Around the State: DBU students in D.C.; Baylor receives $1 million gift

Adam Wright, vice president at Dallas Baptist University and dean of the Cook School of Leadership, was among the DBU professors who taught students about history, leadership and faith on a trip to Washington, D.C. (Photo / Brittany Partain / DBU) Eighteen Dallas Baptist University students spent spring break touring Washington, D.C., to study leadership by learning about the nation’s Founders. In addition to on-site lectures at monuments, memorials and historic sites, the students heard from Jim Kuhn, former executive assistant to President Ronald Reagan, and Randel Everett, president of the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative. Additionally, the group spent time in Colonial Williamsburg, with visits to the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia, as well as a day trip to Monticello.

Contemporary Christian musician Josh Wilson and singer-songwriter Jason Gray are featured performers at HPU Fest, Howard Payne University’s annual outdoor music festival, from 3 to 9 p.m. April 9 at the school’s Old Main Park. Other performers include Love and War, Atlas Mason and Sun City, along with two HPU students—James King, a freshman from McGregor, and Joshua Varnes, a freshman from Universal City. Admission is free.

Baylor University received a $1 million gift from David and Amy Hunt of McLean, Va., to create the David and Amy Hunt Christian Missions Endowed Fund. The gift will support mission experiences led by the Honors College, enabling Baylor students to integrate the Christian faith with discipline-specific learning and hands-on service. This summer, it will provide funds for about 10 Baylor students, with preference given to Honors College students, to go on a mission trip to Greece led by Doug Henry, associate professor of philosophy and associate dean of the Honors College.

Wes Black, who served 29 years on the faculty at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently is on staff at Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, is guest speaker at the 79th Founders Day observance April 12 at Hardin-Simmons University. The observance begins at 9:30 a.m. in Logsdon Chapel. The service will pay tribute to some of the earliest leaders and benefactors of HSU, and it will conclude with a rendition of “Taps.” The event also will honor the Class of 1966, who will be on campus celebrating their 50-year reunion.

Victim Relief Ministries named Win Brown deputy executive director. Brown has been a volunteer with the organization since 2002, including service as chapter director for the Greater Houston Area.

“The Persecuted Church” is the focus of a panel discussion at 6:30 p.m., April 21, at Baylor University. Participants include Baylor President Ken Starr, former Congressman Frank Wolf, Cole Richards of Voice of the Martyrs and Jalil Dawood, founder of World Refugee Care. The event in Room B-110 of the Baylor Sciences Building is free and open to the public.

Baptist Global Response and the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board are among the sponsors of a one-day medical missions event, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 7, at For the City Center, 500 E. St. Johns Ave. in Austin. The conference is open to licensed healthcare professionals, public health workers, church mission leaders, students interested in healthcare and anyone concerned about medical missions. Leaders include Rebekah Naylor, professor of surgery at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical School and veteran medical missionary; Terry Lassiter with Alpha Omega Dental in Waco and IMB Americas affinity leader; Geoffrey Erwin, an obstetrician/gynecologist and medical mobilizer for frontiers at Austin Stone Community Church; Carson and Sara Higgs, family physicians with Austin Regional Clinic; and Joel Hurt, orthopedic surgeon. Cost to attend is $20. To register, click here.

East Texas Baptist University entered a partnership with the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas to create scholarships for incoming students. The ETBU Hispanic Christian Servant Leadership Scholarship is designed to help outstanding young Hispanic students who have demonstrated servant leadership in their congregations and want to continue their education as they prepare for God’s call on their lives. The scholarship covers half of student tuition and full room and board for two male and two female students throughout their undergraduate degrees. Recipients of this scholarship must be active members of a church affiliated with the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, and they must follow the recipient guidelines to remain eligible for the scholarship. For more information, click here or email Scott Bryant, ETBU vice president for spiritual development, at sbryant@etbu.edu.