Howard Payne University will hold Encounter Week events September 14-16, featuring award-winning author and speaker Gary Thomas. Worship will be led by Jared Billups, worship pastor at First Baptist Church, Irving, Texas.  Services will be held at First Baptist Church, Brownwood, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.

Worldwide bestselling author Gary Thomas has written books on marriage, parenting and the Christian life. Having been translated into 12 different languages, his books include “Sacred Influence,” “Sacred Marriage,” “Sacred Parenting,” “Authentic Faith,” “The Glorious Pursuit” and several others. Additionally, he has spoken in 48 states and six countries and has had over 150 articles published by national magazines.

He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Western Washington University, and he holds a master’s degree with a concentration in systematic theology from Regent College in Vancouver, B.C.  In 2006, Thomas was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He and his wife, Lisa, have three children: Allison, Graham and Kelsey.

Jared Billups is a worship leader and songwriter out of Dallas, Texas. Since 2004, he has served as Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church Irving. He graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Studies and in 2007 with a Master of Arts degree in Worship Leadership from Dallas Baptist University. He and his wife, Krystal, have two daughters: Karoline and Klaire.