Dozens of volunteers working from 18 Texas Baptist Men disaster relief mobile units traveled to Louisiana to serve people whose lives have been disrupted by Hurricane Isaac, and additional teams will continue to help with disaster recovery.

Hurricane Isaac flooded miles of land in southern Louisana, leaving thousands of residents displaced and hundreds of thousands without utilities. (PHOTO/Bill Boyce)

Volunteers working from the Dallas-based TBM Disaster Relief Mobile Unit—an 18-wheeler specially equipped with a field kitchen—prepared about 10,000 meals for storm victims and emergency responders, working from Belle Chasse Baptist Church in Algiers, La.

Eight units were deployed to provide showers and laundry service for residents in shelters, as well as for National Guard personnel, American Red Cross volunteers and other first-responders serving the affected region.

Volunteers with the regional temporary emergency child care unit from Gambrell Baptist Association and the statewide child care unit continue to serve at FEMA disaster response centers in southern Louisiana.

Veteran TBM disaster relief volunteers also continue to serve with the incident management team at First Baptist Church in Covington, La. At the request of Gibbie McMillam, Louisiana Baptist state disaster relief director, TBM State Disaster Relief Director Terry Henderson served as the initial coordinator for Baptist disaster relief responders from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Texas Baptist Men volunteers Frank Meister (left in yellow shirt) from Haslet and Bruce McDonald from Canyon Lake make repairs to Barataria Baptist Church in Lafitte, La. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Ben Moberley)

While the need for large-scale emergency food-service teams has subsided, the need for additional volunteers to assist with disaster response will continue for an extended period, Henderson noted.

Multiple mud-out and chainsaw crews have been on the scene, helping to clean homes and clear debris. Additional teams will be deployed in the near future, focusing on the Plaquemines Parish area at the southeastern tip of Louisiana.

In LaPlace, northwest of New Orleans, Victim Relief Ministries set up its trailer and a banner declaring the site a "prayer station." The crew was "swamped by people needing chaplains," said Edward Smith, deputy executive director of Victim Relief Ministries, an interdenominational organization that grew out of TBM and continues to serve as an independent but affiliated TBM ministry.

TBM disaster relief efforts are financed entirely by designated gifts. To give directly to TBM, visit www.texasbaptistmen.org or mail a check to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, 75227.

Baylor, HSU named 'best in the west.' Baylor University in Waco and Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene were among 122 colleges and universities named by The Princeton Review in the "best of the west" section of its website, "Best Colleges: Region by Region." In addition to 122 schools in 15 western states, The Princeton Review also designated 222 colleges in the Northeast, 153 in the Midwest and 136 in the Southeast as best in their locales. Collectively, the 633 schools named regional bests constitute about 25 percent of the nation's 2,500 four-year colleges. For this project, The Princeton Review asks students to rate their own schools on several issues—from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food—and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students and campus life. Baylor University also made the "2013 Best 377 Colleges" national list.

Texas Baptists Committed breakfast slated. David Hardage, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, will speak on "Going Forward" during the Texas Baptists Committed breakfast, scheduled in conjunction with the BGCT annual meeting in Corpus Christi. The breakfast will be at 7 a.m., Oct. 30, in the Henry Garrett Ballroom B in the American Bank Center. Cost is $20 per person or a table of 10 for $180. For registration information, visit www.txbc.org.

ETBU trustees OK residence hall, graduate program. The East Texas Baptist University board of trustees approved plans for a 350-bed student living-learning community and a parking facility. Construction is scheduled to begin January 2013. Trustees also approved a new degree program in the Fred Hale School of Business—a master of business administration in entrepreneurial leadership. ETBU currently offers graduate programs in religion, education and counseling. Trustees also elected officers: chair, Sam Moseley, attorney from Marshall; vice chair, David Anderson of Carthage, a Panola County judge; and secretary, Bill Runnels of Atlanta, retired Texas Department of Transportation engineer.

Clarification: HPU recognized as great workplace. An item in the Sept. 3 issue of the Baptist Standard correctly reported Baylor University and Hardin-Simmons University as the two Texas Baptist-affiliated schools named to The Chronicle of Higher Education's 2012 Honor Roll of "Great Colleges to Work For." However, it failed to note Howard Payne University also was recognized, receiving special notice in the areas of work/life balance and supervisor or department-chair relationships.

