June 8, 2016
MARSHALL, Texas (6/08/16) – Senior Adults from the Ark-La-Tex converged on the campus of East Texas Baptist University for Hilltop University, June 1-3. The annual senior adult conference provided three days of fun, fellowship, worship, preaching, and Biblical teaching focused on revival and renewal.
Pastor Aaron Dickinson of Swartz First Baptist Church of Monroe, La., brought a group to the conference, and it was the first time he had been on the ETBU campus in 20 years. Dickinson, in his first year as pastor of Swartz First Baptist, was looking for a conference for his senior adults that would be fun but also inspiring.
“I knew about the Senior Adult Conference when I was a student at ETBU,” said Dickinson. “I searched the conference up online to see if they were still holding it because I wanted to find a regional event that our senior adults could attend. We do not have a conference like this one in Louisiana.”
Over 270 campers attended, representing 56 difference churches, with 50 from Texas, four from Louisiana, and two from Arkansas. Attendees experienced college life again as they stayed in campus residential halls, dined in the Bennett Student Center and on the first night of the conference, enjoyed ice cream, 40’s and 50’s music in the “Soda Shoppe” created in the Huffman Student Activities area.
Chapel speakers for the senior adult conference included: Robert Morris, founding senior pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex; D.L. Lowrie, a beloved pastor, teacher, and author; his wife, Alice; and Dr. J. Blair Blackburn, the 13th president of ETBU.
Bible Study sessions led by Dr. Lowrie followed the theme “Walking By Faith in the Seniors Years,” using 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 as his text. The longtime Bible teacher shared in one session, “God never gives you something that weighs more than His grace can get you through.”
Mary Mustarde from Green Acres Baptist Church of Tyler told a reporter from the Marshall News Messenger, “This is my first time to come to the conference, and it’s been wonderful, just a real blessing. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment.”
Helen Luft of Monroe, La, had never been to a conference in Texas before and had high praise for what she experienced at ETBU. “The food is great, and the accommodations are perfect,” said the retired high school teacher and member of Swartz First Baptist for over 45 years. “I have enjoyed all the speakers and have been taking notes that I hope will help when I return home.”
She also shared that she was reminded while attending that “faith in Jesus Christ gets us through what we have to get through.”
The conference also featured entertainment from the Gospel singing family, The Hoppers, Christian humorist, Dennis Swanberg, and Gospel recording artist, Guy Penrod.
The 2017 Hilltop University: A Senior Adult Conference is scheduled for May 31-June 2.