East Texas Baptist University has broken ground for Centennial Hall. The 362-bed student living-learning community is scheduled to open August 2014. The 123,500-square-foot, four-story facility primarily will house freshmen and sophomore students and is designed to include private bedrooms in four-bedroom suites, study areas, seminar rooms, game rooms, and indoor and outdoor social areas. A faculty-in-residence apartment and staff resident director also will be located in the facility.

The National Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter has named Hardin-Simmons University senior Melissa Sartor the Social Work Student of the Year.

LifeLight Music Festival will be held May 24-26 at the Willowood Ranch near Sherman. The ranch is owned by Christian Music Hall of Fame member Al Denson. The Newsboys, Building 429, Sanctus Real and others will perform throughout the weekend at the free festival. The grounds of the 350-acre ranch will hold multiple stages, action sports, children’s activities, an art area, and food and merchandise vendors. For more information, click here.

Six students from Howard Payne University took part in Tuition Equalization Grant Student Advocacy Day. Groups from several private universities traveled to Austin to encourage representatives and senators to continue support for the grant program. Students met with legislators from their home districts to thank them for appropriating funds for the program. Participating from HPU were Courtney Officer, Allen Andrus, Brogan Turner, Erik Swenson, Kathryn Barrackman and Colton McCabe.

Anniversary

Houston Garner, 50th, as pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Bells.

Revival

Anderson Baptist Church, Anderson; April 26-28; evangelist, Bob Nix; music, Gary Mason; pastor, Kyle Childress.

Howard Payne University’s cheerleaders were named national champions in the small co-ed college division at the Christian Cheerleaders of America Cheer Nationals.

An Engage evangelism conference for northeast Texas will be held at First Baptist Church in Gilmer April 21. It will begin at 3:30 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m. To register, click here.

Jim Tennison has joined the faculty of Dallas Baptist University as assistant professor of sport management. He previously served as mascot coordinator for the Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies. He and his family are members of First Baptist Church in Euless.

Philip Jenkins, distinguished professor of history at Baylor University, was among the lecturers at the German Bishops’ Conference in Rome April 9-11. The conference focused on new religious movements that present challenges for the Roman Catholic Church. His address focused on why the new religious movements are so attractive and how Catholic congregations should react.

Macy Freeman, East Texas Baptist University held its 57th Miss ETBU Pageant crowning junior nursing major, Macy Freeman of Midlothian (left), as Miss ETBU 2013. Carolyn Stevens, Miss ETBU 2012, helps Miss Freeman with her sash before she takes her runway walk as the new Miss ETBU. Miss Freeman, representing the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM), is the daughter of Danny and Gina Sutton. While attending ETBU, she is involved in BSM serving as a Charge Ministry Coordinator. Honors and awards received at ETBU include Dean’s List with honors for four semesters, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, and American Southwest Conference Academic All-Conference team for the fall 2011 volleyball season. (PHOTO: ETBU/Ryan Perry)a junior nursing major from Midlothian, was crowned the 57th Miss East Texas Baptist University. She represented ETBU’s Baptist Student Ministry. Taylor Davis was first runner-up, and Kaytlin Norman was second runner-up. Shelbie Welk was named Miss Congeniality.

Four Hardin-Simmons University students presented papers at the 16th annual meeting of the C.S. Lewis and Inklings Society held at LeTourneau University in Longview. Students selected for the honor were Rachel Bales, Sarah Clower, Kayla Hastings and Ashley Simpson. HSU professor Larry Fink was elected president of the society.

Anniversaries

Calvary Baptist Church in San Marcos, 60th, March 24. Dennis Spire is pastor.

Gary Cook, 25th, as president of Dallas Baptist University, April 6. During his tenure, the university has grown from 1,859 students in the fall of 1987 to 5,622 in the fall of 2012. DBU’s assets have grown from $27.7 million to $150 million, and the university has finished each fiscal year in the black for the last 24 years.  The campus has expanded from 200 acres to 292 acres. Twenty-two master’s degree programs have been added since 1988, while graduate enrollment has increased from 187 in the fall of 1987 to 2,109 in the fall of 2012.

Revivals

Kokomo Baptist Church, Gorman; April 21-24; evangelist, Cameron Moore; pastor, James Hunter. East Cisco Baptist Church, Cisco; April 21-24; evangelist and singer, Jeff Gore; pastor, C.P. Floyd.

