Around the State: UMHB Ministers’ Forum

• Michael Robinson, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor associate professor of Christian studies, philosophy and theology, is the keynote speaker at the university’s ministers’ forum Feb. 18 at noon. His lecture is titled “Charting the Waters of Theological Determinism.” It will include a summation of three rationales offered for believing God determines human actions and some criticisms of that perspective.

• A Christian songwriters’ workshop will be held Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. in Hughes Recital Hall on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus featuring contemporary Christian songwriter Ken Medema as the guest clinician. The workshop will include sessions on musical form, song content, and listening and critique of orginal songs. The workshop will conclude with a 7:30 p.m. concert by Medema. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information and registration, call (254) 295-4678.

• Baptist Child & Family Services has named Kevin King associate executive director of its residential services division. He is responsible for overseeing the agency’s 106-acre residential campus in San Antonio.

• East Texas Baptist University presented 73 degrees during its winter commencement ceremony.

• George Chandler of Lufkin has been named the 2009 Baylor Lawyer of the Year by Baylor Law School. He graduated from the law school in 1962 and has practiced in East Texas since 1964.

• Howard Payne University conferred degrees on 106 students in a December commencement ceremony, all but one of the students earning bachelor’s degrees.

• Bob Williams has been named president and chief executive officer by the Baptist Saint Anthony’s Health Systems board of trustees. He had served the Amarillo health system in the same capacity on an interim basis since last September.

Anniversaries

• Keith Petteway, 15th, as pastor of Shiloh Church in Wheelock.

• Rick McKenzie, fifth, as associate pastor of Cowboy Church of Ellis County in Waxahachie, Jan. 1.

• Barry Braman, 2oth, as minister of senior adults and pastoral care at Shady Oaks Church in Hurst, Jan. 1.

• Bob Dellinger, 10th, as associate pastor to youth at Tabernacle Church in Ennis, Jan. 2.

• Jay Harris, 10th, as director of church starting for Tarrant Association, Jan. 17.

• Carolyn Shelton, 10th, as preschool/children’s minister at Birdville Church in Fort Worth, Feb. 6.

East Texas Baptist University’s Merle Bruce Hall, a three-story residence hall erected in 1924, was brought down recently to provide space for the construction of the 32,000-square-foot Ornelas Student Center, scheduled to be completed in December. A live webcam at www.etbu.edu/php/cam will allow a 24/7 view of the building project’s progression.

• Jim Jackson, 10th, as minister of music and senior adults at First Church in Uvalde, Feb. 13.

• Roland Ouelette, 10th, as pastor of East Sherman Church in Sherman, Feb. 20.

• Randy Johnson, 25th, as youth minister at First Church in Richardson, Feb. 21. A reception will be held recognizing his 35 years in youth ministry.

Retiring

• Bill Merritt, after 64 years in ministry and 20 years as pastor of Grosvenor Church near Brownwood, Jan. 1. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Seminary, he was pastor of small churches in Lampasas, Burnet and Erath counties following graduation. He then was pastor of First churches in Jacksboro, Coleman and Denver City before retiring in 1980. In 1990, however, he was called to Grosvenor, where he served 20 more years. He and his wife, LaDelle, plan to move to Burnet.

• Larry Mills, after serving more than 10 years as pastor of Buchanan Street Chapel in Amarillo, Jan. 10.

Deaths

• Inez Webb, 95, Jan. 11 in Watauga. A graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Seminary, she and her husband, Bill, were Southern Baptist missionaries in Mexico, Guatemala and Venezuela. After her husband’s death, she became children’s director at Cliff Temple Church in Dallas until her retirement. She also was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Webb; son, Jim; one brother; and three sisters. She is survived by her brothers, James and Scott Tatum; one grandson; and two great-grandsons.

• C.H. Murphy, 73, Jan. 16 in Lockney. His wife and three sons were with him to hear his final four words, “I fulfilled God’s purpose.” He was licensed to preach in 1960 and ordained to the ministry in 1962. He served on the boards of trustees for Wayland Baptist University and Dallas Baptist University. DBU awarded him an honorary doctor of divinity degree for his pastoral leadership. He also served on numerous Baptist General Convention of Texas boards and committees. He was pastor of First churches in Headley, Silverton, Memphis, Friona, Lamesa and Irving. While he was pastor of the Irving church, the BGCT honored it with Key Church status in recognition of its mission focus. The last 11 years of his ministry, he was director of missions for Tryon-Evergreen Association. At the time of his death, he was a member of First Church in Matador. He was preceded in death by his sister, Laverna. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Raynita; sons, Michael, Mark and Ken; sister, Mary Jones; and seven grandchildren.

• Don Potts, 79, Jan. 16 in Marshall. Potts was a retired professor of religion at East Texas Baptist University. He taught at ETBU from 1976 until his retirement as chair of the religion department in 2001. He was a pastor, from 1948 until 1976, of churches in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. He was a member of the Christian Education Coordinating Board of Texas, and the board of trustees of Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas, and he served on several Baptist General Convention of Texas committees. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne, and grandson, Stephen Chamberlin. He is survived by his daughter, Cindy Chamberlin; son, Donald Mark; and two grandchildren.

• Paul Peña, 27, Jan. 19 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. One other soldier was killed, and five others were injured. The Army captain was a graduate of San Marcos Baptist Academy and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. An Eagle Scout, he was named “best all-around student” and voted “most likely to succeed” while at the San Marcos school. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters, the Valorous Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutists Badge and the Ranger Tab. He is survived by his mother, Cecilia Peña.

• Bill Smith, 78, Jan. 22 in Waco. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Seminary, he was pastor of Calvary Church in Nogales Prairie, Bethel Church in Whitewright, Baptist Temple in Bay City and First Church in Mart, where he served 30 years. After his retirement, he was interim pastor at several churches, the last being Western Heights Church in Waco. He was a member of First Church in Waco. He also served on the board of Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center and on many Waco Association committees. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty Jean; son, Alan; mother-in-law, Jewell Holmes; and three grandchildren.

• Bill Hogue, 82, Jan. 26 in Brownwood. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Seminary, he served as pastor of churches in Texas and Oklahoma. He served on committees of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and on the board of trustees of Howard Payne University. He also was a member of the general council of the Baptist World Alliance. He was a former vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board, a former vice president of the BWA and was executive director emeritus of the California Southern Baptist Convention. He was preceded in death by six brothers, Aubrey, Travis, Grady, Virgil, Marvin and Monroe. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty; sons, Robert, Randy, Rodney and Ronald; daughter, Jana Tucker; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Event

• The annual Joy Seekers Conference for women will be held Feb. 19-20 at First Church in Center. Teresa Harmening is the conference speaker. Leading the music and worship will be Grateful Heart. Through Feb. 11, the cost to attend the conference is $20. A light breakfast and lunch on Saturday are included in that cost. Registration at the door is $25 and begins at 6 p.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. Child care is $10 for the weekend or $8 for Saturday. For more information, call (936) 598-5605.

Ordained

• Reid Johnson, to the ministry at Colonial Hill Church in Snyder.