David Hardage—a veteran Texas Baptist pastor, associational leader and seminary development officer—will be nominated as the next executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

David Hardage

Ron Lyles of Pasadena, chair of the executive director search committee, notified the BGCT Executive Board Dec. 14 the committee is recommending Hardage to succeed Randel Everett, who became pastor of First Baptist Church in Midland Jan. 16.

The board will vote on the committee's recommendation at a called meeting Jan. 12.

Hardage serves as director of development for Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary and as interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Waxahachie.

Previously, he was director of Waco Regional Baptist Association.

He served 13 years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs. Previous pastorates included First Baptist Church in Holliday, First Baptist Church in Blum and First Baptist Church in Weatherford, Okla.

His previous interim pastorates include Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, First Baptist Church in Huntsville and First Baptist Church in Bryan.

Hardage expressed gratitude for the influence Texas Baptists have had throughout his life and ministry, and he noted his thanks for the opportunity to be considered as the next executive director of the executive board.

"I am honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve our Texas Baptist family," Hardage said. "I am a grassroots Texas Baptist. I was saved, baptized, called, licensed and ordained in Texas Baptist churches. I received my education at a Texas Baptist institution and have served as pastor of three Texas Baptist churches and interim pastor of five others. I have been the director of missions of a Texas Baptist association and now have served at one of our seminaries. It has also been my privilege to serve Texas Baptists, voluntarily, through a variety of committees and boards."

Hardage has served as chairman of the BGCT State Missions Commission, chairman of the BGCT Missions Funding Committee and as a trustee at East Texas Baptist University. He currently is a trustee at Latham Springs Camp and Retreat Center.

Lyles praised Hardage as a "man who has a strong love for Jesus and for the body of Christ, the church." He characterized Hardage as having the professional and personal skills to lead Texas Baptists.

"David's desire is to build upon the strengths of what we as Texas Baptists are doing well and to guide us in making the necessary changes to make our cooperative work even more effective and efficient. He wants to move us from viability to vitality," Lyles wrote to the Executive Board.

"The search committee looks forward to the official presentation of David Hardage for your consideration and affirmation. I am confident that those of you who do not know David well will be impressed when you have that opportunity. We gladly recommend him to you to serve as our next executive director."

Hardage is a graduate of Baylor University. He earned master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.

–With additional reporting by Managing Editor Ken Camp

ATHENS (ABP) – An East Texas town is being dubbed Ground Zero in this year’s round of skirmishes known collectively as the Christmas Wars.

Attention turned to Athens, about 50 miles southeast of Dallas, after the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation asked Henderson County commissioners to remove from the courthouse lawn a nativity scene seen as an unconstitutional establishment of religion by government.

"When the county hosts this manger scene, which depicts the legendary birth of Jesus Christ, at the seat of its government, it places the imprimatur of the county government behind the Christian religious doctrine," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the non-profit organization dedicated to “free thought” and the separation of church and state.

In so doing, Gaylor continued, Henderson County “excludes citizens who are not Christians,” including an estimated 15 percent of American adults who describe themselves as having no particular religion.

County attorney Clint Davis wrote back claiming the display — which includes other symbols, including Santa Clause and snowmen — is constitutional because of its secular purpose to “create a festive atmosphere for the celebration of Christmas.”

After a local TV news station reported that commissioners wouldn’t object to other religious displays being put on county property but had never been asked, Freedom From Religion Foundation attorney wrote Dec. 8 announcing plans to erect a display near the nativity scene of a “Winter Solstice” banner with the message “let reason prevail.” 

More than 70 pastors met Dec. 9 to plan a noon rally at the courthouse Dec. 17 to demand that the nativity scene remain.

Nathan Lorick, pastor of First Baptist Church in nearby Malakoff, Texas, described the controversy as part of a rise in “persecution” against Christians in America, according to the Christian Post.

Kyle Henderson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Athens, Texas, said the manger scene did not constitute government support of a religion but rather protection of the free-speech rights of the private group that placed it.

Henderson said in a statement on the church website that constitutional protections were put in place because of groups, including Baptists, that at the time of the nation’s founding were minorities.

“We should not stand up because we have the majority and can intimidate others, but we should stand up because we believe every citizen has the right to freely express their opinion,” he said.

NEW YORK—Quarterback Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy on Dec. 10, becoming the 77th recipient of college sports’ highest award and the first in Baylor University’s history.

