Around the State: Howard Payne students surf and serve

At the end of the spring semester at Howard Payne University, Kim Rosato, adjunct professor of kinesiology, took her surfing class on a road trip to Encinitas, Calif. In addition to surfing lessons and surfing, the class also went on hiking trips around the area and participated in a service project. During the trip, the class camped at San Elijo State Beach, visited Swami’s Botanical Meditation Garden, La Jolla and Pirates Cove in Newport, as well as hiked Annie’s Canyon Trail and Torrey Pines. The service project this year was picking up trash on the beach. The surfing class has been offered each spring semester for more than 15 consecutive years, except in 2020 due to COVID-19. Classes like surfing are offered through the HPU kinesiology department to fulfill the general education activity course requirements.

The Smith Organ in Belin Chapel at Houston Christian University served as a featured teaching venue for Houston’s Pipe Organ Encounter, a national program that welcomed 18 middle and high school piano and organ students from across the country. Hosted by the Houston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the weeklong event took place July 20-25, offering students lessons, education and performances on many of Houston’s finest pipe organs. Designed for students ages 13 to 18—whether beginners or more advanced

players—the Pipe Organ Encounter provided hands-on opportunities to play a variety of instruments, attend organ concerts, and learn about the history, design, construction, and maintenance of pipe organs. University Organist John Kirk joined distinguished faculty from Rice University, the University of Houston and the University of St. Thomas, along with other area organists, to instruct these talented young musicians. Several students received their first organ lessons in Belin Chapel.

Will Klotz has been named president of Miracle Farm Boys Ranch, an affiliate of Children at Heart Ministries, effective Aug. 4. Klotz spent his mid-teen years at a boys’ ranch ministry similar to Miracle Farm that his parents founded. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Christian Leadership University in New York, he later obtained a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He was founding pastor of New City Fellowship in Manassas, Va.

Dallas Baptist University announced a $5 million gift from The Nation Foundation and longtime friends and supporters, Jim and Sally Nation of Dallas, to the Don and Linda Carter School of Business. Their donation is part of DBU’s “Stand Firm—Stand Out” campaign for the Carter School of Business, an initiative to advance the mission of Christ-centered education and prepare students to lead with faith and integrity in business.

Retirement

Dan Wooldridge retires after 30 years as pastor of Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown and more than five decades in ministry. Wooldridge will deliver a special message of reflection and encouragement to the congregation on Aug. 3. Following the services, the celebration will continue with a community block party in Manor, marking both his retirement and the launch of Crestview Manor, a new campus of Crestview Baptist Church located at 11805 Johnson Road, Manor.