Senior adult conference slated. Phil Lineberger, pastor of Sugar Land Baptist Church, will be the keynote speaker at a regional senior adult conference, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on
Nov. 12 at First Baptist Church of Onalaska. Cost is $5, which includes lunch. To register, contact onfirst@eastex.net by Nov. 1.

• Georgia Gaddy to Cisco College as interim Baptist Student Ministry director.

• Brandon Gray to First Church in North Zulch as pastor.

• Larry Jones to Bethel International Church in Frankfurt, Germany, as interim pastor. He recently retired as director of missions for Lubbock Association.

• Dwight Reagan to Knobbs Springs Church in McDade as intentional interim pastor.

• Debra Slaton has resigned as Baptist Student Ministry director at Cisco College.

• Buckner Children & Family Services will present a free foster care and adoption information meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Buckner Children's Home 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 Internation-al, also will be discussed. For information or a reservation to attend the meeting, call (214) 319-3425.

• Houston Baptist University will host an opening reception in the recently completed first phase of the HBU Fine Arts Museum Sept. 27 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Six masterworks currently are installed in the museum, including "Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness" by Anthony Van Dyck and "The Marriage at Cana" by Marten Pepyn. Following the opening, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for free tours. For more information, call (281) 649-3610.

• "Legacy Building," a one-day retreat for men and boys, will be held Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Miracle Farm in Brenham. The retreat, hosted by Independence Church in Bren-ham, will deal with the biblical basis of manhood. Participants will learn to apply the principles of being God's man to three areas of their lives—home, church and work. The $10 registration fee includes refreshments and lunch. To register or for more information, call (979) 530-6906.

• The second annual CiCi's Pizza Barefoot Run, benefiting Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, will be held at 8 a.m. Oct. 6 at Andy Brown Park East in Coppell. The 5K and 1-mile fun run is open to children and adults, and shoes are considered "optional," said Kendra Lovelady, event manager. "Barefoot running has become a popular trend, but it's something the kids we serve around the world face every day," she said. "They run barefoot because they have to, not by choice. Our goal for the second annual Barefoot Run is to raise awareness for the need for shoes and have a great time while doing it." Prizes and medals will be awarded to the winners who run the race barefoot or with shoes. Special games and activities, including a bounce house, also will be offered. All proceeds from the race will benefit children who need shoes around the world. To sign up for the race, visit www.bucknerevents.com.

• Recording artist Francesca Battistelli will perform during East Texas Baptist University's Founders Day celebration to commemorate the university's centennial. The Oct. 22 concert will begin at 7 p.m. in Baker Auditorium in the Ornelas Spiritual Life Center and also feature the group Sidewalk Prophet. General admission tickets are $10 and are on sale online at www.etbu.edu.

• East Texas Baptist University has received the original minutes of Karnack Church in Karnack, established in 1843. The minutes will be archived in the university's Mamye Jarrett Library. The ledger contains the church business minutes from 1843 to 1903. The Texas Baptist Historical Collection of the Baptist General Convention of Texas also has digitized the files and provided an electronic copy to ETBU. The documents will be housed in a climate-controlled vault.

• Howard Payne University has added two faculty members. David Harmon is a professor of art and chair of the art department, and Shane Kendell is an assistant professor of chemistry.

• Paul Kamunge, principal of Moffat Bible College in Kijabe, Kenya, spoke at Wayland Baptist University's weekly chapel service. The two schools entered into a partnership this summer. Moffat has been training Kenyans for ministry since 1929, but only now will offer bachelor degrees.

• Sam Hill, fifth, as pastor of North Bryan New Birth Church in Bryan.

• Mount Pleasant Church in Comanche, 100th, Oct. 14. Dan Connally is pastor.

• Larry Vowell, as director of church strengthening for Collin Association. He served the association 10 years. He previously was minister of education at Northway Church in Dallas, Mobberly Church in Longview, Columbus Avenue Church in Waco and First Church in Grapevine. He now will work part-time as a congregational strategist for the Fort Worth/ Wichita Falls area for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

• Laura Harris, 81, Sept. 1 in Lawton, Okla. A graduate of Wayland Baptist University, she was retired from teaching children with learning disabilities at Dean School in Fort Worth. She was an active church member throughout her life at Handley and University churches in Fort Worth, First churches in Plain-view and Belton, and at First Church in Lawton, Okla., at the time of her death. She was involved with Woman's Mission-ary Union. She was WMU director at numerous churches, was promotional vice president for Texas WMU and state equipper for associational WMU leadership, and served as the associational WMU director and conference leader. She and her husband were Mission Service Corps volunteers at Highland Lakes Encampment, and they traveled to Japan, Brazil, Korea and the Bahamas on numerous international mission trips. She also helped her husband with his work with international students at Wayland Baptist University and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She is survived by her husband, Reed; daughter, Cindy Aday; brother, Merritt Brooks; and two grandsons.

