Around the State: Wayland students ‘Serve Plainview’

More than 50 Wayland Baptist University students, along with some faculty and staff, assisted a dozen nonprofit organizations during Serve Plainview, the university’s annual day of community service. Santa Fe Terrace, an assisted living facility, planned a full day of activities, including wheelchair races and other events for residents. Volunteers assisted with a yard sale at Compassionate Care Pregnancy Center. At Christian Manor Apartments, a senior residential community, students helped residents with laundry, while other volunteers visited with residents of BeeHive Homes of Plainview or called bingo games at Prairie House Living Center. Other projects included cleaning up a vacant lot for the City of Plainview, indoor and outdoor work at Wee Care Center, and sorting clothes at Crisis Center of the Plains and Salvation Army. Students and other volunteers restriped the parking lot at Hale County Senior Center and helped with a clean-up project at Unger Memorial Library. 

Stephen Gaukroger, former president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, prolific author, and founder of Clarion International, presented the George H. Gallup, Jr. Distinguished Lecture at Dallas Baptist University. During a March 25 luncheon with DBU faculty and staff, his lecture—“Does the Future Have a Church: Gospel Transformation in the 21st Century”—addressed the church’s significant impact on the world. Gaukroger believes the church has a therapeutic role in the world, and he said culture, politics and spirituality as a society are connected directly to the strength of the local church. Gaukroger said the Bible is clear when it says the gates of hell never will prevail against the church, and the gospel will prevail amidst all trials and persecution. “The future will have a church,” Gaukroger concluded. “We don’t know what it will look like, but it will be strong if we look to the Bible and Jesus and equip people with the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Howard Payne University celebrated its fourth annual Spring Family Reunion on March 23. The event’s festivities included music, games, food, a 5K run/walk and an outdoor vendor market, which featured handmade crafts from alumni, personnel and students. Yellow Jacket Preview, a prospective student event, also was held in conjunction with the reunion that morning. “We were thrilled with the response to the HPU Spring Family Reunion again this year,” said Kalie Lowrie, assistant vice president for alumni relations. “This is a growing tradition on our campus, which continues to draw more alumni, students and friends together for a great experience.” More than 150 runners, walkers and participants joined the Alumni Virtual 5K from four countries and 26 cities, using #HPU5K to tag photos on social media to connect with the day’s event. More than 60 participants ran or walked the 5K on the HPU campus, including student groups such as the women’s basketball team. Howard Payne’s Stinger Spectacular fall event—which will include Homecoming, Yellow Jacket Preview and Family Weekend—is scheduled Oct. 18-19. The schedule of events will be released in June and registration will open in August.

Howard Payne University recently hosted the second annual Robnett Founders Dinner, honoring the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation of Midland as the recipient of the 2024 Dr. John D. Robnett Founders Award. The Robnett Founders Dinner was established to honor an individual or organization making a major impact on the university and furthering its work in students’ lives. Proceeds from the dinner each year, named in memory of John David Robnett, a founder of HPU, benefit a major project at the university. Student scholarships were the focus project for this year’s event. Several members of the Robnett family attended. Since its formation in 1948, the Mabee Foundation has made grants totaling over $1.5 billion. Normally limited to capital expenditures and the purchase of major medical equipment, in honor of the 75th anniversary of its founding, the Mabee Foundation awarded $75 million in special grants, many of which went outside its normal capital and challenge grant focused scope. Included in these special grants was a $1 million grant to HPU to endow the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation Endowed Scholarship. The keynote speaker for the event was K. Michael Conaway, who retired from Congress in 2021 after serving eight terms as U.S. Representative from District 11 in West Texas.

Julio Guarneri, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, preached on “Hope and the Holy Spirit” at Houston Christian University’s April 3 convocation. Guarneri recounted his calling to ministry at a Congreso event held on HCU’s campus when he was a high schooler. He referenced Acts 2:1–11 to show how the event of Pentecost revealed God is a promise-keeper, a problem-solver and a path-maker. By sending the Holy Spirit, God kept his promise—canceling Babel’s curse of division through the Spirit’s unity in diversity—opening the pathway to reconciliation with God through the Holy Spirit’s work in believers. 

The Houston-Lantrip Center at Hardin-Simmons University will host an Autism Acceptance Celebration April 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. This is a free community event to celebrate the neurodiverse. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. There will be face painting, a dance party, a bubble tent, a sensory station and a bounce house. For more information, contact Rachel Goulet at rachel.goulet@hsutx.edu or 325-670-1836

Anniversary

75th for Grace Temple Baptist Church in Waco. Buddy Sipe is pastor. A celebration is scheduled from 10 a.m. until noon on April 14.  Former pastor David Brown is the guest speaker.