Around the State: Lifeway listens to Texas worship leaders

Ten worship leaders from Texas Baptist churches and several others joined Tom Tillman, director of music and worship for Texas Baptists, for a listening session in Dallas with three executives from Lifeway regarding the future of the lifewayworship.com website. In July, Lifeway announced plans to discontinue the website but postponed that action due to concerns expressed by ministers of music about losing access to the digital music library. Lifeway held listening sessions in Georgia/Alabama, North Carolina and Kentucky prior to the meeting in Dallas. Lifeway representatives at the Texas listening session were Scott Arvay, senior vice president and chief revenue officer; Brian Brown, director of worship; and Carol Pipes, director of communication. Tillman noted Brown told him Texas worship pastors use the website far more than any other state. During the listening session, Texas Baptist worship leaders emphasized how the website has been an important tool in their ministries. They consistently noted in contrast to some other popular sites, which offer only chord charts, Lifeway also makes available full instrumentation in keys appropriate for congregational singing, Tillman observed. “We left very encouraged today. Scott Arvay was very heartfelt in his explanations to the group about getting this right,” Tillman said. Arvay noted the high cost of cloud-based technology and information technology upgrades that factored into the original “business decision” to discontinue the website, but he emphasized Lifeway wants to focus on serving churches, Tillman reported.

Baylor University dedicated the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center, a 136,000-square-foot building at the corner of Interstate 35 and University Parks Drive. The university recognized donors Paula Hurd and her late husband Mark for their lead gifts. Designed by global firm Populous—which also created Baylor’s McLane Stadium—and built by Vaughn Construction, the Hurd Welcome Center will serve as a central hub for prospective students, families, alumni and visitors, as well as current students, faculty and staff. “This is where many prospective students will realize they belong at Baylor. It will play a pivotal role in fostering connections within the Baylor Family and beyond,” President Linda Livingstone said. “It will be a place where future students and their families can connect with current students, faculty and alumni, and this is where alumni will rekindle their love for Baylor and strengthen their connection to the Baylor Family.” In addition to thanking the Hurd family, Livingstone also expressed gratitude to Drayton and Elizabeth McLane for their leadership and continued investment in projects at Baylor, including the McLane Family Alumni Center, located on the second floor of the Hurd Welcome Center.

The Stinger Spectacular at Howard Payne University—combining homecoming, family weekend and the Yellow Jacket Preview for prospective students—is scheduled Oct. 13-14. Key events include an alumni banquet, “Cobbler on the Campus,” an alumni and family breakfast, the Stinger Spectacular parade, a family picnic, a football game featuring the HPU Yellow Jackets facing the Austin College Kangaroos, and various class reunions and receptions. The weekend also includes a performance of “Virtue Is Its Own Reward” by the HPU School of Music and Fine Arts, a concert featuring the HPU Alumni Choir, a presentation by the HPU Marching Band and an alumni art exhibit. For a complete schedule of events or to register for Stinger Spectacular, click here.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas planted 2,977 United States flags at the Luther Memorial on the UMHB campus to honor the lives lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The organization began planting the flags Sept. 7, so they would be in place all day on Sept. 11. They removed the flags on Sept. 12.

Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio has launched a new radio program and podcast to provide a platform for local nonprofit organizations to tell their stories. “Together for Good” airs at 8:30 a.m. each Saturday on 630-AM, a local Christian radio station, and then is released as a podcast on streaming platforms. Cody Knowlton, president and CEO of Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, hosts the program, in which he interviews leaders of churches and nonprofit organizations within the foundation’s eight-county service area. Topics focus on health issues in South Central Texas and how nonprofits are addressing those issues. “We want to see these nonprofit organizations grow and build on the great work they’re already doing, and we’re offering an opportunity to tell the public about that work,” Knowlton said. Since its inception in 2004, Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio has awarded more than $100 million in grants to nonprofits in Bexar Country and the surrounding area.

Lynn Cohick, distinguished professor of New Testament and director of Houston Theological Seminary at Houston Christian University, will be the keynote speaker for B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary’s Frank and Pauline Patterson Lecture Series. She will speak on second century martyrs and what they might say to the American evangelical church today. The lectures and question-and-answer sessions will be from 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 13, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The lectures are free and open to the public. Guests can participate in person at First Baptist Church in Arlington or online. To register, click here.

Anniversary

10th for Darrin Moore as senior pastor at Truevine Missionary Baptist Church in Spring.

100th for First Chinese Baptist Church in San Antonio on Oct. 8. John Lee is pastor.

150th for First Baptist Church in Schulenburg. David W. Thompson is pastor. The church will observe the anniversary Oct. 8 with a 9:30 service of remembrance, followed by a brief continental breakfast. A service of worship and celebration is scheduled at 10:45, followed by a luncheon on the grounds. Guest speakers include former pastors Tim Edwards and Mike Zimmerman.