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BCA News: Fall 2005
In
this issue:
- A Cuppa Joe
- List of BCA Officers
- Officer Spotlight: Jason Crawford
- Officers Meeting Report
- 2006 Workshop
- Missions Experience: Beirut!
- New Members
- Grapevine
A Cuppa Joe
 By Joe Westbury
BCA President
I went to my first BCA workshop in 1977. I was in my first year as public relations director at Union University and I drove from Jackson, Tenn. to Louisville, Ky. We visited Southern Seminary and toured sites of professional interest around town. How long have you been a member of BCA? If you've been a member of BCA more than a year, you can hopefully say it’s helped you advance professionally and broadened your horizons.
For those of us who are a bit older, I can say I am a better professional for having attended BCA workshops through the years. And I owe a sincere debt of gratitude to my employers – Union University, the Brotherhood Commission, the Home Mission Board, and the Georgia Baptist Convention – for allowing me to slip away from the office for a few days of R&R and professional development.
Now I am charged with running an office and looking after the professional nurturing of those on my staff. I fully expect them to take advantage of development opportunities such as the BCA workshop. It’s good for them and it’s good for The Christian Index. They may be out of the office for a few days and the work may take a hiatus, but they return with a fresh perspective on their jobs.
BCA has always been about broadening your horizons, and next year’s meeting will be no different. Unlike in past years, the sessions will be held in a pastoral retreat center outside of Richmond, Va. But all the action will not occur there. In addition to a tours of the International Mission Board, there will be a daytrip to beat all daytrips. You will get to choose between visiting the White House Press Room, the Newseum, the Washington Post, and possibly National Geographic. You will struggle with deciding between the Smithsonian Institution, the Capitol Building, or the Washington Mall.
To top it off, those who are interested will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a mission trip to Beirut, Lebanon – known as both the “Jewell of the Mediterranean” and the “Paris of the Mideast." The city is rich in history, both religious and secular. A team led by Eric Bridges of the International Mission Board will escort BCA members on a week-long trip to serve alongside personnel in the area.
Plan now to attend next year’s meeting in Richmond, April 19-22. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
2005-2006 Officers
Joe Westbury, President
The Christian Index (Georgia)
jwestbury@christianindex.org
Norman Jameson, President-Elect
North Carolina Baptist Convention
njameson@bscnc.org
Jason Crawford, Treasurer
Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists
jcrawford@kncsb.org
Anita Bowden & Mary Jane Welch, Program Co-Vice Presidents
International Mission Board
abowden@imb.org & mwelch@imb.org
Doug Rogers, Program VP-Elect (2007 Mobile)
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
drogers@alsbom.org
Ty Wood, Awards Chairman
Florida Baptist Convention
twood@flbaptist.org
Susan McDaniel, Communications Vice President
North American Mission Board
smcdaniel@namb.net
Woody Murray, Membership
LifeWay Christian Resources
wmurray@lifeway.com
David Winfrey, Professional Development Coordinator
Western Recorder (Kentucky)
david.winfrey@kybaptist.org
Erich Bridges, Missions Vice President
International Mission Board
ebridges@imb.org
Charles Richardson, Historian
Hardin-Simmons University (Texas)
crichard@hsutx.edu
Meet BCA's Treasurer: Jason Crawford
Jason Crawford is a media strategist with the Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists in Topeka, Kansas. Jason has been a
member of BCA since 2001. Prior to moving to Kansas, Jason owned and operated a media services company, Image Quest Media Services, specializing in broadcast video and advertising. Jason is currently finishing his Masters of Business Administration in Marketing and attending Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In his spare time, Jason enjoys flying, traveling and spending time with his wife and 14-month-old son. The family also hosts an exchange student from Germany. The Crawfords are members at Covenant Baptist Church in Topeka, where Jason serves as the evangelism team leader.