Molly Marshall, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kan., will deliver the T.B. Maston Lectures in Christian ethics at Hardin-Simmons University April 8-9. Monday’s lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the Logsdon Chapel. Tuesday’s lecture will be at 9:30 a.m. in Behrens Auditorium. Both lectures are free and open to the public.

Dallas Baptist University will hold the 25th annual Norvell Slater Senior Adult Hymn Sing April 19. The concert will begin at 2 p.m. in the Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel. A pre-hymn sing concert will begin at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (214) 333-6824.

Don Blackley is the recipient of the Oklahoma Baptist University alumni association’s Profile in Excellence Award. The 1963 OBU graduate has been a minister of music since 1966. He also is director of the Singing Men of North Central Texas.

Terri Hipps has been named executive director of Baptist Child & Family Services’ newly created community services division. The division combines the agency’s former teen and youth services division and community-based services division.

Deemie Naugle has been named adviser of the year at Dallas Baptist University. Naugle is associate provost and associate professor of professional studies. She has been a member of the faculty and staff 30 years. She is a member of Connect Church in Arlington.

Payton Beggs, a sophomore at East Texas Baptist University, won the novice division championship at a debate competition held at Stephen F. Austin University. She won 10 of 11 rounds.

Anniversaries

Forrest Smith, fifth, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Ingleside, April 1.

Jeff Brewer, fifth, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Pawnee, April 6.

Tria Heaton, fifth, as minister to preschool and children at Parkside Baptist Church in Denison, April 13.

Bobby Hawkins, 15th, as pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Tioga, April 26.

Lowell Howard, fifth, as pastor of Choctaw Creek Cowboy Church in Bells, April 27.

Events

Mercy’s Well will present a concert at First Baptist Church in Granbury April 11 at 6:30 p.m. An offering will be taken.

First Baptist Church in Bryan will hold a Bible conference April 21-24. Levi Price will lead the Bible study that begins at 6 p.m. Sunday. Hope’s Creek will lead the music for the Sunday night service. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. the following three days with Bible study beginning at 12:10 p.m. David Kipp will lead the music for the afternoon sessions. To make lunch reservations, call (979) 776-1400.

A free job search workshop will be held April 27 at The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson. The all-day workshop begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. A free lunch and materials are provided. Skills taught include finding your job focus, resume critique and development, effective networking skills, creating a 30-second elevator presentation, interviewing techniques and developing a two-minute verbal resume. Doors will open at 7:45 a.m. Preregistration is required. Register here. For more information, call (972) 238-7243.

Ben Lowe, author of Green Revolution: Coming Together to Care for Creation, will be the guest speaker at Hardin-Simmons University April 2. He will speak in the 9:30 a.m. chapel service and at 1:30 p.m. in the Van Ellis Theater on the topic, “A Faith-Based Response to Climate Change.” Lowe is the national spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action.

Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will be the guest speaker for Houston Baptist University’s April 3 convocation service at 11 a.m. in the Dunham Theater in the Morris Cultural Arts Center.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas will hold a one-day single adult rally April 6 at Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown. The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Dennis Swanberg is the keynote speaker. A variety of breakout sessions also are planned. Registration until midnight April 1 is $25; after that time, registration is $35. To register, or for more information, click here.

Two FIRM Baptist Area churches will host “The Tabernacle Experience” in coming weeks. A full-scale replica of the tabernacle will be erected for narrated tours of the biblical structure. The tabernacle will be at Fellowship Baptist Church in Brenham April 20-29 and at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Cameron from May 4-12. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Cost is $5 per person. Tours take about 50 minutes.

Four students in Howard Payne University’s School of Christian Studies have been honored as Currie-Strickland Scholars in Christian ethics and theology. They are Jessica Baniewicz, a senior cross-cultural studies and Spanish major from Plano; Colton Curry, a senior practical theology major from Lubbock; EJ Davila, a senior psychology major, with an emphasis in psychology and ministry, from Brownwood; and Mary Vasquez, a junior biblical languages and English major from Blanket.

Deborah Tribble has joined the Dallas Baptist University faculty as assistant professor of education and special assistant to the provost. Previously, she served as assistant superintendent for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district.

