Around the State: UNT opens new BSM building; ministry assistants conference slated

Stephanie Gates welcomes guests to the new Baptist Student Ministry building at the University of North Texas.Friends, alumni and students of the University of North Texas Baptist Student Ministry celebrated the grand opening of a debt-free $2.3 million BSM building Feb. 27. When the BSM opened the doors to its original building in 1960, the university’s student population was about 6,700. Today, the student body numbers more than 37,000. The 10,000 square-foot space has a large meeting area, a spacious kitchen for serving meals, prayer room, missions room, discipleship room, office space and a large room for student leadership team meetings. The Texas Baptist Missions Foundation assisted in fund-raising efforts for the building project, which drew donations from the Mabee Foundation, Denton Baptist Association, Texas Baptist churches and UNT alumni. “We don’t want this building to be just where we stay but where we go out,” BSM Director Stephanie Gates said. “Our hope is that this would be a sending point, a starting point for our students to go take the gospel. They can come in here to get equipped, to get trained, to get invested in and then take the gospel out onto our campus.”

“Keep Calm. Shine On” is the theme of the Texas Baptist Ministry Assistants Conference, April 7-9 at the Menger Hotel in downtown San Antonio. Leaders include conference pastor Jerry Joplin, director of missions for Lubbock Area Baptist Association; Bible study leader Michael Summers, vice president of the New Mexico Baptist Foundation; worship leader Cindy Hughlett, singer/songwriter; and banquet entertainer Just Peppi, Christian comedian. Cost is $200 for current conference members and $245 for new members. To register, contact Pam King at First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1453, Orange, TX 77631 or call (409) 886-7461. For more information, click here (http://www.tbma.net/) or contact Candy Carroll by email at candy@lubbockbaptist.com or call (806) 791-4442.

Travis JonesTravis Jones has been named executive director of Gracewood, a Children at Heart Ministries program for single mothers and their children. Jones earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology at Dallas Baptist University and a master of arts in marriage and family counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served nine years as program development director for Covenant Kids and four years in private practice as counselor. He is a licensed professional counselor-supervisor and licensed child-placing agency administrator.

Shelley ConroyShelley F. Conroy, dean of Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, will serve a two-year term on the professional nurse credentials and standards committee of CGFNS International, formerly known as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. CGFNS International is the world’s largest credentials evaluation organization for nursing and a globally recognized authority on credentials evaluation of the education, registration and licensure of nurses and health care professionals worldwide. Conroy recently helped develop and implement the first master of science in nursing degree program in Vietnam and helped Northrise University in Ndola, Zambia, develop its baccalaureate degree nursing program.

Richard Nassar Howard Payne University granted an honorary doctor of humanities degree to Richard W. Nassar of El Paso. Nassar was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States in 1975. He is a deacon at First Baptist Church in El Paso. Nassar’s pastor, David Lowrie, recommended him for the award, noting noted Nassar’s role in helping people from the Middle East escape persecution by sponsoring them for citizenship and in founding the church’s Middle Eastern Studies ministry.

Dale and Debbie Sims Dallas Baptist University recognized Dale Sims, dean of the College of Business, on his 25th anniversary at the school. Sims served in the U.S. Fulbright Scholar program in 2006, spending five months in Latvia. He was named DBU Piper Outstanding Professor in 2011-2012. He and his wife, Debbie, are members of First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie.

Wayland Baptist University is launching an online program for educators interested in obtaining a superintendent certification. Delivered completely online, this program geared toward working administrators provides certification for prospective superintendent candidates. The certification program will cover five specialized classes—school plant and facilities; leadership and the change process; school improvement and educational reform; politics, governance and finance of education; and the superintendent practicum. For more information, contact Tim Powers, associate professor of education at Wayland’s Lubbock campus, by phone at (806) 742-9516 or by email at tim.powers@wbu.edu.

Anniversary

Robby Barrett, 20th, as minister of education at First Baptist Church in Amarillo

Jack Faulknet, fifth, as pastor at Greenvine Baptist Church in Burton

Brad Springer, 20th, as manager of Camp Copass, near Denton

Ordained

Kenneth McCabe, Willie Bell, Robert Price and Norman Hicks as deacons at South Park Baptist Church in Lubbock