award and ETBU Scholarship Banquet celebrates individuals and organizations who exemplify the spirit of “loving your neighbor as yourself.” The T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation was established through the legacy of former Chief Judge of the Northern District of Texas Thomas Whitfield Davidson. Hailing from Marshall, Judge Davidson’s foundation consistently demonstrates remarkable generosity, providing vital support to nonprofit organizations in Marshall and Harrison County. The T. Whitfield Davidson Foundation has been instrumental in supporting countless ETBU students through scholarships, ensuring access to transformative educational opportunities.