• Claude Hicks, 80, Sept. 1 in Abilene. Hicks, a Hardin-Sim-mons University graduate, served in the U.S. Army. After leaving the military, he returned to HSU and served as a dorm director. He later served as director of placement, director of veterans' affairs, director of financial aid and director of Moody Center. In 1966, he became associate administrator of Hen-drick Home for Children. In 1972, he was named the home's president and continued in that position until his retirement in 1995. He also served on the HSU board of trustees, board of development and alumni board. He was the recipient of the university's distinguished alumni award in 1979, and in 2000, he received an honorary doctorate. He also served as director of Abilene Baptist Social Minis-tries. He was a longtime member of First Church in Abilene, where he was a deacon. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marie Stockard. He is survived by his wife, Jenny; and sisters, Alice Scarborough and Louise Street.

• Roy Fish, 82, Sept. 10 in Fort Worth. Fish, distinguished professor emeritus of evangelism at Southwestern Seminary, served the seminary almost 50 years and once occupied the L.R. Scarbor-ough Chair of Evangelism there. His name often was said to be synonomous with evangelism throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. For many years, Fish organized the annual spring break revival practicum (now called Revive This Nation), as the seminary sent out hundreds of student preachers across the country to lead revivals in local churches. He held several prominent denominational positions, including interim president of the North American Mission Board and second vice president of the SBC. He was pastor or interim pastor of more than 20 churches, and he spoke and preached at conventions, conferences and churches in every continent except Antarctica. He wrote several books and numerous articles and essays on evangelism. He also received the Charles G. Finney Award for Evangelism in Theological Education and an honorary doctorate from Southwest Baptist University. In 2005, Southwestern Seminary created the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, and Oct. 10, 2007, was designated Roy Fish Day by the seminary. He is survived by his wife, Jean; sons, Steve and Jeff; daughters, Holli Lancaster and Jennifer Pastoor; and 15 grandchildren.

• Cottonwood Church in Dublin will host a Texas Baptist Men Yellow Cap Training Event Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. until noon. This is for first-time yellow cap volunteers and meets the qualifications for recertification.

• Hillcrest Church, Bryan; Sept. 23-26; evangelist, Jon Randles; music, Dan Stephens; pastor, Craig Yates.

Roy Fish, distinguished professor emeritus of evangelism at Southwestern Seminary died Sept. 10. He was 82 years old. Fish served the seminary almost 50 years and once occupied the L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism there.

Roy Fish

His name often was said to be synonomous with evangelism throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. For many years, Fish organized the annual spring break revival practicum (now called Revive This Nation), as the seminary sent out hundreds of student preachers across the country to preach revivals in local churches.

He held several prominent denominational positions, including interim president of the North American Mission Board and second vice president of the SBC. He was pastor or interim pastor of more than 20 churches, and he spoke and preached at conventions, conferences and churches in every continent except Antarctica.

He wrote several books and numerous articles and essays on evangelism. He also received the Charles G. Finney Award for Evangelism in Theological Education and an honorary doctorate from Southwest Baptist University. In 2005, Southwestern Seminary created the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, and Oct. 10, 2007, was designated Roy Fish Day by the seminary.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; sons, Steve and Jeff; daughters, Holli Lancaster and Jennifer Pastoor; and 15 grandchildren.

Visitation will held at Laurel Land Memorial Chapel at Laurel Land Funeral Home in Fort Worth from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. The address is 7100 Crowley Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76134.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, in the Truett Auditorium at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, with graveside services following at Laurel Land Memorial Park of Fort Worth.

SMITHVILLE—The flames have been extinguished. The smoke is gone. But one year after the most devastating wildfire in Texas history started, its haze still hangs over an area once known for its pine trees—seemingly out of place in South Central Texas.