Heisman voters selected Griffin over Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, Luck, Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, Louisiana State cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Robert Griffin III

RG3, as fans throughout “Baylor Nation” know him, wore a new suit and brightly colored Superman socks for the occasion at Best Buy Theater in Times Square.

The redshirt junior—who already earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Baylor in three years, is working on a master’s degree in communications and plans to apply for Baylor Law School if he doesn’t go to the NFL—accounted for 45 touchdowns this season. Griffin ran for 100 or more yards twice and threw for 300 yards or more nine games this season.

Baylor notes Giffin also is:

• No. 1 in the nation in pass efficiency (on pace for a new NCAA record) and points responsibility

• Top-5 nationally in total offense, touchdown passes and completion percentage

• Owner of 51 Baylor records, including season and career marks for passing yards, passing touchdowns, completion percentage, total yards and total touchdowns

• Davey O'Brien Award winner

• Walter Camp Player of the Year finalist

• Manning Award finalist

• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist

• Wuerffel Award finalist

• Academic All-District VII and 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team selection

• Four-time national player of the week

• One of three players in FBS history with 10,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing

• 2011 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year

• 2011 Big 12 All Conference First Team.
 

DALLAS—Nursing students from Texas Women's University and members of the Dallas Cake Club spread Christmas cheer at three Buckner afterschool programs in the Dallas area.

The faces of children in Buckner-run afterschool programs lit up when they opened their gifts to find toys, school supplies and hygiene products. (PHOTOS/Buckner International)

The Dallas Cake Club provided festive, fondant-covered confections to the Hillburn Hills, Simari Ridge and Wynnewood community resource centers, while the TWU nursing school brought wrapped boxes filled with gifts that nursing students had collected for each child.

"I really hope that the kids just know there are people out there who love them and care for them that are not in their everyday life," said Chelsea Moran, a junior in the nursing program and a member of First Baptist Church of Euless.

The children's faces lit up to open their boxes and see new school supplies, jewelry-making kits, action figures, kites, new socks, toiletries and other gifts.

"The kids responded well to the group, and they were very excited to get gifts," said Carter Shephard, community resource coordinator at Simari Ridge. "The nursing students made the kids feel that they care about them, support them and wanted them to have a great Christmas."

Nursing students from Texas Women's University collected gifts for each child in the Buckner-run afterschool programs at Wynnewood, Simari Ridge and Hillburn Hills community resource centers. (PHOTOS/Buckner International)

The nurses-in-training encouraged students to pursue education and achieve their dreams. They also answered questions about what it's like to work in nursing. The children especially were intrigued to learn that nursing students got to help in the delivery room.

"One of our primary goals is to use these experiences to show a compassionate side of nursing to students," said Myke Knapp, president of the TWU Nursing Student Association. "Another goal is to be role models and demonstrate how an education can take you beyond what you have come to know as your destiny."

The Christmas party marked the second event the TWU Nursing Student Association has held for the children in Buckner afterschool programs. Earlier this year, they collected 250 pounds of candy and 2,300 plastic eggs to organize an Easter egg hunt for the children.

BROWNSVILLE—Christmas will come a little early this year with gifts for 170 families living in the lower Rio Grande Valley. And their handmade, individually selected gifts never will go out of style and will continue to have an impact for years to come.

On Dec. 16, children from eight Brownsville schools and two local family literacy programs will receive beginning home libraries. Each school will serve as host for a family reading fair, where parents and children will decorate their own bookcases. The children will be able to select Bibles, health literacy books, new and used storybooks, and then read together.

The urgency of encouraging and equipping parents to read to their young children cannot be overstated, said Lester Meriwether, executive director of Literacy Connexus. Children acquire the foundation of language and literacy during their first three years and do not develop to their full capacity without early literacy experiences, he noted.

Dubbed "the readiness gap" by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, entering kindergarten far behind the level of their peers is the reality of most children from low-income families.

Royal Ambassador groups in churches throughout Texas embraced Books for the Border—a Literacy Connexus emphasis—as this year's state missions project. At the RA Missions Mania at Latham Springs Camp and Retreat Center in mid-November, campers delivered 90 handcrafted bookcases, 12 boxes of donated books and $2,100 to buy Bibles and other literature for families in the Brownsville area.

