DBU Report Winter 2020-2021 - Page 30

DBU REPORT 30 DBU HOSTS VIRTUAL ANNUAL BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS CONFERENCE On November 16, the DBU campus hosted the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, but due to COVID-19 constraints, business was conducted via Zoom. Six hundred sixty-four registered messengers in virtual attendance voted on trustees, the budget, committees, and officers. The meeting was led by Dr. Michael Evans, current BGCT President and Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield. Messengers approved a total Texas budget of $34,266,688, with an anticipated $1.05 million allocated for world missions. New officers elected were: Jason Burden, incumbent first vice president and pastor of First Baptist Church in Nederland, to BGCT president; Julio Guarneri, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, to first vice president; Jordan Villanueva, pastor of Indian Hills Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, to second vice president; Bernie Spooner, retired director of the BGCT Sunday School division and first dean of DBU’s Cook School of Leadership, to secretary. DBU has had a long partnership with Texas Baptists through the years. In addition to serving as one of several sister Baptist institutions associated with the Convention, DBU ministry students regularly receive scholarship aid, allowing generations of future Christian leaders to complete their education and begin their service in churches, institutions, and mission fields in Texas, the United States, and beyond. “It was our honor to host the Baptist General Convention of Texas here for their virtual annual meeting,” says Dr. Ryan Jespersen, Director of Denominational Relations. “Though one of my greatest joys each year is to represent DBU at this meeting in person, because that was not able to happen this year, DBU was glad to step in to provide space and support to the Convention as they carried out their Kingdom business.” DBU’s Vision Building a great Christian university that is pleasing to God by producing Christ-centered servant leaders who are transforming the world. DBU’s Mission The mission of Dallas Baptist University is to provide Christ-centered quality higher education in the arts, sciences, and professional studies at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to traditional age and adult students in order to produce servant leaders who have the ability to integrate faith and learning through their respective callings.