East Texas Baptist University honored Mary Beth Bender with a retirement reception to mark her retirement from the university after 29 years of service. She began her service working in the admissions office, and at the time of her retirement, she was administrative assistant for chaplain and vice president for spiritual development Scott Bryant.

Anniversaries

Wayne Shuffield, 10th, as pastor of Battetown Baptist Church in Cameron.

Rick Erwin, 25th, as pastor of Procter Baptist Church in Port Arthur, April 7.

First Baptist Church in Carrizo Springs, 135th, May 4-5. Registration will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday. Historical displays will be displayed, and the buildings will be open for viewing. Services featuring former pastors, and youth and music ministers will begin at 6 p.m. A light meal will follow. A Sunday celebration service will begin at 11 a.m. Jonathan Hewett is pastor.

Retiring

Jim Manning, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Franklin, April 28. He has served the Franklin congregation 20 of his 39 years in ministry. Other churches he has served include Tanglewood Baptist Church in Tanglewood, Northview Baptist Church in Bryan, West Oaks Baptist Church in Houston, Lakeview Baptist Church in Belton and First Baptist Church in Cisco. He and his wife, Colleen, will retire to Colorado City, Colorado.

Event

The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson will hold its sixth annual car show from noon to 4 p.m. April 20. Last year, the show featured 300 entries in more than 20 classes and raised more than $7,000 and 675 pounds of canned goods for charity. The show is free for spectators, but car owners pay either $20 or bring 20 canned food items as their entry fee. Proceeds benefit the Network Food Pantry of Richardson. For more information, click here.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will hold its 74th annual Easter pageant March 27. Three performances in front of the Luther Memorial arches on Vann Circle Drive will be held at 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The performances are free and open to the public. The pageant draws about 5,000 spectators each year, and hundreds of students participate as actors, director and costumers.

Focus on the Family will hold “Focus Live: The College Edition” at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano April 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is designed to prepare students and their families for the transition to college. Del Tackett will be the keynote speaker. Three college presidents also will engage in a panel discussion on what young people face on university campuses. Register here.

Dallas Baptist University will honor Tillie BurginTillie Burgin, founder and executor of Mission Arlington, at the Tom Landry Leadership Award Dinner April 27. The dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on the DBU campus. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (214) 333-5597, or click here .

East Texas Baptist University named Bonnie and Frank Strauss recipients of the Sam B. Hall Jr. Civic Service Award. Hall was a U.S. representative, federal judge, a Marshall native and an alumnus of the College of Marshall, which now is ETBU.

“Penetrating the Cultures with the Gospel” was the theme for Howard Payne University’s second Perspectives Conference. The annual event brings youth ministers together to explore facets of their field of ministry. Speakers included Mary Carpenter, Danny Dowdy, Elias Garcia, Allen Jackson, Mike Satterfield and Jane Wilson.

Retiring

Danny Dunham, as director of missions for Blanco Baptist Association, April 30. He has served the association 12 years of his 40-year ministry. His prior service included 18 years as music and youth minister at First Baptist Church in Refugio, two years as music and youth minister at College Hills Baptist Church in San Angelo and two years as music and education minister at Houston Terrace Baptist Church in San Antonio. He also served as music director at Northside Baptist Church in Edna, First Baptist Church in Troy, Southland Baptist Church in San Angelo, First Baptist Church in Odem and First Baptist Church in Bertram. He has been a member of the Singing Men of South Texas and Singing Men of West Texas. He and his wife, Jane, will live in Waco.

Event

First Baptist Church in Midland will hold homecoming activities April 13-14. Events will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. Former pastors Daniel Vestal and Jim Denison will be the guest speakers in the 8:25 a.m. and 11:05 a.m. services. Vestal is the recently retired executive director of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and Denison is founding president of the Denison Forum on Faith and Culture. A picnic will be held at 12:15 p.m. Former pastor Gary Dyer will be the guest speaker in the 6 p.m. service. He is pastor of Austin Baptist Church in Austin. Randel Everett is pastor.

Buckner Children and Family Services and Dillon International will present two free foster care and adoption information meetings this month at Buckner’s office, 5200 Buckner Blvd. in Dallas. A Dillon representative will give an overview of adoption from China, Korea, Haiti, India, Hong Kong, Ghana and Colombia on March 18, at 6 p.m. A domestic adoption program for Texas families and adoption programs in Russia, Ethiopia and Honduras, available through an affiliation with Buckner, also will be discussed.  