"RAs are all about hands-on crafts and missions," said Gene Cummins, RA coordinator at First Baptist Church in Killeen. "They enjoyed seeing the fruits of their labor, and the older boys, especially, had an understanding of the need for the books and bookcases."

In addition to the RA emphasis, the Brownsville Books for the Border project also received support from First Baptist Church in Athens, Community North Baptist Church in McKinney, First Baptist Church in Zachary, La., and Woman's Missionary Union of Texas, as well as Trinity Terrace Retirement Community in Fort Worth.

Royal Ambassadors and their leaders from First Baptist Church in Killeen delivered 15 bookcases, $450 and a box loaded with books to Missions Mania at Latham Springs Camp. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Literacy Connexus)

The Brownsville reading fairs will culminate a six-week family literacy program for 3-year-olds and their parents, sponsored by the HEB grocery store chain. The HEB Read 3 campaign's weekly sessions focus on early literacy and nutrition, and they give parents the opportunity to read, sing and play with their children. The beginning home libraries provided by Books for the Border at the conclusion of the program will equip families to continue these literacy-developing practices.

Books for the Border endeavors to break the cycle of generational poverty by placing books in homes where none exist, Meriwether explained.

"We are redefining ourselves as Books for the Border and beyond," he said. "People need to understand the universality of need across Texas, but we want to keep a strong focus on the border. We do not want people to forget the needs along the border."

At least 170 families in the Brownsville area will know they were not forgotten this Christmas.

The gifts they receive have the potential to lift them out of poverty by improving literacy skills, Meriwether noted. And through the Bibles that will be made available, he added, some will be introduced to Jesus Christ—the best gift of all.

DALLAS—The Baptist General Convention of Texas executive director search committee conducted second interviews with three serious candidates in November, and the group's chairman expects the committee to select a nominee in December.

Chairman Ron Lyles, pastor of South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, said each candidate is a "gifted, capable and gracious person." He is hopeful the committee will identify the nominee in December and make the announcement in January.

The nominee then would be presented to the BGCT Executive Board either in a special called meeting or during its scheduled meeting Feb. 28.

The committee is seeking a successor to Randel Everett, who became pastor of First Baptist Church in Midland Jan. 16. The BGCT Executive Board authorized Steve Vernon, associate executive director, to assume responsibility temporarily in the executive director's absence.

DENTON—When Kenny Robison first met Rafael Natividad, the two pastors meshed well. Robison had water and Natividad popcorn at a University of North Texas Baptist Student Ministry event.

Months later, Robison prayed as he drove through the neighborhood surrounding Memorial Baptist Church, where he served as pastor.

He recalled the minister he had met and liked so well, but he couldn't recall his name or that he was pastor of Primera Iglesia. He only knew the day he had told his congregation about years before had come.

"When they asked me to come as bivocational pastor, I told them it was with conditions, and one of those was that they be open to some sort of transition. At the time, I didn't know what it was, but I knew the community was changing," Robison recalled.

After five years as pastor, he felt the time for a new beginning had arrived. Robison called the associational office, and the staff helped him determine perhaps Natividad was the person he was trying to remember.

Robison called Natividad. The two pastors then took their first drive together through the community near Memorial as they discussed the possibility of merging their two congregations.

"Before Pastor Kenny initially contacted me, we were already looking to either build or relocate as a congregation," Natividad said.

Primera owned four acres of land, but the church had not received the zoning necessary to expand its facility.

"We were discouraged as a congregation. We were thinking: 'Well, God, what's going on? What are you doing? Why close these doors? We've outgrown our building, so where are we going from here?'" Natividad recalled.

While the church's members had thought about selling their property and moving elsewhere, a merger was not on the radar.

"When Pastor Kenny contacted me, it was a whole new direction we hadn't even contemplated, much less considered as a possibility," he said.

The two pastors talked about the possibilities for a couple of weeks and then asked their congregations to pray for a month.

After that time, the churches began to talk more seriously about a merger and began having fellowships together on Wednesday nights, so that they could begin to get to know one another.

On Oct. 31, 2010, both congregations voted overwhelmingly to merge into a new congregation called Life Fellowship Community Church.

From the beginning, the hiccups have been few, the co-pastors said.

"There are differences in culture, but both congregations have learned there is no such things as groups anymore—we're all one family now," Natividad said.