Raging wildfires approached Calvary Baptist Church in Bastrop. Fire destroyed the church's parsonage. (FILE PHOTO/Richard Mangum)

The area is a series of juxtapositions— contradictions next to each other. New homes shimmer beside lots that have yet to be touched following the fire that started Sept. 4, 2011. In some places, construction crews pull long days rebuilding homes. In others, individuals and families do the rebuilding themselves. Thousands of trees have been cut down, yet millions more black arbors still stand as memorials of the great fire.

In many ways, life here is like the trees that inundate the hills but provide no shade. People are charred on the outside as their spirits inside struggle to find the path to survival—a word that has taken on new meaning for people who refuse to be called victims.

The stress of the rebuilding is taking its toll on residents, revealing itself in a variety of medical issues, including high blood pressure and heart attacks..

Pastor Harold Welch from Primera Baptist Church in Bastrop rests on the steps of a home his church is helping build from scratch. The home is located between Bastrop and Smithville. (BGCT PHOTO)

In the midst of all this, the Bastrop County Long Range Recovery Committee and faith-based efforts such as Smithville’s Faith Village—which brings together Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Texas Baptists—and Primera Baptist Church in Bastrop seek to help the long-term recovery of the region. Leaders hope Bastrop County can recover financially in five years. It may take 10 years for residents to fully recover emotionally, some workers note.

“We’re definitely seeing progress, but we have a long process ahead of us,” said Kate Johnston, who coordinates volunteers through the Bastrop committee.

Faith Village connects church groups of all sizes with mission opportunities in the county and even houses volunteers at First Baptist Church for $20 a day, including meals and shower facilities. The effort aims to make volunteer efforts as easy and comfortable as possible. The faith community is helping to multiply the work that is done throughout the area.

Faith Village housing was full most of the summer, but its fall schedule has plenty of room left.

“It’s a ministry,” said Brad Williams, First Baptist Church’s liaison to Faith Village. “The people who come are here on their own time. We try to make it as comfortable as possible.”

Charles Carroll from First Baptist Church in Comanche served as crew chief for volunteer builders. The team constructed a home for a couple near Bastrop whose house had been destroyed by wildfire last year. (FILE PHOTO/Richard Mangum)

Primera Baptist Church in Bastrop also housed mission teams, filling its facilities much of the summer as well. Primera, like other faith groups, is focusing efforts on fire survivors who have fewer resources with which to rebuild.

Rebuilding is more than construction projects, recovery leaders noted. One of the most valuable services volunteers provide is a caring spirit and listening ear. They’re willing to visit with fire survivors and be a source of comfort.

“If the homeowner wants to talk, the most important thing you can do is listen,” said J.R. Matthews, whose wife Gloria is coordinating Faith Village. Both are Texas Baptist Men volunteers. “Some of them have heartbreaking stories.”

In those moments of conversations, fire survivors find hope that spurs them to push forward.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Johnston said. “From the very young to the very old give hope to our fire survivors.”

Service projects help people in the community; they also deeply affect those who are serving, Johnston noted. When people hear first-hand about the needs of specific individuals, they respond generously. Upon hearing their stories, teams working with fire survivor families have bought them new appliances and new clothes.

“Most of the time, there’s not a dry eye in the house after a full day’s work,” she said. “They hear the fire survivors’ story and they’re touched. And they’re empowered.”

Primera Baptist Church Pastor Harold Welch sees progress taking place one board at a time, one project at a time. By working together with mission teams and members of the community, the area slowly is improving.

“People are getting homes. People are coming to Christ,” he said.

For more information about becoming involved in the recovery efforts in Bastrop County, visit www.texasbaptists.org/disaster or contact Marla Bearden at (888) 244-9400. Churches and individuals also can support Texas Baptist disaster recovery financially at www.texasbaptists.org/give .  

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Jordanian authorities are investigating the death of Cheryll Harvey, a Texan whose body was discovered Sept. 4 in her apartment in Irbid, Jordan. Foul play has been confirmed in the death of the 55-year-old representative of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board.

Cheryll Harvey

Harvey served the Jordanian people 24 years, teaching English and other subjects in connection with the Jordan Baptist Society.

"Cheryll was greatly loved by both our personnel in North Africa and the Middle East and by her many students," said IMB President Tom Elliff. "We are faced once again with a sobering reminder of the brevity of life and the importance of faithfully serving the Lord to the very end of our time on earth. Cheryll has left for us a great example that we should follow.

