• The instrumental duo of Stephen Nielson and Ovid Young will perform at the organ dedication ceremony at Howard Payne University March 28 at 8 p.m. in Mims Auditorium. The organ was secured by Burton Patterson of Southlake. Nielson and Young have performed in more than 3,500 concerts around the world.
• Buckner International will hold a clay-shooting fund-raiser April 16 at Elm Fork Shotgun Sports in Dallas. The ninth annual fund-raising event is expected to raise $80,000 to make life better for orphans and families. Participants also have to opportunity to bid on exotic hunting vacations, rounds of golf, personalized art and more. Volunteers, shooters and sponsors still are needed. Contact measter@buckner.org for more information.
• Dallas Baptist University has added two new faculty members. They are Sharon Dehnel, assistant professor of library science, and Angela Fogle, assistant professor of marketing and assistant to the vice president of graduate and corporate affairs.
• Baptist Child & Family Services has expanded its international children’s services program to serve unaccompanied foreign youth throughout the country. The offices will be located in New York City, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Sacramento and Los Angeles. The program will be a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement. New Texas program directors are Celeste Garcia and Michelle Fuentes.
• Michael Ball has been named senior director of development at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
• Hardin-Simmons University students received 28 gold, silver and bronze awards from the American Federation of Advertising for design work on brochures, billboards and other pieces from advertising campaigns. Jamie Whitbread was judged best of show for her book cover design “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Retiring
• Joe Morris, as children’s minister at Waller Church in Waller, March 5. He has served there since 2005.
Anniversaries
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• Brad Cockrell, 20th, as associate pastor for families and recreation at First Church in Denton.
• First Church in Mertzon, 100th, April 3. Lunch will follow at the community center. Steven Fox is pastor.
• Terry Horton, 15th, as pastor of First Church in Hallettsville, April 7.
Deaths
• Mary Riley, 72, Feb. 16 in Dallas. She was employed by Trinity Church in Lubbock and later worked for the Baptist General Convention of Texas 42 years as a statistical clerk. She was a charter member of Forest Meadow Church in Dallas. She was preceded in death by her sister.
• Oeita Theunissen, 87, Feb. 25 in Dallas. She was better known in Baptist circles as Oeita Bottorff. She began her work in ministry as director of student activities at Wayland College and then became youth director at First Church in Plainview. While there, she became nationally known as a youth recreation leader, writing curriculum and directing conferences. She later became involved in joining governmental and religious groups in fighting poverty in Dallas. She moved to Austin to lead an agency that focused on child abuse. In Houston, she was director of Baptists Committed and was one of the organizers of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. She worked closely with the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission on children’s and women’s issues. She helped initiate and expand the religion section of the Dallas Morning News in 1994. She is survived by her husband, Bruce; daughter, Nancy Whitenack; son, James Bottorff; sisters, Peggy Nunn and Pat Bradshaw; step-daughters, Karen Theunissen and Mary Stewart; and one grandson.
• Clint Dobson, 28, March 3 in Arlington. A graduate of Baylor University and Truett Theological Seminary, he was pastor of NorthPointe Church in Arlington. He was named Truett’s Preacher of the Year in 2008. While attending seminary, he was pastor of Purmela Church in Purmela. He is survived by his wife, Laura; parents, Roderick and Sharon Dobson; brother, Chris; sister, Sarah Mitchell; and grandmother, Marie Killian.
Event
• Southside Church in Bowie will hold a Bible conference March 27-30. Go to www.southsidebowie.weebly.com for more information on speakers and times. Tony Rogers is pastor.
• The Heights Church in Richardson will hold its fourth annual car show April 16. Show car registration is open until the day of the event and is either $10 or 10 canned good items. Spectator admission is free. Last year, more than 160 entries raised more than $1,000 and 400 canned goods. Proceeds benefit God’s Food Pantry in Plano. Registration is available at heightscarshow.com.
Ordained
• Jeffrey Loftin, to the ministry at Pioneer Drive Church in Irving.
• Allen Weaver, to the ministry at First Church in Poteet.
Revivals
• First Church, Normangee; March 20-23; evangelist, Mike Satterfield; pastor, Bob Shirley.
• Richards Church, Richards; March 27-30; evangelist, David Murphy; music, Jordan Bowersox; pastor, Joe Saffle.
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