For information or a reservation to attend the meeting, call (214) 319-3426 or email DillonTX@dillonadopt.com. On March 21 at 7 p.m., a Buckner representative will give an overview of foster care and adoption options in Texas, including foster-to-adopt, Waiting Texas Children and domestic infant adoption programs. International adoption options through Buckner’s affiliate Dillon International  also will be discussed.  For information or a reservation to attend the meeting, call Sheree Scott at (214) 319-3425 or email sscott@buckner.org.

Heart of Texas Baptist Camp & Conference Center will hold Senior Adult Day April 23. Bobby Johnson will speak in the morning session, and Robert Cuellar will lead worship. After lunch, breakout sessions will include “Are You Alone or Lonely?” “Senior Adults on Mission,” “Medications and Your Health” and “Maintaining Your Temple.” A Gospel music concert presented by the group Fourtwelve will cap the day. Cost is $15 and includes lunch and the concert, and reservations are requested by April 16. Call (325) 784-5821 to make reservations, or click here.

Hardin-Simmons University has named Michael Daggs Jr., Daniel Munton and Emily Row Prevost as its outstanding alumni for 2013.

East Texas Baptist University appointed Tyler Sellers dean of students. He comes to ETBU from Howard Payne University, where he was associate dean and director of student activities.

Dallas Baptist University professor Norman Blackaby has released the 10th anniversary edition of Called and Accountable, which he wrote with his father, Henry Blackaby.

Baylor University’s board of regents elected Todd Still, professor of Christian Scriptures, faculty regent, and Taylor Hoogendoorn, a junior from Illinois, student regent. The faculty and student regent posts are one-year non-voting positions on the governing board.

Laura Echeverria, a case manager with Baptist Child and Family Services, has been named distinguished practitioner of the year by the Texas Healthy Start Alliance. The designation honors individuals who improve the health of women, children and their families. Echeverria works with BCFS’ Healthy Start program in Laredo.

Wayland Baptist University presented Vernon Stokes with the Legacy Leadership Award in conjunction with the High Plains Leadership Summit held there. Stokes, a trustee of Wayland and longtime educator in West Texas, was recognized for his 42-year career in education. The focus of this year’s summit was “Leading with Civility.”

Anniversaries

First Baptist Church in Quanah, 125th, April 5-7. Activities will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday with a welcome reception. Saturday’s events will kick off at 10 a.m. with a reunion fellowship. At 5 p.m., an anniversary dinner will be held in the family life center. To make reservations for this catered meal, call (940) 663-5331. A celebration service will follow in the sanctuary. Childcare will be provided for children 3 years old and younger, but advance notice is requested. Sunday will begin with a light breakfast at 8:30 a.m. A potluck lunch will follow the morning service. Joseph Jones is pastor.

Charles Easley, 25th, as pastor of Heights Baptist Church in Alvin, Feb. 17.

Buddy Sipe, 20th, as pastor of Cottonwood Baptist Church in Lorena.

Jim Manning, 20th, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Franklin.

Ed Lewis, 15th, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Golden, March 20.

Tim Rowell, 10th, as pastor of Flatonia Church in Flatonia.

David Burcham, fifth, as pastor of Harvest Acres Baptist Church in Mineola, March 2.

Jerry Watters, fifth as minister of music and education at First Baptist Church in Neches, March 10. He also will celebrate his 50th anniversary in ministry, which began in 1963 as a pianist and band director in the U.S. Navy.

Retiring

Walter Evans, as pastor of Talty Baptist Church in Crandall, where he served more than 10 years. During his ministry there, the church quadrupled attendance, constructed two buildings and retired the debt. Evans served Dallas area churches from 1964 to 2000. He was pastor of seven churches, two of which he started.

Events

A regional disaster relief durable medical equipment trailer will be dedicated 12:30 p.m. March 23 at Northeast Baptist Church in San Antonio. The trailer is the second medical disaster relief unit in the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief network and the only one with durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and canes. Northeast Baptist Church received a $15,000 grant from Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio to purchase the 6-foot by 12-foot trailer to transport durable medical equipment to disaster relief areas. Skip Holman is regional disabilities disaster relief representative for Texas Baptist Men.

