The President of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dr. David L. Lowrie, Jr., was the guest speaker at Howard Payne University’s final chapel of the semester.

Preaching from Luke chapter 2, Lowrie encouraged the HPU students to make room for Jesus in their lives this Christmas. During the service the HPU Jazz Band, under the direction of Mr. Stephen Goacher, also played Christmas music.

Lowrie was recently re-elected to serve as the BGCT president during the annual meeting last month in Houston. He is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Canyon, where he has served for the past eight years. Lowrie has been a member of the HPU board of trustees since 2006 and will serve as first vice chairperson of the board for 2010.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, a master’s degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

He and his wife, Robyn, have four daughters: Kalie, an HPU graduate and staff member, Lorin, an HPU graduate, Jamie, and Madison.