"We've accepted one another and our differences. We're learning that while there are differences, we're a church and that's my brother and that's my sister, and we're going to encourage each other, put up with each other and bless each other."

While both pastors acknowledge the fellowships and barbecues that preceded the merger helped, they believe the camaraderie they share also has been important.

"We hit it off immediately," Robison said. "And because we hit it off so well, and they see we genuinely love each other, that's made it easier for the congregations to genuinely love each other."

The transition also was easier because of the way God had positioned the leadership of the two churches, Natividad said.

"Where they were lacking, we had someone. Where we were lacking, they had someone. … When we came together it was perfect," he said.

"We didn't have to add Hispanics to some areas to make it seem fair. That's who we had. It just fell into place. You go down our leadership roles, and it's not blended on purpose. That's just how God did it. There's no doubt God was in this."

As co-pastors, Natividad and Robison alternate preaching series on Sunday mornings. Whoever is not preaching on Sunday mornings preaches on Wednesday nights. Sunday nights are left for small groups and fellowships.

In the beginning, Life Fellowship had one bilingual service with Natividad providing the Spanish translation regardless of who was preaching.

The pastors didn't want to have two services, because they didn't want two churches but a single unified congregation.

A few months ago, the church started an English service primarily to offer something for Anglo visitors who might not be immediately comfortable in a bilingual service.

They found some Hispanics are attending the English service, and some Anglos still are attending the bilingual service.

"They don't speak any Spanish, but they enjoy the fellowship—they enjoy being with their brothers and sisters in Christ," Robison said.

The second service seems to be helping the congregation reach out. With a single service, New Fellow-ship was running about 90 people in worship, now that number is closer to 130.

In the first year of the congregation's life, 43 people made professions of faith in Christ.

While it is not uncommon for Anglo congregations to turn over the keys to Hispanic congregations in transitioning communities, Nativi-dad said, that is not what is going to happen at Life Fellowship Community Church.

"They're here to stay, and we're here to stay. And we see it as a God thing completely," he said.

The next challenge is to move beyond some seeing Life Fellowship as a Hispanic-Anglo congregation, Robison said.

"That's what we are, but that is not what we have living around us in a five-mile radius. Our calling is to be a Great Commission, Great Com-mandment church," he said.

"What we're trying to do is reach people. We don't care what their skin color is or what their ethnicity is."

DALLAS—The importance of disability ministry and depending on God during suffering were the themes of Joni Eareckson Tada's message during a recent chapel service at Dallas Baptist University.

"How tragic it would be if the suffering that people with disability experiences were nothing but a preface of the eternal suffering that awaits them in a Christless eternity," shared Eareckson Tada. "That may be the most compelling reason for disability ministry."

Eareckson Tada is the founder and chief executive officer of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, an international advocacy agency for people with disabilities. After a diving accident at age 17, she became a quadriplegic. She underwent two years of rehabilitation, but she never regained the use of her legs or hands.

Eareckson Tada detailed her struggles with faith and God's purpose for her life following the accident.

She spoke about the importance of seeking God during times of suffering.

"God is not quick to give advice. He gives himself," she said.

"When the hearts of hurting people are bleeding and they are seeking answers and asking why, we as Christians can't just give truth. We as believers need to show what is called compassion."

With more than 1 billion people in the world suffering from disabilities, 80 percent of whom live in abject poverty, there is great need for ministry, she said.

Christians should not just tell others about Jesus, she said, but rather give them an up-close, personal expression of Christ. Eareckson Tada recounted many instances of Christ's care to the blind, lame and sick.

"It is about not just telling them, but showing them the gospel," she explained. "Not just proclaiming, but portraying the compassion of Jesus Christ."

Eareckson Tada also encouraged students to enroll in the DBU class "Disability and the Church" that will be offered in the spring semester. Taught by Mark Hale, assistant professor of higher education and director of the master of education in higher education program, the course was developed following the encouragement of Eareckson Tada for DBU to help educate students on ways to minister to disabled people through local churches.

During a luncheon for faculty and staff, she elaborated on the importance of ministering to students with disabilities and helping encourage people who are suffering trials of various kinds.

The author of 46 books and numerous magazine articles, Eareckson Tada also hosts a four-minute radio program that reaches 1 million listeners each week.

She also hosts the Joni and Friends television series, which is broadcast in 84 countries.

WASHINGTON (RNS)—James A. Roberts was watching an ABC News Nightline episode on basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal recently when he heard about the size of the retired player's Florida home—70,000 square feet.

