Interns on the job. Jessica Acklen, a senior at Baylor University, and Lauren Hollon, a Baylor University graduate student, are serving as Texas Baptist communications interns 10 weeks this summer in a cooperative venture involving the Baptist Standard and the Baptist General Convention of Texas communications office. Acklen, a graduate of Pantego Christian Academy in Arlington, has served as assistant city editor and as entertainment editor for the Baylor Lariat. Hollon, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Baylor with a major in international studies and minor in Spanish, has been a beat reporter for the Lariat and worked 10 months teaching English as a foreign language at the Chitralada Palace School in Bangkok, Thailand.
Mission Waco recognized. Charity Navigator, a national entity that evaluates nonprofit agencies based on financial accountability, has given Mission Waco and its Cross Culture Experiences program its highest rating. It marks the third consecutive year the Waco-based urban ministry has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator—an honor shared by only 14 percent of the charities the group ranks.
Deadline nears for missions awards. The nomination deadline for the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Mission Awards is Aug. 13. The awards include the Pioneer Award for service in missions, the Innovator Award for creativity in missions and the Adventurer Award for leadership in missions. The awards will be presented during the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation’s luncheon Nov. 8 in McAllen at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting. 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 upon a church or individual who provided a model for missions 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 the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246 or Bill.Arnold@texasbaptists.org.
Bill Adams named CEO of health center. Bill Adams has returned to Valley Baptist Health Center in Harlingen as senior vice president and chief executive officer. James Eastham remains president and CEO of Valley Baptist Health System, which oversees both Valley Baptist’s hospitals in Harlingen and Brownsville. Adams worked 21 years with the Harlingen hospital, including service as senior vice president and CEO and as vice president for clinical services. For the last five and a half years, he has been vice president and administrator for Charleston Area Medical Center’s Memorial Hospital in Charleston, W. Va. Adams holds an undergraduate degree in health administration from Auburn University and a master’s degree in hospital and health administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He and his wife, Tita, have three children—Billy of Corpus Christi; John Henry, a graduate student at Trinity University in San Antonio; and Amy, an incoming freshman at Texas A&M University—and one grandchild.
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