Southside Baptist Church in Bowie will hold a Bible conference March 24-27. Speakers will include Jimmy Draper, Josh Smith, Jordan Rogers, Steven Smith and Jeremy Rogers. Glowing Heart, a vocal ensemble from Dallas Baptist University, also will sing. Click here  for more information, or call (940) 872-2793. Tony Rogers is pastor.

Ordained

Samuel Esquival as deacon at Fort Concho Baptist Mission in San Angelo.

The 2013 Metroplex Literacy Conference will be held March 2 at Dallas Baptist University. Breakout sessions will include topics dealing with adult education, English as a Second Language, citizenship classes and home literacy. Register here. 

Houston Baptist University’s graduate program will hold an information reception for prospective students Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Hinton Center on campus. Registration is available online. 

East Texas Baptist University will hold Tiger Day March 2. The free event enables prospective students and their families to tour the campus, meet faculty and students, receive admissions and financial aid information, and visit academic departments. More information is available here. 

Drayton McLane Jr. received the Founders Medallion from Baylor University. He is a regent emeritus of the school and a Baylor alumnus. The Founders Medallion was established in 1969 to recognize men and women whose service and contributions to the university have been unusually significant.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor held a dedication ceremony for the Isabelle Rutherford Meyer Nursing Education Center Feb. 8. It will be the site of the Scott & White College of Nursing. The facility includes a simulation hospital wing that includes an emergency room, nursing station, and labor and delivery unit. The 77,000-square-foot nursing education center is more than five times larger than the nursing program’s previous facilities.

Dave Rozeboom has been appointed vice president for student development at Hardin-Simmons University.

Dallas Baptist University professor David Naugle recently wrote Philosophy: A Student’s Guide, part of the Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition collection by Crossway Publishing. He joined the DBU faculty in 1990. He is a member of Connect Baptist Church in Arlington.

Anniversaries

Jack Ables, 20th, as pastor of Eastridge Baptist Church in Red Oak, Dec. 27.

Darren Donaldson, 15th, as pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Brenham.

Events

First Baptist Church in Dallas will open its 500,000-square-foot, $130 million facilities First Baptist Church in Dallas will open its 500,000-square-foot, $130 million facilities Easter Sunday, March 31.Easter Sunday, March 31. It is reportedly the largest church building project in modern history. The 3,000-seat worship center includes a 150-foot-wide viewing screen. Connected to the worship center by a glass sky bridge, the Horner Family Center features children’s and youth classrooms, a gymnasium, three indoor playgrounds and a seven-story parking garage. Robert Jeffress is pastor.

First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City will hold special music events during March. March 3, the sanctuary choir, along with Dove-award winning vocalist Bruce Greer, will present “Hymns: Ancient and Modern” during the 10:30 a.m. service. At 6 p.m. March 10, “Voices in Prayer” will be the emphasis. “Celebrate Life: The Musical” will be presented by Cynthia Clawson, Ragan Courtney and the drama team Come during the 10:30 a.m. service March 17. At 6 p.m. that evening, Clawson, accompanied by Greer, will present a concert. At 4 p.m. March 24, organist Steven McConnell will play classical and sacred selections on the church’s 103-rank Casavant pipe organ. “The Last Supper: A Musical” will be presented March 28 at 7 p.m.

VocalEssence, a renowned choral ensemble, will present a concert at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas March 14. The group has made multiple appearances on the national radio program “Prairie Home Companion” and has performed in concert halls around the world. The program will be titled “Music of the Americas: North and South of the Rio Grande.” Cost will be $20 for general admission and $10 for students with valid student identification. To reserve seats, call (214) 452-3170.

Ordained

Roger Ginnett, Lyall Kirton and Jon Mathers as deacons at Central Baptist Church in Italy.

Mark Hansen as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Rosharon.

• San Marcos Baptist Academy is set to begin construction on the 31,000-square-foot Lee Hage Jamail Special Event Center. The center will consist of two wings—one for athletics and the other for fine arts. It will include a gym, locker rooms, coaches’ offices, band and choir rehearsal halls, performance space, individual practice rooms, a music library and a student lounge. The center is the result of the largest cash gift ever given to the academy, presented by Joe Jamail in memory of his wife, who graduated from the school in 1944.

• The Sam B. Hall Jr. Lecture and Banquet will be held Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at East Texas Baptist University. Ronald Wells, director of the Maryville Symposium on Faith and Learning at Maryville College, will speak on the peace processes in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century and the essential role of Christian communities in achieving peace. Tickets are $35 per person and can be reserved by calling (903) 923-2083.