Even for a man who spends his time studying consumer behavior as a marketing professor at Baylor University, Roberts was stunned.

His latest book, Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don't Have in Search of Happiness We Can't Buy, tells the story of the American Dream gone awry by profligate materialism. The size of O'Neal's home offered further proof.

To Roberts' mind, what began as "Keeping up with the Joneses" has morphed into "Keeping up with the Gateses" (or, perhaps, the O'Neals).

"With the Internet, we don't have to compare ourselves with people living next door, we compare ourselves with the richest people in the world, and people aren't going to be happy," he said in a phone interview.

Writing about people's extravagant spending habits is all the rage, with multiple experts on consumer behavior publishing accounts on the addictive—and often ruinous—nature of America's favorite pastime. Roberts' Shiny Objects is not particularly novel. The statistics quoted are well known: Seventy percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck; baby boomers are retiring with only $50,000 in savings.

Roberts' book may be different in one respect. A deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Roberts offers a critique of the church, too.

As might be expected, he bashes celebrity preachers Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer and Creflo Dollar for a prosperity gospel theology that promises a hundredfold return on any donation to their ministry. But Roberts also indicts megachurches for accepting corporate financial support.

"Megachurches have become a prime distribution and marketing channel with companies including McDonald's, Ford, Chrysler, Target and Coca-Cola lining up to sponsor conferences and outreach efforts, as well as offering free samples and test drives directly to worshippers," he writes.

Scholars who study megachurches say that's a gross overstatement. At most, 10 percent of megachurches have collaborated with corporate companies, said Scott Thumma, sociologist of religion at Hartford Seminary.

"Corporations and religious leaders have always been intertwined," said Thumma, a leading expert on large congregations. "Any long-established mainline congregation with an endowment has a vested interest in the health of the stock market."

Dave Travis, CEO of the Leadership Network, a Dallas-based think tank for large churches, added that while some church-based conferences accept sponsorships, those mostly are for book and software publishers of materials aimed at church employees.

Roberts takes a more sanguine view of smaller churches, including his own, that offer classes to help churchgoers get a grip on debt.

A fan of radio personality Dave Ramsey and his Financial Peace University, Roberts leads a church discussion group based on Ramsey's 13-week class. The class teaches people how to keep a monthly budget, pay cash for groceries and draw down on debt.

"The Bible is pretty clear, in my reading, that we need to keep money in proper perspective," he said. "It can't be the driving force in our lives."

But while many middle-class churchgoers are wising up and realizing they need more discipline in managing their money, Roberts doesn't hold out hope for society at large, which he claims is dispensing quickly with the financial sobriety that accompanied the 2008 recession.

Case in point: Black Friday sales topped 9 percent over last year, proof of what he calls "consumer short-term amnesia."

"Sad to say, I don't think we've learned our lesson from the past recession," Roberts said.

"We tightened our belts and hunkered down for a while, but as soon as we see blue skies, we're back to our profligate ways."

Roberts advises budget-conscious holiday shoppers to try "experiential materialism," in which people spend money on an experience such as a ball game, a good meal at a restaurant or an upcoming vacation.

"It gives us a chance to look forward and create a memory that will last a lifetime," he said. "Anything else I might give my wife, she'll appreciate the thought, but the gift will be long forgotten."

HARLINGEN—Two leaders in Valley Baptist Health System are being promoted to new positions in March.

Effective March 1, Manny Vela, senior vice president and chief legal officer for Valley Baptist Health System, will transition to the role of president and chief executive officer of the health system. 

James Eastham, who has filled that role  the last three years, transition to vice president with Vanguard Health Systems.  His primary responsibilities will focus on public policy and advocacy.
 
Vela has served Valley Baptist Health System eight years. A native of Harlingen, he earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.  Prior to working at Valley Baptist, he was a partner with his father Moises V. Vela in the Vela and Vela law firm. 

During his tenure with Valley Baptist, he has been involved with a variety of major corporate transactions, including the purchase of Brownsville Medical Center and the joint venture with Vanguard Health Systems.
 
“Manny is a Valley native who has lived and worked here most of his life, and comes from a well-known family of generations of South Texas leaders. His experience in health care and his extensive civic and professional leadership, coupled with his involvement with healthcare issues with the state legislature, create a skill set that is ideal to lead Valley Baptist moving forward,” said Kent Wallace, president and CEO of Vanguard Health Systems.
 
