Around the State: Hundreds gather for hymn sing at ETBU

Hundreds gathered at East Texas Baptist University’s annual Great East Texas Hymn Sing on Sept. 22, in Baker Chapel of the Rogers Spiritual Life Center. ETBU welcomed students, faculty and staff, alumni, community members and churches from around the East Texas region and neighboring states for an afternoon of worship, fellowship, and celebration of Christian faith. “ETBU has produced phenomenal worship leaders over the years, and it is a rich opportunity to have them return and lead us in song,” said Cari Johnson, director of alumni relations. Worship leaders included David Berryhill, music minister at First Baptist Church in Kilgore; Austin Anderson with Mundt Music in Longview, former pastor of worship arts at Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville; and Aaron Perkins, minister of music at Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Longview; along with Debbie Stevens, director of admissions, and Jonathan Kaan, assistant professor of music. Pat Antinone, director of choral activities, led ETBU’s Concert Choir during the worship service.

The 8th annual Latino Fest is scheduled Sept. 29 at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The university’s Hispanic Student Association, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Kingdom Diversity Office will host the event. UMHB’s string and wind ensembles will perform works by Astor Piazzolla, Rafael Hernandez, Michelle Fernandez and others at 7 p.m. in the Baugh Performance Hall of the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center. The concert is free, but a ticket is required. To secure a free ticket, call the box office at (254) 295-5999 or click here. Following the concert, a street festival on the plaza of the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center will showcase food, dancing, carnival games and face painting reflecting Hispanic culture.

Howard Payne University will honor nine individuals for achievements and service during the Stinger Spectacular Oct. 13-14. The honorees for 2023 are Dale Fisher of San Angelo, Distinguished Alumnus; Micaela Espiricueta Camachoof Kopperl, Coming Home Queen; Natalia Lopez, an attorney with offices in Brownwood and Fort Worth, Outstanding Young Graduate; Robert and Cheryl Everett Mangrum of Early, Grand Marshals; Pastor LJ Clayton of Missionary Baptist Church in Cuero and educator Lori Hassel Clayton, Medal of Service; evangelist Rubén Hernández of Richardson, the Dr. José Rivas Distinguished Service Award; and longtime pastor Doug Holtzclaw of Goldthwaite, recipient of the new Jacket Alums in Ministry Faithful Servant Award. The honorees will be recognized at the HPU Alumni Banquet on Oct. 13 and included in the Stinger Spectacular Parade and the halftime show at the homecoming football game on Oct 14.

Wayland Baptist University secured $9.96 million in gifts and grants during the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a record amount for the 115-year-old institution. The record total includes $6.37 million in gifts plus $3.58 million in federal grants benefiting veterans, as well as Hispanic and first-generation students. “It is absolutely remarkable how the dedication and passion of our donors, as well as the work of our Wayland family, has been on display during this record year,” Wayland President Bobby Hall said. “We now prayerfully and diligently seek to utilize that which has been entrusted to us.”

Senior Pastor John Ogletree of First Metropolitan Baptist Church in Houston will be the featured speaker at a “Save Texas Schools: Boot Vouchers” rally at the Texas Capitol. The rally, sponsored by Texans for Public Education, will be held at noon on Oct. 7 on the south steps of the Capitol. Ogletree, president of Pastors for Texas Children, served 18 years on the school board of Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.

Buckner Retirement Services hired Hannah Culp as healthcare administrator for Ventana by Buckner, effective Sept. 18. Culp will provide leadership and oversight for Ventana’s assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing levels of care at the Dallas senior living community. She most recently served at Life Care Services, where she was associate executive director for Autumn Leaves and health center administrator for Walnut Place, two senior living communities in Dallas. Prior to that, she worked in Kansas as an administrator and executive director for several health care and assisted living focused communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in human development and family science from Kansas State University and a Master of Arts degree in aging studies from Wichita State University. She is a licensed nursing home administrator in both Kansas and Texas.

Julio Guarneri, executive director-elect of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, preached in chapel at East Texas Baptist University on Sept. 25. Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen and first Hispanic individual to serve as executive director for the BGCT, challenged the campus community to reclaim the insurmountable peace only found through faith in Christ. “The struggle for peace is real,” Guarneri said. “College students need peace. We all need peace. Our world needs peace. And the Bible tells us that peace is a product of the Spirit, and peace comes to us when the Spirit is in control of our lives. It’s not something we produce or fabricate. It is something that God alone gives to us.”

Elizabeth Espinoza is the new director of the Buckner Family Hope Center in Midland. Espinoza will lead the Family Hope Center’s team in managing day-to-day operations, providing strategic oversight to the Midland Family Hope Center as it continues to expand its community impact, and serving vulnerable children and families in the community where she was raised. Espinoza began working for Buckner International in 2021 as foster care case manager, then she transitioned to the Family Hope Center as the community coordinator. Before coming to Buckner, she was an adolescent case worker with the El Paso Department of Health and Human Services. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Colorado State University—Pueblo.

Anniversary

150th for First Baptist Church in Hamilton. The sesquicentennial celebration begins Sept. 30 with a “meet-and-greet” event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the church’s youth and family center. On Oct. 1, a potluck dinner will immediately follow the 11 a.m. worship service. After lunch, the church will gather at 1:30 p.m. for a service of commemoration and dedication. Drew Dabbs is pastor.

75th for Chinese Houston Baptist Church on Oct. 8. Kai Yuen Choi is interim pastor.