wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR JAN. 15, 1997

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American Baptist News Service_____________________
Office of Communication / American Baptist Churches USA
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Richard W. Schramm, Director (E-mail:
RICH_SCHRAMM.PARTI@ECUNET.ORG)

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UPDATE: JANUARY 15, 1997
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o  Dr. Gordon E. Smith, executive director of the
Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board (M&M), was
admitted to the Hospital for Special Surgery (535 E 70th
St., Room 738, New York, NY 10021) this week for
the first of two elective surgical procedures to replace
his right hip joint.  His hip was damaged by a staph
infection in late 1995 and early 1996.  The first
procedure has been performed and was successful.  The
Rev.
Sumner M. Grant, M&M treasurer, will serve as acting
executive director during Smith s absence.  Following
hospitalization, recovery is expected to take two to
three weeks, during which time Smith will work from his
home office.  

o  Word has been received of the death of Leola Black,
retired American Baptist home missionary, on Jan. 11 in
Alhambra, Calif.  She was 102.  Black was a missionary
teacher at Colegio Bautista, Managua, Nicaragua, from
1926-1927, and from 1946-1959 served as a general
missionary to the Hispanic community in southern
California.  She also taught school in Zanesville, Ohio,
between those two periods of missionary service.  She
was a graduate of the Baptist Missionary Training School
in Chicago.  At the time of her death Black was a
resident of Atherton Baptist Homes in Alhambra.  She is
survived by a cousin, Shirley Giruin, of Los Angeles,
and a niece. Condolences may be sent to Ms. Giruin at
7318 W. 91st St., Los Angeles, CA 90045.  Memorial
contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society,
National Headquarters, 1599 Clifton Rd. NE,
Atlanta, GA 30329.

o  Former American Baptist Churches President H‚ctor
Gonz lez was honored recently with the 1996
Outstanding Christian Service Award of the American
Baptist Seminary of the West.  Long active in many
areas of regional and national American Baptist work,
Gonz lez currently is serving a three-year term as
volunteer counselor for mission support in Hispanic
churches and consultant to American Baptist World Mission
Support.  The seminary's award notes, "You have
challenged pastors and lay persons alike to build our
mission
on the foundation of Christ...  The generosity and
magnanimity of your spirit are a gift to those who are
nourished by your friendship."

o  Gertrude S. Francis, a former member of the American
Baptist Churches' General Board (1972-1975), died
Jan. 8.  Condolences may be sent to her husband, Burton,
and family at 10695 West 17th Ave., #351, Lakewood,
CO 80215.

o  Ruth Velasquez, administrative assistant to the
director of the Overseas Division of American Baptist
International Ministries, concluded her service after 11
years of employment with American Baptist Churches on
Dec. 31.  Velasquez previously worked as secretary to the
area directors for South and Southeast Asia for
International Ministries.  She had also served on the
staffs of  the Office of the General Secretary and
National
Ministries.  She long has been an active American Baptist
and was very involved in Baptist work in El Salvador.

o  Officials at Alderson-Broaddus College, an American
Baptist-related school in Philippi, W.V., report that
during the past eight months it has received grants
totaling $755,000 from foundations, as well as deferred
gifts
from individuals of more than $520,000--the largest
amount the college has ever received in such a time
period. 

BIENNIAL MEETING UPDATE:
    
o  Speakers have been confirmed for a number of board
luncheons during the 1997 Biennial Meeting, June
24-27 in Indianapolis: M&M Board, Tuesday, June 24--Dr.
David L. Bartlett, associate dean of Academic
Affairs, Lantz Professor of Preaching and Communication,
Yale Divinity School; Educational Ministries,
Wednesday, June 25--Dr. John W. Kinney, dean, School of
Theology, Virginia Union University; and 
International Ministries, Friday, June 27--Desmond
Hoffmeister, general secretary, Baptist Convention of
South Africa, and Terry Rae, general secretary, Baptist
Union of Southern Africa. 

97U117___________________________________________________
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