Prayer Vigil for McMurry Mission Trip to India

This summer McMurry University students, faculty and staff will travel to Aurangabad, India for a month long trip. During this time the group will be working with Life Light Ministries, an indigenous Christian mission whose purpose is  to empower communities to lead a national evangelistic movement in Aurangabad, India.

Please join the McMurry Family in prayer by committing 30 minutes of your time to pray for the team’s journey. With your help we can cover them in  prayer for 24 hours a day,as they travel to Aurangabad, India from July 8- August 2, 2013.

Learn more about their trip here. 

You may sign up for the prayer vigil at www.mcm.edu/prayforindia.

McMurry’s Exploratory Mission Team Travels to Africa and the West Bank

The McMurry Exploratory mission team left yesterday to embark on a journey to Africa and the West Bank. Over the next two weeks, the team will have strategic conversation with Africa University, a pilot United Methodist University in Zimbabwe (http://www.africau.edu/ ), Bethlehem Bible College (http://www.bethbc.org/ ) and The Holy Land Trust (http://www.holylandtrust.org/ ).

Please be in prayer for the team as they discern how McMurry University can partner with these institutions in the future. This group is going to “explore” and help shape the future of other McMurry in Motion mission trips! We hope to establish lasting relationships with our brothers and sisters around the world.

The team will be updating the blog regularly. Visit this link, http://blogs.mcm.edu/religiouslife/  to view the first post about their experience at the London Heathrow airport!

 

Meet the Team: (from left to right)

·         Carly Payne- Sophomore, Christian Ministry major from Glen Rose, Texas.

·         Dr. Mark Waters- Associate Professor of Servant Leadership and Religion, McMurry University

·         Rev. Amy Wilson Feltz- Associate Pastor, Aldersgate United Methodist Church

·         Tim Palmer- Assistant Chaplain, McMurry University

·         Tanner Swinford- Freshman, Kinesiology major from Lampasas, Texas

·         Bethany Anderson- McMurry graduate and newest member of the RLC staff! Bethany will serve as a graduate student intern for the McMurry in Motion program.

McMurry in the News

The Abilene Reporter-News profiles Joseph Gregory Delong, who will be graduating Saturday, May 11, with a degree in computer science. The ceremony is at 10 a.m. in the Hunt P.E. Center.

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/may/07/graduation-2013-mcmurry-students-computer-skills/

McMurry University to hold Spring 2013 Commencement on May 11

Robert Briley

ABILENE, Texas –Abilene businessman and city councilman Robert Briley will be the featured speaker at McMurry University’s 2013 Spring Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, in the Hunt Physical Education Center.  McMurry will confer degrees on 175 seniors at the event.

       Baccalaureate service for the graduates will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 10, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Dr. Brady Bryce, assistant professor of ministry and Director of Contextual Education for the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University, will be the baccalaureate preacher.

    Mr. Briley is the owner of Briley Investments, Inc., which oversees seven Aaron’s rental stores in Abilene (2), Brownfield, Brownwood, Lubbock (2) and Stamford. He has been a franchise owner of the company for 32 years. Mr. Briley also is CEO of Briley Holdings, Inc. and President of Rent Texas Properties, LLC.

    In addition, Mr. Briley has represented Abilene as a city councilman since 2008.

    He has received numerous business awards, including 2011 Aaron’s Franchise Store of the Year, 2010 Aaron’s Franchisee of the Year, 2010 Aaron’s Franchise Store of the Year, 2008 Aaron’s Franchisee of the Year, 2008 Aaron’s Franchise Store of the Year, 2005 National Association (APRO) Rental Dealer of the Year, and 1983 Curtis Mathes Franchisee of the Year.

Mr. Briley is past president of the National Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) – Past and past chairman of the board of the Texas Association of Rental Agencies (TARA).

He attended Fair Park & Jane Long Elementary, Mann Junior High School and graduated from Abilene High School in 1970. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas Tech University in 1974.

    Mr. Briley has served the Abilene community as Fundraising Chairman of the United Way of Abilene, a member of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church, a board member of St. John’s Episcopal School, and through volunteer work with both senior citizens and as a youth baseball and basketball coach.

     Briley and his wife Lou, have been married for 37 years and have two sons, Zach, 35, and Parker, 32, both Wylie High School graduates, and a grandson, John Preston Briley, 12.     

      Dr. Bryce is Director of Ministry Events at Abilene Christian University and teaches in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry (ministry, evangelism and spiritual formation).  Bryce grew up as a preacher’s kid.  He spent 14 years in various full-time ministry positions, including twelve years as a preaching minister in Texas.  Most recently he served for eight years at the Singing Oaks Church in Denton, TX.  Dr. Bryce did his undergraduate (B.A. Preaching & Biblical Studies) and graduate work (M.Div. and M.S. in Congregational Leadership & Spiritual formation) at ACU.  He received his Doctorate in Ministry with emphasis in Spiritual Formation from Fuller Theological Seminary (2008).  He recently authored Echoing the Story: Living the Art of Listening (published in 2010 by Wipf & Stock). Dr. Bryce is married (1993) to Donna, who is a mother and physical therapist.  Brady and Donna enjoy playing and cycling with their two children Nathan (2001) and Lizzie (2005).

McMurry University Jazz Band to host Sunday Jazz Jam

ABILENE, Texas –McMurry University’s jazz ensemble, McMJ, will host a Jazz Jam at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12, at Bynum Band Hall on campus.