"She … will always be remembered for her quiet and unassuming spirit, as well as her passion for sharing the Good News."

Harvey was a member of College Heights Baptist Church in Plainview and grew up attending First Baptist Church in Sudan, in northwest Texas.

She had been back to speak at First Baptist Church in Sudan on several occasions during furloughs.

“She was a wonderful lady,” Pastor Robert Roecker said. “She was very soft spoken. When you hear the words ‘meek and mild,’ they applied to her, but she had a such an obviously strong faith in God, it was amazing.”

“She was very well liked in by the people in our church, and we’re all just in shock,” he said.

Pastor Don Robertson of College Heights Baptist Church in Plainview said Harvey made reference to the danger she lived in during her last message to the Plainview church where she once served as a children’s worker.

“She knew she was putting her life on the line, but she also knew she was doing what God wanted her to, so she didn’t care. She wasn’t going to let anyone scare her away from those people she loved so dearly,” he said.

While acknowledging Harvey’s mild temperament, Robertson said she had a steel to her when she was convinced she was doing the right thing.

“Anything she set her mind to do, you better get not get in her way because she was going to do it.”

Robertson said he also is praying that the fruits of Harvey’s ministry will continue to unfold.

“If she could have chosen where she died, I believe it would have been there with those people she loved. I’m praying that somehow something will happen over there even through her death, and that something good can come from this.

“She was a wonderful lady,” he said. “She deserves all the plaudits that can come her way.”
 

Family and colleagues in the United States have been notified and await word about the circumstances surrounding her death. Harvey is survived by two brothers who reside in Texas.  

"As with any event such as this, it is imperative that we remember Cheryll's surviving family members and friends, and that we lift them up in prayer during these days," Elliff said. "We best honor her by giving honor to the Lord whom she so faithfully served."

Staff Writer George Henson contributed to this report.

DALLAS—More than 600 incoming Dallas Baptist University students participated in the school's recent SWAT—Student Welcome and Transition—week.

Incoming Dallas Baptist University basketball player Remy Ndiaye of Senegal helps prepare school supplies for Brother Bill's Helping Hands of Dallas.

Activities included small-group sessions, recreation, candlelighting, Patriot Follies, a pep rally, Patriot Games and other events designed to help acclimate the students to DBU life.

On Friday of SWAT week, students served in teams across the Metroplex at a variety of locations. From playing with children to cleaning apartment complexes, the students learned about needs in their new community and were able to serve their new neighbors.

Dallas Baptist University students package new shoes at Buckner International for the organization's Shoes for Orphan Souls program.

Freshman Mahtab Dossani from Mansfield worked at the Dallas Life Foundation homeless shelter.

"It was a great experience, and I would love to come back again," she said. "The people were so appreciative, and it is amazing to think about what God has in store and how he is going to use them in the future."

Lindsay Rose, director of student engagement at DBU, noted the significant number of returning students who joined campus newcomers in the SWAT activities.

"I have never seen the energy and passion from returning students that we had this year," Rose said.

"We also had the most energetic, passionate group of incoming students that we have seen in a long time. SWAT was a wonderful experience for everyone involved and set a great tone for this upcoming year."

Sixteen Texas Baptist Men disaster relief mobile units and dozens of volunteers have been deployed to Louisiana to serve people whose lives have been disrupted by Hurricane Isaac.

Victim Relief Ministries sets up a prayer station in LaPlace, La., providing spiritual and emotional counsel to disaster victims and first-responders. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Edward Smith)

Volunteers working from the Dallas-based TBM Disaster Relief Mobile Unit—an 18-wheeler specially equipped with a field kitchen—are preparing meals for storm victims and emergency responders, working from Belle Chasse Baptist Church in Algiers, La.

Regional mud-out crews and a shower/laundry mobile unit also are on site at Calvary Baptist Church in Algiers, along with an asset-protection team to provide security.

Mud-out teams already serving in Louisiana are from University Baptist Church in Houston and Colorado Baptist Association. An additional mud-out and chainsaw crew from Collin Baptist Association was slated to arrive Sept. 6.

Sally Thompson, chaplain with Victim Relief Ministries, prays with a resident of LaPlace, La. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Edward Smith)

Multiple units have been deployed to provide showers and laundry service, particularly for National Guard personnel, American Red Cross volunteers and other first-responders serving the affected region.

