IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Google gets the last laugh, probably far more often than we know. Include one letter more than needed to “Google” and a subject turns research to clabber quicker than political candidates can call their opponents liars. (Seems like mere decades ago that such comments were tenderized, usually beginning with sentences like, “My worthy opponent deals
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By LORETTA FULTON In March 2019, Bishop Michael Sis of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo conducted Ash Wednesday services at all three of Abilene’s universities–and no one did a double-take. All three universities are affiliated with a denomination, but none has a Catholic connection. The campuses are affiliated with the Church of Christ (Abilene Christian), Baptist (Hardin-Simmons) and United
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Editor’s Note: Everyday Ministry is an occasional feature of Spirit of Abilene, highlighting people who weave ministry into their everyday lives. If you know someone you would like to see featured, email editor@spiritofabilene.com with the name, contact information and a brief description of the person’s ministry. By LORETTA FULTON Life is filled with learning right now for Peyten Castillo. The
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By LORETTA FULTON Praise music, scripture reading, prayers, homilies–and a dash of COVID-19 humor–greeted Abilene university students this week as they returned to campus after an extra long spring break that morphed into summer. Like most colleges nationwide, Abilene’s three universities shut down on-campus classes after spring break due to the COVID pandemic. Classes were held online for the remainder
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By LORETTA FULTON The wait was worth it for Dr. Robert Ellis, who just learned that he had been chosen the Faculty Member of the Year at Hardin-Simmons University, an award that normally is announced at the end of the spring semester. But last spring was far from normal, with COVID-19 disrupting all aspects of life. So, Ellis learned via
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By LORETTA FULTON Former Logsdon Seminary professor and administrator, Meredith Stone, is the new executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, a national organization. Stone and her husband, James, also a former Logsdon administrator, will remain in Abilene. The new position is effective Aug. 24. Stone will become the third executive director of BWIM in its 37-year history. She follows
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By LORETTA FULTON “Racism is a sin. It is a sin against God.” With those strong words, Kelvin Kelley set the tone for a press conference announcing the formation of the Abilene African-American Council of Leaders. The press conference was held Monday at North Second and Mulberry streets in front of Station 1 Venue, a former fire station that has
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ACU NEWS RELEASEEmerald Cassidy To help fill a void created by the closing of another seminary in its home city, Abilene Christian University is creating a Baptist Studies Center (BSC) in its Graduate School of Theology (GST). Dr. Myles Werntz has been named the founding director of the new center. He currently serves as the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian
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By LORETTA FULTON The voices sometimes were loud, sometimes plaintive, sometimes pleading, sometimes angry, all from students, faculty, and associates of Abilene’s three church-affiliated universities. They joined the chorus of other voices across Abilene and the nation that have spoken in the same tones in recent days. All were spoken in the aftermath of the latest incident of police brutality
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