     McMJ is comprised of McMurry faculty musicians Staci Spring, Keith Lloyd and Mark Wilcox and Wylie High School band director Luke McMillan.

       Musicians of all ages and experience levels are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in with the band or just enjoy the music.

McMurry’s Davis in Sports Illustrated May 6 Issue

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University’s Paul Davis (Lubbock, Texas), one of the nation’s premiere shot put competitors, is featured in Sports Illustrated’s May 6 issue in the “Faces in the Crowd” section.

Davis was selected after unleashing the nation’s best throw in the nation – at any collegiate level – with a mark of 67′ 4 ½” on April 19. The effort was 3 ½ feet better than Davis’ own previous personal best and is four inches further than the University of Texas’ Ryan Crouser, who has the second-best effort.

McMurry to Offer Exercise Classes for May/June

The Department of Kinesiology at McMurry University is offering two new May/June group exercise sessions.  Boot Camp runs four days weekly, May 7-June 13, at 5:00-6:00 am.  Low Impact Aerobics is Monday and Wednesday, May 6-June 26, at 5:30-6:30 pm.  All workouts are held in room 200 of the Hunt PE Center on the McMurry campus.  Cost for the aerobics class is $40; Boot Camp is $100, with a $15 military discount.  For more information contact Dr. Pug Parris at 325-793-4632.

McMurry University Jazz Band to host Sunday Jazz Jam

ABILENE, Texas –McMurry University’s jazz ensemble, McMJ, will host a Jazz Jam at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Bynum Band Hall on campus.

     McMJ is comprised of McMurry faculty musicians Staci Spring, Keith Lloyd and Mark Wilcox and Wylie High School band director Luke McMillan.

       Musicians of all ages and experience levels are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in with the band or just enjoy the music.

McMurry Summer Band Camps Registration Opens

McMurry University Summer Band Camps are back for another summer of fantastic music education and performance.  There are two separate camps offered; Marching Percussion and Color Guard from July 11-14, followed by a Drum Major and Band Camp from July 14-19.  The camps have a wide range of experienced faculty, staff, and guest clinicians that are the core of the camp experience. 

The Marching Percussion camp will have five percussion specialists from Texas plus Bill Bachman and Jeff Queen as guest clinicians.  Bill lives in the DFW area and is a prolific author, world class performer, clinician and educator, and also an inventor and touring/recording drumset artist.  Jeff Queen resides in Indiana and has marched with many top tier drum corps, won snare competition individual awards, and was an original cast member and soloist for the award-winning Broadway show “Blast.”  Our color guard clinician, Celestino Sosa, is the Assistant Director of Bands at Little Elm High School where he serves as Director of Color Guard and Winter Guard activities.  He has a wealth of teaching experience and his groups have won many awards in WGI competitions.

We are delighted that Keith Bearden is the Honor Band director this year.  He is Professor Emeritus from Texas Tech University where he served as director of the “Goin’ Band from Raiderland” and Assistant Director of Bands.  Keith has won many national awards and he is a highly sought after clinician, adjudicator, and guest director.  June Bearden is in her 15^th year as Director of Bands at Frenship Middle School and she will be our guest director for the Symphonic Band.  Brandon Robinson has been providing drum major clinics for more than twenty years.  Currently a doctoral student in music education at the University of Mississippi, he has taught band on all levels, including in the public schools of Arkansas and on the faculty of Alcorn State University.  Brandon is the president and owner of Delta Leadership Consultants, whose services include student leadership workshops, custom music arrangements, custom drill design, as well as marching, concert, and jazz band clinics.

For more information or to register, please contact the camp office at 325-793-3837 or mcmband.mcm.edu.

McMurry University Honors Employees at Spring 2013 Faculty Staff Appreciation Luncheon

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University faculty and staff were honored at the Spring 2013 Faculty Staff Appreciation Luncheon.

        The Outstanding Faculty member is Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth. He came to McMurry in 2003, and serves as Associate Professor of Sociology.

       The Outstanding Staff member is Vicki Kohutek, who joined the McMurry staff in 1993 and serves as administrative assistant for the School of Education.

      The Outstanding Administrator is head volleyball coach Cammie Petree, who returned to coach the team in 2008 after two previous coaching stints with the team.

        Receiving an Exemplary Service Award this year was Guy Stuart, who oversees Hunt and Martin Residence Halls as an employee of Houston-based Campus Living Village.

Faculty and Staff receiving service awards include:

5 years: Scott Bowden, Steven Davis, Mark Fish, Patricia Hermann,Rachel Martin, Nicholas Orozco, Cammie Petree, Kimberly Poligala-Tate, Timothy Renfro, Dirk Saltzgaber, Renee Scott, Hyunshun Shin, Judy Surles, Paul Tate, Robert Watson                                               

10 years: David Ainsworth, David Chandler, Jerry Hollingsworth, Tim Kennedy    , K.O. Long, Cynthia Martin, Rachel Moore, Bradley Oiler, Beth St. Jean, George Starbuck

15 years: John Byington, Paul Cortinaz, Barbara Crousen, Russell Evans, Freddie Famble, Kathryn Hall, James Quinnett    , Clara Richardson

20 years: Jeanie Bone, Donald Frazier, Vicki Kohutek, Kelly McCoun, Jesse Polanco

25 years: Judy Moore, Patricia Lapoint, Nancy Shanafelt

30 years: Kay Liner
                                               

35 years: Pug Parris