Partners, September 2015
BAXTER INSTITUTE
Monterosso TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Crowds of 250 to 700 people attended the annual lectureship of the Baxter Institute, which prepares its students to become preachers, teachers, missionaries and leaders among Churches of Christ throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
“Diaconia (Greek for “ministry”): Successful Ministry with the Humble Spirit of Christ” was the theme. Keynoters included former missionaries Dan Coker and Philip Slate, Baxter dean Selvin Monterroso and graduate Leopoldo Villacorta.
Baxter administrators honored those involved in the 1981 to 1989 Global Campaigns, during which U.S. missionaries, including Coker, Baxter students and a chorus from Abilene Christian university crisscrossed Latin America. The group sang in parks, distributed flyers and studied with contacts.
During the campaigns, 93 people were baptized in Santiago, Chile, and 116 in Mexico City.
HIGHER EDUCATION
ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
ABILENE, Texas — After filing for divorce last year, ACU President Phil Schubert and his wife, Jamie, have reconciled.
Schubert“God was gracious to Jamie and me,” Phil Schubert said, “and we give him the glory for being where we are today. Our family has reunited, and we are deeply grateful.”
Last August, the university’s trustees decided that Schubert’s leadership “will continue to bless ACU,” despite divorce proceedings.
Board Chairman Barry Packer said he was “thankful God gave our trustees and the Schuberts the space, time, counsel and spiritual discernment they needed during some challenging days.”
“Phil and Jamie have worked diligently to grow and strengthen their family,” Packer said. “We pray God will continue to bless them and ACU as we serve and honor him.”
Phil Schubert added, “Many people struggle in marriage in ways others never see. Whether we know them or not, we ask God to strengthen all marriages and the important relationships on which they depend.”
HARDING UNIVERSITY
SEARCY, Ark. — The Rhodes Field House — a campus landmark and home court for the Bisons — is getting a facelift thanks to a $1 million donation from Roy and Becky Reaves.
“The Rhodes needs expanding and renovating now,” said Reaves, chairman of Harding’s board of trustees. “Becky and I believe improvements are needed immediately, and we hope our gift will make it happen.”
The renovations will add approximately 2,000 square feet to the entrance, a hospitality box on the second level and an 11,000-square-foot practice facility and dressing rooms to the west side of the facility.
President Bruce McLarty said board members were unanimous in their decision to change the name of the building to the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. The project is scheduled to begin in November.
Harding’s Rhodes Field House is a converted World War II airplane hangar. (PHOTO PROVIDED)
OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Christian graduated its first-ever RN to BSN students in an Aug. 14 ceremony.
Liz Baxter, Heather Rosser and Kathryn Brown were the first three students to receive the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree through the new online program.
“It’s online so we can reach out beyond Oklahoma City,” nurse and educator Rhea Ann Lee told The Oklahoman. “We need rural nurses to be able to reach the higher education possibilities.”
The program launched in May 2014 and benefits those who live or work in areas where a traditional course would be difficult to complete.