Officers' Meeting Report
Officers voted to suspend the organization's student scholarships for one year during a meeting of the association's officers on Friday, September 1, held in Atlanta. Officers hope to award the scholarships again in 2007, after undertaking a fund-raising project.
Officers asked treasurer Jason Crawford to set up a merchant agreement so the association can accept credit card payments.
Membership vice president Woody Murray discussed ways to increase the association's membership by recruiting church communications ministers and new communications professionals within our ranks.
Program Vice-President Mary Jane Welch outlined a list of workshop seminar leaders along with a proposed schedule. In the absence of missions vice president Erich Bridges, Welch introduced the idea of a missions trip to Beirut to follow the workshop.
President Joe Westbury presented a report from Program Vice President-Elect Doug Rogers regarding ongoing contract talks with the Battle Hotel in Mobile, Ala., for the 2007 workshop. Items tabled for future discussion included web site development and changing award entry criteria. The next officers meeting will be held in February in Nashville. If you have an item of business that you would like the officers to discuss, contact BCA president Joe Westbury at jwestbury@christianindex.org
2006 BCA Workshop: April 19-22
 BCA members will focus on “Telling the Story” at next year's annual workshop to be held April 19-22 at the International Mission Board's Missionary Learning Center in Rockville, Va., near Richmond. http://www.imb.org/core/mlc.asp Put this event on your calendar now! There will be workshops and learning experiences for all communicators – in every communication field and all levels of expertise.
Event organizers are planning a full-day trip to Washington, D.C., with opportunities for learning and play, plus a special gathering time at historic Tanglewood Ordinary restaurant, where good ‘ole Southern home cooking will be shared family-style in a quaint, country setting.
To ease sign up and room payment, the program committee is planning an all-inclusive workshop registration price. Detailed registration information will be mailed to you in January. For more information, contact Mary Jane Welch at (804) 219-1526 or Anita Bowden at (804) 219-1224.
Workshop Schedule
Wednesday, April 19
Tanglewood Ordinary |
Arrival & welcome dinner at Tanglewood Ordinary
Thursday, April 20
Friday, April 21
Field Day in Washington, D.C.
- Heritage Group: Self-guided tour of Washington, D.C. This group begins its day at the Newseum. http://www.newseum.org After touring the newseum the group is on its own. They have access to all of Washington via the Metro. BCA will provide a self-guiding packet. They have two options for rejoining other two groups: for dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Dupont Circle, or at the bus at 8:00 p.m. for the return to MLC.
 News Hound Group: WashingtonPost.com followed by The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/- Spin Doctor Group: Newseum followed by tour of National Geographic. Group may meet with magazine staff.
- Dinner on Dupont Circle
Saturday, April 22
- Professional Development Sessions
- Annual BCA meeting and election of officers
- Awards Luncheon at MLC
- "Pulling It All Together" -- A panel discussion
- Awards Dinner -- Grand prize awards presented
Sunday, April 23
International experience participants leave.
Beirut Mission Trip
 BCA still needs to know if you're interested in an international missions experience. We're planning a trip to Beirut, Lebanon, following the BCA workshop in April.
The BCA mission project usually entails a day of service in the city that plays host to our annual meeting. For several years, however, the BCA missions committee has discussed the possibility of an overseas trip. Since Richmond is the host city next spring -- and BCA members at the International Mission Board are planning many of the events -- 2006 is the perfect year to make it happen!
We plan to depart following the last 2006 conference session (probably Sunday afternoon, April 23, from Washington/Dulles Airport) and arrive in Beirut by Monday afternoon. We will return to Washington the following weekend, allowing participants enough time to get home for the next work week.
Cost estimate per person:
- $75 a day (includes hotel, food and transport)
- $25 to cover administrative fees
- $1100 airfare estimate
Total estimated cost: $1,600 (depending on number of days in Beirut) If you’re interested in further information, contact IMB writer Erich Bridges, BCA missions vice president, at 804-219-1225. E-mail: ebridges@imb.org. We need to determine by Dec. 1 if we’ll be going and how many we’ll be taking. Check it out! "Beirut and Beyond" site: www.beirutandbeyond.com
Welcome New Members!
