Texas Tidbits: Call for volunteers

Disaster recovery volunteers needed. The Baptist General Convention of Texas disaster recovery office is mobilizing volunteers for spring projects in Louisiana and Staten Island, N.Y., as well as a summer trip to an area near Queens, N.Y. The “Eight Days of Hope” project March 9-16, is part of a nationwide effort to bring 1,600 volunteers to LaPlace, La., to help rebuild homes and communities damaged by Hurricane Isaac. Forty volunteers also are needed March 9-16 in New York to work with Gateway Church of Staten Island to help clean up homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy, as well as work in construction and with a distribution center. A summer disaster recovery project in the Rockaways, near Queens, N.Y., Aug. 10-17 also will include clean-up and construction. For more information, contact Marla Bearden at (214) 537-7358 or marla.bearden@texasbaptists.org or Gerald Davis at (214) 924-6401 or gerald.davis@texasbaptists.org, or click here.

Missions Foundation award nominations open. The nomination deadline for the 2013 Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Mission Awards is Feb. 5. The awards, selected by the foundation’s council, include the Pioneer Award for service in missions, the Innovator Award for creativity in missions and the Adventurer Award for leadership in missions. The Pioneer Award goes to a long-time leader in missions or someone who played a key role in beginning mission work that affected Texas Baptist life. The Innovator Award is bestowed on a church or individual who provided a missions model others can adopt. The Adventurer Award honors an individual who advanced missions through direction of significant mission activities, outstanding financial support or leadership in ministry opportunities. Nominations may be submitted to Bill Arnold at the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246 or bill.arnold@texasbaptists.org. The awards will be presented during the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation’s luncheon during the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting, July 14-17 in San Antonio.

Estate gift to HSU benefits disabled veterans. Lorene Chambliss of West Monroe, La., left her entire estate to Hardin-Simmons University, endowing a scholarship in memory of her parents, E.D. and Lydia Norman, and her husband, Frank N. Chambliss. She expressed her desire to benefit qualified students needing financial assistance, particularly those from Texas and Louisiana, with disabled veterans given preference.

ETBU trustees approve new degree. East Texas Baptist University trustees approved a new academic program—a bachelor of science in political science degree, with concentrations in pre-law and governance. It is offered alongside the traditional bachelor of arts in political science degree. The department of history and political science and the ETBU School of Humanities, in collaboration with the Fred M. Hale School of Business, developed the new program.

HSU student hero honors friend. Soon after Hardin-Simmons University student Josh Steed learned he was one of 18 people in the United States honored for valor by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, Steed notified his friend Jacob Allen that an endowed scholarship had been established in his name. Steed and Allen worked together in an Abilene apartment complex office when a gunman entered and shot Allen in the head and leg. Steed subdued and disarmed the gunman, and then he summoned the police and medical help for his friend. About five months ago, Steed approached HSU President Lanny Hall about setting up a scholarship fund to honor Allen. Steed provided a mailing list of classmates, friends and family members to contact as potential donors, and the solicitation prompted sufficient response to establish the scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded each year to a student or students who have overcome a challenging hardship to be at HSU, whether a single incident or long-term adversity. To be eligible, a student must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and have a financial need.