By Nancy Patrick As a writer, I confess not only to fretting over word choice but sometimes to an entire essay. This particular essay is my fourth attempt to express my feelings about the complexities and implications of fatherhood, and I still question if I have accomplished my goal. I begin with a poem by Robert Hayden I taught in
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By Danny Minton “If you look for the bad in people, expecting to find it, you surely will.” (From the movie Pollyanna) Well, this is the fourth time I have used this phrase in my writings, and it probably won’t be the last. I guess I’ll keep putting it out there to remind us, and especially myself, that I need
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Click here to read a story about a 2019 project commemorating the site of Grover Everett’s death. The Community Remembrance Project was sponsored by the Equal Justice Initiative to bring attention to the history of violence against Blacks. It involved gathering soil from the site of Everett’s murder to place in one-gallon jars for display in two museums. By Loretta
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By Loretta Fulton Two historic Black Baptist organizations will meet jointly in Abilene June 29 through July 3. The 123rd annual session of the Original West Texas Baptist District Association (OWT) and the 112th Congress of Christian Education will meet together at Wylie Baptist Church, 6097 Buffalo Gap Road. Opening service will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, June 29. View
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By Loretta Fulton You know “The Voice” when you hear it, whether at a Hardin-Simmons University sporting event, at First Baptist Church, as host announcer for the Celebration Singers, or at a random event in town. It belongs to Larry McGraw, longtime religion professor at HSU by day, and announcer extraordinaire by night. McGraw retired from his teaching roles at
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By Danny Minton Over my years in ministry, I have observed many who love the Lord doing things that may seem small to some of us, but are successful because of their passion. A woman I admired made small burial garments for stillborn infants. A man who quietly made sure the baptistry was always kept clean and, when he noticed
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By Jim Nichols One of the better decisions I made as a youth was to conclude that I was not a sprinter. When children are learning to walk, they also learn to run. Once they learn to run, it seems that they run everywhere. It is really quite amazing as an adult to watch children run from one activity to
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By Loretta Fulton The installation of a historical marker noting the killing of a Black man at an Abilene hotel in 1922 will highlight Juneteenth observances in Abilene. The marker installation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at 334 Ash St. A reception will will follow at Curtis House Cultural Center, 630 Washington St. The marker was provided
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By Nancy Patrick For some time, I have tried to write an article for Spirit of Abilene about every other week, but lately my life has demanded that I take an extended hiatus. Certainly not a vacation or time of relaxation, my husband and I have busied ourselves packing up our household and moving to a lovely home in Wesley
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