Africa University Health Center nears completion

The new Africa University Health Center, funded by a $500,000 gift from NTC churches, is almost complete and will be dedicated in July. The NTC expects to raise the additional $500,000 for health science scholarships by annual conference....

Commissioned on Deacon Track

Janet Lynn Collinsworth Janet is a 1978 graduate of Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, and a 2009 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Theological Studies degree. Janet is a member of St. Andrew UMC, Plano. She has been working part-time in private practice as a Certified Public Accountant. She is married to William (B.J.) Collinsworth and has two young adult children, Chris and Liz.     Paul...

Commissioned on Elder Track

June 8, 7:00 p.m. at Custer Road UMC, Plano John Dixon Baldwin John is a 1985 graduate of Southwestern University, Georgetown, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, and a 2009 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Divinity degree. His home church is First UMC, Allen, and his present membership is at Custer Road UMC, Plano, where he serves as a staff member. John and wife, Julie Ann, have a young son, Cameron. Abril Celeste Goforth Abril is a 2003...

Highland Park GDS reaches out, near, far

BY JOHN A. LOVELACE Special Correspondent For this year’s Great Day of Service (GDS) on May 9, Highland Park UMC, Dallas, chose one site relatively close to home – soon to become virtually much closer – and one quite some distance away. The Wilkinson Center in East Dallas and the North Texas Food Bank in far southwest Dallas County utilized dozens of Highland Park volunteers for much of the day, having them shelve books and do other jobs at the center and pack boxes at...

Thirty one to be Ordained and Commissioned, Elders in Full Connection

Judith Sarkozy Brandt Judith is a 1990 graduate of Sul Ross University, Alpine, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and a 2005 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, with a Master of Divinity degree. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where her specialty was pharmacy. She is pastor of Oak Grove UMC in Denton County. Judith is married to Kurt Martin Brandt. They are parents of Amy, Andrea and Anna, and grandparents of one year old Jason. Veronica Lynn...

Around the Conference

NTC Clergy Spouses announce the 2009 Annual Conference “Clergy Spouse Luncheon,” June 8, 11:30 a.m. at First UMC, Richardson. Tickets are $10 from District Offices, or from Melissa Yost, e-mail: mellyost@yahoo.com. *** Falls Chapel Fellowship, Wichita Falls, is in need of a “communion rail.” To assist, please call Rev. Louis Pearce, 940-631-4245. Sorrow Barbara Hares, widow of Rev. Jim Hares. died May 15. Memorial service was held at Noles UMC, LA, May 19....

The Bishop: Getting our priorities straight

BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE North Texas Conference  Are you tired, bored, and in need of a spiritual lift? Maybe you need a mission trip! That’s exactly what we (Bishop, Cabinet and spouses) did during the week of May 18, 2009. We oarded a bus provided by Labors for Neighbors, rode down to Beaumont, Texas, to spend several days helping with disaster recovery and touring the Sabine Pass area. Needless to say, we received far more from the experience than we were able to share....