Scott Barkley is the production editor for the The Christian Index in Georgia. sbarkley@christianindex.org
Kathryn Carson is a Graphic Designer for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. kcarson@bscnc.org
Judy Jarrell serves as an editorial associate for the North American Mission Board.
jjarrell@namb.net.
Erin Maddox works on missions resources for the Woman's Missionary Union of Texas. erin.maddox@bgct.org
Michael McCormack is a student writer in the public relations office at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. fmmccormack@gmail.com.
Allison Newman is a Project Manager for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. allisonnewman@scbaptist.org.
Sharina Smith is the editor at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. sharina@ridgecrestbaptist.org.
Amanda Thompson is a Project Manager for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. amandathompson@scbaptist.org.
David Wright is a graphic designer for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. dwright@swbts.edu.
Grapevine
John Bloskas and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on February 7, 2005. Bloskas asks for prayer as he continues battling prostate cancer. John is a lifetime member who retired from the Annuity Board. Contact John at jbloskas@sbcglobal.net or (972) 335-4184.
Becky Bridges now serves as the director of institutional advancement at Wayland Baptist University in San Antonio. Becky previously served as the director of communications for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Contact Becky at Becky.Bridges@wbusa.wbu.edu or (210) 826-7595 ext. 228.
Lynn Clayton will retire as editor of the Baptist Message at the end of this year. Clayton has been a member of BCA since 1974. Contact Lynn at (318) 442-7728.
Manda Gibson is now working as a communications specialist for PurposeDriven Ministries. Contact Manda at mandagibson@hotmail.com.
Tamera Heitz-Peek, formerly with Southwest Baptist University, is now director of marketing for Citizens Memorial Healthcare in Bolivar, Mo. Contact Tamera at theitz@citizensmemorial.com or (417) 328-7245.
 Sara Horn left LifeWay in August to pursue a freelance writing career. She is also developing a web site, http://www.agreaterfreedom.com, which is a faith-based military news site dedicated to Christians in the military. Contact Sara at sara@agreaterfreedom.com or (615) 261-3628.
Roy Jennings celebrated his 81st birthday on September 6. He and Marye celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on September 21. Jennings is a lifetime member who served as the associationpresident from 1975-76. He worked for both the Brotherhood Commission and Baptist Memorial Health Care Systems. Contact Roy at hroyjennings@hotmail.com or (901) 754-3457.
 Bryan McAnally is now the minister of Adult Education and Discipleship at First Baptist Church in Grapevine, Texas. Bryan previously served as editor of "Baptist Men On Mission" with the North American Mission Board. Contact Bryan at www.fbcgrapevine.org or (817) 481-1681.
Lisa McCracken married Bryan Henington on November 13, 2004, in Slaughter Chapel at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Lisa is a graphic designer for Guidestone Financial Services and has been a member of BCA since 2001. Contact Lisa at lisa.henington@guidestone.org.
Stanton Nash moved into a new assisted living facility in Fort Worth on October 7. Nash, a lifetime member, is able to share his private room with wife Joy who has Alzheimer's. Their new address is: Stanton & Joy Nash, 2698 South Hulen #8, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Phone is (903) 923-1823. On October 18 Stanton and Joy were honored at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with the prestigious L.R. Scarborough Award. The award is given annually to supporters of the seminary who are actively involved in contributing financially or are responsible for directing gifts of money or property to the seminary. The award is named for the seminary’s second president who shared the responsibility of raising funds with the seminary’s founder, B.H. Carroll.
Chad and Heather Stewart announce the birth of their son Joseph Collin on August 11, 2005. Joseph weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces and was 21.25 inches long. Heather is the director of information services at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville. She's been a member of BCA since 2000.
Got news to share?
Send items for the BCA newsletter to Keith Beene at bca.office@comcast.net
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