• Buckner Children and Family Services will present a free foster care and adoption information meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Buckner Dallas campus. A representative will give an overview of foster care and adoption options in Texas, including foster-to-adopt, Waiting Texas Children and domestic infant adoption programs. International adoption options, through Buckner’s affiliate Dillon International, also will be discussed. For information or a reservation, call (214) 319-3425.

• Grammy-winning gospel singer Cynthia Clawson will headline Hardin-Simmons University’s Round Table Scholarship luncheon Feb. 26 in the Van Ellis Theater. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. It is a fundraiser for a scholarship awarded to a female student who reflects the principles of service and virtue. Individual tickets are $20, and the reservation deadline is Feb. 19. To purchase tickets or for more information, call (325) 670-1489.

• The Mirabeau B. Lamar Medal was awarded to Baylor University regent emeritus and longtime university benefactor Drayton McLane Jr. of Temple.

Drayton McLane Jr.

The medal is presented to individuals, foundations and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to higher education in Texas. Members of the Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors, the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, and the Texas Association of Community Colleges present the award each year. McLane was nominated for the award by the presidents of Baylor University and the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. In addition to Baylor and UMHB, McLane also has been a benefactor of Austin College, Baylor College of Medicine, Dallas Baptist University and Temple College. He also is a board director for the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, a member of the board of trustees for Baylor College of Medicine and a member of the University Cancer Foundation Board of Visitors with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He is chairman of the McLane Group and CEO of McLane Advanced Technologies in Temple. He is the former CEO/owner of the Houston Astros. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Temple, where he teaches Sunday school and is a deacon.

• Dallas Baptist University conferred degrees on 484 graduates during winter commencement ceremonies. Two hundred sixty-four students received bachelor’s degrees, 220 earned master’s degrees and four garnered doctorates. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, La., and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, delivered the commencement address and was presented an honorary doctor of divinity degree.

• Shelley Conroy, dean of Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, has been appointed to the board of trustees at Baylor University Medical Center.

• Howard Payne University was the site for the 15th annual meeting of the Christian Association of Student Leaders Conference. More than 250 student leaders from nine Baptist universities attended. Mike Jorgensen, executive director of I Am Second, was the keynote speaker. He told the students the conference was not for them but for the benefit of the people God wants to bless through them.

• Wayland Baptist University’s show choir, Spirit, held its final performance Jan. 27. Formed in 1974 as the Spirit of America Singers, the ensemble was disbanded due to changing curricular requirements. A new choral performance lab course will be introduced in the fall.

Anniversaries

• Crosspoint Baptist Fellowship in Abilene, 10th, Jan. 20. Jerry Hendrix is pastor.

• Willis Moore, fifth, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Odem, Feb. 6.

• Davey Smith, fifth, as pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Tyler, Feb. 7.

• Southside City Church in Fort Worth, fifth, Feb. 10. Darrel Auvenshine is pastor.

• Jose Sanchez, fifth, as pastor of Iglesia Bautista de Fe in Tyler, Feb. 14.

• Charles Strength, fifth, as pastor of Byrd Lane Baptist Church in Tyler, Feb. 14.

• Stanley Wooden, fifth, as pastor of Family Way Baptist Church in Tyler, Feb. 14.

• Butch Smith, 15th, as pastor of Living Hope Baptist Church in College Station.

• Bronwyn Stanley, 15th, as children’s minister at First Baptist Church in College Station.

Retiring

• David Cason, as pastor of Broadview Baptist Church in Abilene, where he has served more than 37 years. A reception will be held Feb. 16 from noon to 3 p.m.

• Benny Mayo, as senior adult minister at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill, where he served five years. He served in ministry 53 years. He is available to play guitar and sing for senior adult events, and he can be contacted at bennymayo@att.net.

Events

• A reception will be held Feb. 24 at Berclair Mission in Berclair to celebrate the 33 years of ministry of Pastor Moises Gonzalez. The celebration will begin at 3 p.m.

• Lloyd Pullam has been named pastor emeritus at St. Emmanuel Baptist Church in Denton.

Ordained

• Brian Gunter to the ministry at First Baptist Church in Canyon Lake, where he is youth/missions pastor.