In addition to a regional North Texas mobile unit, others shower/laundry units are from First Baptist Church in Comanche, Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, First Baptist Church in O'Donnel, Austin Baptist Association, Gambrell Baptist Association, Denton Baptist Association.

A regional temporary emergency child care unit from Gambrell Baptist Association and the statewide child care unit also were deployed to Louisiana.

A TBM team serving with the Smith Baptist Association regional disaster relief unit is setting up food-service operations at Celebration Church in LaPlace, La.

Also in LaPlace, northwest of New Orleans, Victim Relief Ministries has set up its trailer and a banner declaring the site a "prayer station." The crew is "swamped by people needing chaplains," said Edward Smith, deputy executive director of Victim Relief Ministries, an interdenominational organization that grew out of TBM and continues to serve as an independent but affiliated TBM ministry.

"We are providing emotional and spiritual care in the heart of the impacted community," Smith said. Victim Relief Ministries anticipates sending another chaplain team into Plaquemines Parish.

Terry Henderson (left), disaster relief director for Texas Baptist Men, is serving as Hurricane Isaac incident commander for Baptist disaster relief. Henderson consults with Dwain Carter, disaster relief director for the Missouri Baptist Convention and Cathy Smith of the North American Mission Board, inside the North American Mission Board's new mobile incident command center, set up at First Baptist Church in Covington, La. (PHOTO/Karen Willoughby)

Meanwhile, a four-member TBM crew is serving with the incident management team at First Baptist Church in Covington, La. At the request of Gibbie McMillam, Louisiana Baptist state disaster relief director, TBM State Disaster Relief Director Terry Henderson is coordinating Baptist disaster relief responders from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Joe Henard from Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo is serving as logistics and safety officer at the incident command center in Covington. Ralph Rogers, also from Paramount Baptist in Amarillo, is working as operations officer, and Cindy Wesch from Hillcrest Baptist Church in Midlothian is administrative officer.

TBM disaster relief efforts are financed entirely by designated gifts. To give directly to TBM, visit www.texasbaptistmen.org or mail a check to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, 75227.

Many university students who served this summer with Go Now Missions reported they discovered God's call was only a prayer or phone conversation away.

Vanessa Solis, a recent Angelina State University graduate, prayed since the beginning of the year for an opportunity to do "something extreme, to go all out for God."

For much of the spring semester, nothing seemed to fit the bill. Then her Baptist Student Ministries director told her Go Now Missions—the Cooperative Program-supported student missions arm of the Baptist General Convention of Texas—was seeking a bilingual female student to serve in Venezuela.

"I prayed about it and decided to commit," she said. "I went."

Solis is one of many students who responded to God's call to the mission field as a result of prayer—and an opportunity presented to them by a friend or Christian leader, said Brenda Sanders, who leads Go Now Missions. This summer, 250 college students served as Go Now missionaries in 10 Texas cities, 13 states and 20 countries.

Taylor Harrison, a student at the University of Texas in Austin, shares God's love at an orphanage in Uganda with Go Now Missions. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Go Now Missions)

Sanders recalls her own experience as a summer missionary and its impact on her life.

"As a college sophomore, it was a conversation with a Baptist Student Union staff member that caused me to consider applying to be a summer missionary," Sanders said.

"I have seen that happen time and time again. All it takes is someone issuing the challenge to a student and believing that they can be used by God.  Or as they see fellow students serve, they begin to think, 'I can do that.'"

Kristen Gary, a senior at Texas A&M University, prayed with her roommates one night, asking for God to direct her summer plans.

The next day, she read about Go Now opportunities to serve in Alaska. She knew then that was where God was calling her to minister.

The calling was confirmed during Gary's summer of feeding Hmong children in Anchorage. Her mission team spent hours each day at a park befriending impoverished children and their families. The team members built relationships with the children. The young people became open to hearing Bible stories. The missionaries taught some of them how to pray. One mother asked for a Bible.

Karen Valasquez, a student at University of Texas-Pan American, ministers to children in Venezuela during her summer term with Go Now Missions.

Solis also sensed she was where God placed her. Her team spent much of its time knocking on doors and sharing the gospel. She found Venezuelans extremely open to spiritual conversations.

Many admitted to deficiencies in their relationship with God and going to church. The team encouraged people to give their lives to God and let him carry them through the hardships that pushed them away from church.

Many people rededicated their lives to Christ this summer, Solis said. "They were starting to go to church," she said. "They were starting to be active. There were complete changes."

