By Leah Reynolds
Representatives of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff and Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing joined in a “passing the mantle” ceremony Aug. 26.
The event commemorated the legacy of Texas Baptists at 333 N. Washington Ave. in Dallas and the future of the nursing school that soon will take residency in the 100,000-square-foot building.
“Texas Baptists have been blessed by this building for close to 30 years,” BGCT Executive Director David Hardage said. “God has used it to positively influence the spiritual lives of many people all over Texas and beyond.
“Now, with the Louise Herrington School of Nursing making use of this facility, we Texas Baptists are confident and excited that many lives will enjoy the positive physical benefits of extraordinary nursing care from a spiritual foundation. The future is bright for Texas Baptists and for Baylor nurses.”
The nursing school will be blessed to carry on the legacy of faith and good works Texas Baptists have provided over the years in the beautiful facility, said Shelley Conroy, dean and professor.
“We are humbled and blessed by the Christian symbolism reflected in this facility, such as the glass support system at each end of the atrium that forms a cross, the stone floor in the atrium that symbolizes the solid foundation of our faith and the open skylight access to our heavenly Father,” she said.
“Each time we look at them, we will be reminded of our mission and calling. We want to be counted worthy to carry on the good work that the Lord has begun through the BGCT in this building.”
The ceremony also featured a presentation about Baptist Building history from Alan Lefever, director of the Texas Baptist Historical Collection, and testimonies from Keith Crouch, director of church architecture for Texas Baptists, and nursing student Johanna Bridges.
Since the building was constructed in 1988, the BGCT Executive Board staff has called the building near Baylor University Medical Center in east Dallas its home. Beginning Aug. 31, the staff will transition to their new office space on two floors of a 14-story building in north Dallas.