Prior to joining Valley Baptist in 2002, Eastham served as CEO at Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Hospital Southwest in Houston. He led the Valley Baptist capital restructuring effort culminating in the joint venture with Vanguard Health Systems in September 2011. 

“James Eastham has a depth and breadth of experience in healthcare administration, and he is uniquely suited to work in the public policy arena,” Wallace said.
 
“We are excited for these two strong leaders,” stated Alan Johnson, chairman of the Valley Baptist Joint Venture board of directors. “We are even more excited about the future of our hospitals as we move forward with our Vanguard partnership.”       
 
Valley Baptist Health System is an 866-bed faith-based regional health system located in the Rio Grande Valley.

History awards presented. The Texas Baptist Historical Society honored several writers of church history at its fall gathering, held in conjunction with the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Amarillo. Four writers received recognition for a church history for a congregation with membership under 500—J.W. Griffith and R.L. Vaughn for A History of Smyrna Baptist Church: 135 Years in Three Southern Rusk County Communities and Geneva Davis and Kimberly Taylor for Knobbs Springs Baptist Church: A History 1860–2010. Ron Ellison received an award for his unpublished manuscript, "How Did Richard E. Morris Affect Part of East Texas at the End of the Nineteenth Century?" In the category for general Texas Baptist and associational histories, Paul Stripling was honored for his work, Turning Points in the History of the Waco Regional Baptist Association. The society's meeting also included a presentation by Jennifer Hawks, a student at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary, on "Mary Hill Davis: A 20th Century Leader with a 21st Century Vision."

HBU joins Southland Conference. Houston Baptist University has accepted an invitation to join the Southland Conference beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year. HBU officially will become the eleventh member of the Southland July 1, 2013, joining Lamar, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, McNeese State, Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Central Arkansas and Oral Roberts universities. The HBU Huskies will add football to their current lineup of sports and begin Southland Conference play in 2014.

Baylor accounting students top CPA tests. Graduate students in Baylor University's accounting program ranked No. 6 in the nation for overall pass rate among first-time candidates of the 2010 Uniform Certified Public Accountant exam released by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, with 86.6 percent passing. On individual sections, Baylor ranked No. 5 in the nation on the auditing section with a pass rate of 81 percent, No. 3 in the nation on the financial accounting and reporting section with a pass rate of 90 percent, and No. 7 in the nation on the regulation section with a pass rate of 77.3 percent. Graduate students also achieved the highest overall pass rate in Texas and the highest average score in Texas, a score of 81.1.

Music scholarship established at HSU. Family and friends of Lawson Hager established an endowed scholarship at Hardin-Simmons University to honor his 38-year teaching career at the university, including his service as dean of the School of Music and director of the HSU Cowboy Band. The scholarship is available to students majoring in music, with first preference given to a French horn principal and second priority to any brass principal. Recipients must participate in both band and orchestra and maintain a 2.5 overall GPA with a 3.0 GPA in music to qualify for the scholarship.

• Jose Abad to Iglesia Nueva Vida in Pearsall as pastor.

• Bob Ferguson to Brushy Top Church in Eldorado as pastor.

• Rick Green to First Church in Water Valley as pastor.

• Jimmy Griffith to Belmont Church in Abilene as pastor, where he had been interim.

• Walt Gruenwald to Pilgrims Way Church in Sanger as pastor.

• Joe Hodges has resigned as pastor at First Church in Eden.

• Steve Joiner to St. Joe Church in DeLeon as pastor from First Church in Buffalo Gap.

• Matthew Killough to First Church in Sonora as pastor.

• Michael Linton to First Church in Nixon as pastor.

• Jonathan Martin to First Church in Kenedy as youth minister.

• Johnnie McNellie to First Church in Lake Dallas as minister of music.

• Jesse Motley to Emmanuel Church in Altus, Okla., as youth and education minister from First Church in Lake Dallas, where he was associate/interim pastor.

• Gary Price to First Church in Eldorado as pastor.

• Rupert Robbins to Hillcrest Church in Cedar Hill as associate pastor of administration.

• Chris Watson to Pioneer Church in Valley View as pastor.

• Jason Wright to Elmcrest Church in Abilene as minister of education and missions from Hamby Church in Abilene, where he was pastor.