The 12th annual Baylor University Sacred Harp Singing is set for Feb. 9 in the Great Hall of Truett Theological Seminary. The singing will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a brief introduction to Sacred Harp singing. After a lunch break, singing will begin again and conclude at 3 p.m. All are welcome at this participatory activity. For more information, call (254) 772-5572.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and its art department currently are presenting Cross/Purpose, an exhibition of some of the many forms the cross has taken over the centuries and the purposes for which it has been used. Pieces in the exhibit range from the sixth century to the contemporary. The exhibition continues through Feb. 9. The exhibit hall is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

East Texas Baptist University will hold a preview day for high school seniors and college transfer students Feb. 14-15. Visiting students will spend the night in a dorm, socialize with current students, and visit with professors at breakfast and by attending classes. The event begins Thursday at 6 p.m. A $20 nonrefundable fee must be paid to register for the event, but if a student submits an application for admission during the event, the application fee will be waived. For more information, call (800) 804-3828.

Nora Lozano and Dinorah Méndez, scholars at the Baptist University of the Américas, contributed articles and commentaries to the Biblia de Estudio Mundo Hispano (Study Bible for the Hispanic World). Lozano wrote an article about the Bible and the priesthood of every believer. Méndez wrote the introduction and notes for 1 and 2 Timothy.

Mike Williams, professor of history, has been named Dallas Baptist University’s outstanding faculty member for 2012. He began teaching at DBU as an adjunct professor and joined the faculty full time in 1995. He became dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences the following year. He teaches Baptist history, American church history, and Civil War and Reconstruction history. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Willow Park.

Howard Payne University’s Baptist Student Ministry raised $3,513 for missions and left several HPU men with attention-getting facial hair. After a month of growing beards, the men spun a wheel that determined how their beards would be shaved, including half beards, stripes and more. Other students pledged money for the privilege of seeing the men in their innovative facial hair stylings.

Vicki House has been named interim vice president for enrollment management at Hardin-Simmons University. She also will continue to serve as executive assistant to the president. She is a member of Beltway Baptist Church in Abilene. Also, James Stone has been appointed interim executive director of marketing. He will continue to serve as HSU’s director of church relations and Logsdon Seminary’s director of placement and congregational relations. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Abilene.

Anniversaries

Randy Perkins, 15th, as minister of missions/consultant at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene, Oct. 1.

Richard Segars, 35th, as minister of education and administration, First Baptist Church in Graham, Jan. 1.

Greg Traylor, 10th, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Beeville, Jan. 5.

Scott Jones, fifth, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Rockport, Jan. 13.

Abel Almendarez, fifth, as senior adult pastor at First Baptist Church in Portland, Jan. 20.

Jeff Reid, 20th, as associate pastor at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene, Feb. 1.

Event

Family Deaf Church held a constitution service Jan. 26 at the site of its host congregation, Baptist Temple Church in San Antonio. Family Deaf Church was formed to reach out to the deaf and their families. John Richey is pastor.

Baptist Child & Family Services has named John Linstrom national deputy director of mitigation and preparedness services. He will establish partnerships with federal and state government agencies focused on bolstering emergency response readiness across the nation.

Neil Dugger has been named dean of the College of Education at Dallas Baptist University. He will continue to direct the doctoral program in educational leadership. He and his wife, Paula, are members of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas.

Howard Payne University has appointed Emily Attaway assistant vice president for finance.

Hardin-Simmons University conferred degrees on 232 students during winter commencement ceremonies. They included 129 bachelor’s degrees, 66 master’s degrees, and 37 doctorates in physical therapy. Riley Kidd of Abilene received the Winnie and D.M. Wiggins Medal for academic excellence. Candace Webb of Cisco earned the Academic Foundation Medal for the highest grade-point average. Grant Greenwood of Abilene received the Graduate Dean’s Award of Excellence.

A team from East Texas Baptist University won the outstanding delegation award at the American Model United Nations conference in Chicago. The ETBU team represented Chile and competed against 94 schools.

Anniversary
Brian Barkley, fifth, as pastor of First Baptist Church in Edmondson, Feb. 3.

Licensed
Terry Beavers and David Ditmore to the ministry at Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, Nov. 18. 

Ordained
Russell Beasley, Greg Cassady, Clint Dodson, Emmett Mathews and Lyndyl Tidwell as deacons at First Baptist Church in Bangs, Nov. 25.