Mandy Davidhizar, a Sam Houston State University student, spent the summer with South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio working on ministry projects, including Vacation Bible School, serving in the congregation's food pantry and coaching in the church's soccer league.

Ricky Ho, a student at the University of Texas at Arlington, serves with an agricultural team in the Pacific Rim through Go Now Missions. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Go Now Missions)

Davidhizar and her Go Now teammate also helped the church organize a program where church members adopt senior citizens in the community.

"I feel like this summer was a summer of throwing seeds out," she said. "It was awesome to be involved in so many things each day."

Solis, Gary and Davidhizar each said they are thankful they pursued God's calling upon their lives this summer.

"When God places a call in your life, you need to go," Solis said. "With my trip, when I first learned about it, there was this feeling in my chest that I couldn't get rid of. It was like a mosquito kept biting and biting."

South Plains College student Josh Silva was frustrated. His grades were falling. In desperation, he prayed a simple prayer: "God, whatever you'd like to do with my life, do it. Just take control."

The next day, a representative from Texas Baptists' student missions program, Go Now Missions, called to ask if he'd be interested in serving as a summer missionary. A short time later, Silva was a member of the first Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas student missions team through Go Now Missions.

The first team—followed by two other teams serving in other locales—ministered in New York City. Team members helped a Hispanic church there with a variety of projects, including visiting homes, Vacation Bible School, puppet shows and installing new flooring.

"It was a blessing," he said. "It got me closer to God. Now, I want to do something in that field."

Abby Villagrana, a Dallas Baptist University student who also participated in the trip, was amazed to see the diversity of New York City. She encountered people from around the globe, she reported..

She also encountered people who needed to hear the gospel. Throughout their time in New York City, team members sought to share the hope of Christ with people around them. Some people accepted Christ as their Lord.

Hispanic Baptist Convention President Jesse Rincones praised the students for their willingness to be obedient to God's call on their lives.

"In a historic moment in 1930, the first Convención missionary was elected to work with the mission field of Hispanics in Texas," he said. "It is another historic milestone to have Convención Hispanic students embarking in missionary efforts in Texas and beyond. We are excited that young Hispanic Baptist Texans are making a kingdom impact on our world."

Silva and Villagrana felt honored to be among the first student missionaries from the Hispanic Baptist Convention. Both students hope Hispanic students continue participating through Go Now Missions.

"I would encourage our Hispanic community to do that," Villagrana said. "We are all called to do that."

WACO—People are more likely to show forgiving behavior if they receive restitution, but they are more prone to report they have forgiven if they get an apology, according to Baylor University research published in the Journal of Positive Psychology.

The study underscores the importance of both restitution and apology and of using multiple measures for forgiveness, including behavior, said Jo-Ann Tsang, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience in Baylor's College of Arts & Sciences.

"One of the main reasons for using behavioral measures in addition to self-reporting by individuals is that they can make themselves look better by only self-reporting, although they don't necessarily intend to lie," she said. "And it may be that 'I forgive you' is a more conscious feeling if they receive an apology."

In the study, 136 undergraduate psychology students were stationed in individual cubicles and told that raffle tickets for a $50 gift card would be given out in three rounds, with 10 tickets per round to be divided between a participant and an unknown "partner." They also were told they might receive a note from the partner.

In the first round, participants were given only two of the 10 tickets split between them and their partners; in the second, they got nine. Some were told the partner made the distributions; others were told it was by chance.

Jo-Ann Tsang

Some participants received an apology note from their partners on the second round, saying: "Sorry about that first round. I got carried away, and I feel really bad that I did that." Some participants also received raffle tickets back from their partners in the second round, a form of restitution. In the last round, the participants were given the chance to be in charge of distributions themselves.

Researchers examined the links between apology, restitution, empathy and forgiveness, measuring forgiveness through behavior and self-reporting on a questionnaire.

Researchers wrote that "making amends can facilitative forgiveness, but not all amends can fully compensate for offenses." Apology may be needed to repair damage fully, but it may be a "silent forgiveness," while restitution without apology may lead to a "hollow forgiveness" in which the offenders are treated better but not necessarily forgiven.

"The results suggest that if transgressors seek both psychological and interpersonal forgiveness from their victims, they must pair their apologies with restitution," they wrote. "Apparently, actions and words speak loudest in concert."