In its 2013 annual workshop in Little Rock, BCA members inducted Jim Burton, who has held numerous roles throughout his career with Southern Baptists, and Dana Williamson, who served Oklahoma Baptists faithfully for 44 years, as Lifetime members of the association.

Burton has held diverse communication and mission roles, launching his career with Southern Baptists at the Southern Baptist Brotherhood Commission and also serving for many years at the North American Mission Board.

An active BCA member and leader for many years, Burton was described by IMB staffer Bill Bangham, as one of the "pre-eminent communicators in the convention." As Burton served in his varied roles, the idea of laity involvement in missions was an idea that captured him.

"Through his work at the Brotherhood Commission and North American Mission Board, he took Disaster Relief and volunteerism to levels not previously seen," said Bangham.

Williamson has been an active member of BCA since 1968, when she launched her career with Southern Baptists as a staff writer for the Public Relations Department of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. In 1994, she joined the staff of the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger where she retired as associate editor in December 2012. Throughout her career, Williamson worked with six Baptist Messenger editors including current editor Brian Hobbs.

"Dana Williamson is one of the best writers in Oklahoma, and her 44 years of faithful service to Oklahoma Baptists have left an indelible mark on this state, as well as the kingdom of God," said Hobbs.

"As a friend and colleague, I want to congratulate her on this tremendous honor with the Baptist Communicators Association."

To be considered for Lifetime membership, individuals must be a current or former member of BCA who have reached retirement, are at least 55 years old, have at least 20 years total membership and have given significant service to BCA and/or the profession.

For more on BCA's two most recent Lifetime members, go to: http://baptistcommunicators.org/membership/lifetime.cfm

Led by program chair Trennis Henderson and his team, those attending the 2013 BCA workshop in Little Rock experienced an outstanding mix of challenging professional development, along with time for building important relationships with colleagues.

The theme for this year's workshop was "Mission: Impact." The goal was to highlight the life-changing impact our work can have as Christian communicators as well as our professional mission. From start to finish we were reminded of the many ways we reach a lost world. Marketing, public relations, editorial, design, electronic media, photography, social networking and management were all highlighted. Creative breakout sessions, outstanding field trips, and a powerful mission experience provided the heart of an excellent workshop.

As much as I enjoy the many online resources for personal and professional growth, the experience of being together is still at the top of my list. Within our BCA membership is a very deep well of experience. From those who have been a member for years, to those who have just joined, this organization is blessed with amazing talent and wisdom. It's amazing how often something said in a short conversation with a BCA friend and colleague will turn out to be exactly what I needed to hear. For me, the impact of a brief, spontaneous moment during a BCA workshop is huge.

The 2014 workshop will be held April 9-12 at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina. Not only will this be a beautiful place, filled with a lot of memories for some, it will provide another opportunity for outstanding professional development. And, of course, we will also experience the serendipitous moments that can have impact far beyond anything we could arrange. Make plans now to join us at Ridgecrest!

Have you worked with a Baptist communicator that has given significant service to the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) and/or Baptist communications profession? If so, nominate that communicator as Lifetime Member of BCA!

Nominees must be a current or former member of BCA who have reached retirement, are at least 55 years old, have at least 20 years total membership and have given significant service to BCA and/or the profession.

Please send your nominees to margaretcolson@bellsouth.net. Please include a short narrative of the nominee's service to Baptist communications. Nominees will be reviewed by the BCA Executive Committee, which shall present names to the membership for election.

Each of the individuals selected will be honored at the BCA annual meeting in Little Rock in April.

BCA's mission project during the annual Little Rock workshop is "Baby Shower/party" at the Promise House Maternity Home, non-profit home in Little Rock, that provides quality medical care, shelter, food and education for unwed, pregnant preteen and teenage girls.

An unplanned pregnancy can be devastating to an unwed preteen or teenager and her family. Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries seek to provide ministry to these girls and their families through the Promise House Maternity Home.

Since opening its doors in 1991 in El Dorado, Ark., Promise House has provided love and care to hundreds of unwed teens facing an unplanned pregnancy. Girls as young as 12 years old have found care at Promise House.

The home was relocated to Little Rock in 1999, in partnership with Baptist Health Medical Center, Little Rock, where the girls deliver their babies. Cornerstone Clinic for Women of Little Rock provides prenatal care for the teens, while pediatric services are made available through All For Kids Pediatric Clinic of Little Rock.

Residents attend classes at Little Rock Public School's Alternative school. At Promise House, classes are provided covering topics such as: prenatal information, newborn care and independent living skills. Counseling services are available. Adoption services are offered through Bethany Christian Services.

At Promise House, education is important as we prepare teen and preteen girls to become mothers. Classes are provided covering topics such as: prenatal information, newborn care and independent living skills. Counseling services are available. The girls are encouraged to participate in individual and group counseling sessions.

Residents come to Promise House through private placement by a child's parent or guardian, the court system and the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

Adoption services are offered at the Promise House through Bethany Christian Services.

The girls attend a local Baptist church. They are often involved in recreation activities, church activities and community events and outings.

"For 22 years, Promise House has provided pregnant teens and preteens access to wonderful prenatal medical and physical care. But even more than that, Promise House has been a beacon of hope, love and direction for many young ladies," said David Perry, ABCHomes executive director. "Because of this good prenatal care and emotional support many babies have had a much better start in life."

ABCHomes is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, which has been ministering to children and families in crisis since 1894. Today, in addition to Promise House, ABCHomes operates two long-term residential care homes and three emergency receiving homes. Counseling services are provided in seven locations around the state.

BCA members are invited to participate in this mission project in one of three ways:

1. Donate a gift for a baby OR a gift for a teenage residents. These gifts could be as simple as diapers and baby wipes. The teenage girls enjoy gift cards (Sonic, McDonalds, etc), mailing stamps, note pads, photo albums, scrapbooks, costume jewelry, etc.
2. Attend the Baby Shower/Party on Friday 4 -5 p.m., at Promise House. The girls love to have visitors. They will be opening only the gifts for the girls. In addition, a BCA photographer is needed to take photos of the girls during the party.
3. Give directly to Promise House. Donations will be taken up Friday.

For additional information, contact Stella Prather at sprather@abchomes.org.

Over the next couple of weeks there is a good chance that more photographs will be taken than any other time of the year. With the Christmas season come some of the most powerful photo opportunities we will ever see: Moments.

From the first day of photography classes here at Union University, students hear me talk about capturing moments. In order to make a photograph of something so elusive, one needs to be very aware and have an ability to anticipate. Strategically linked to awareness and anticipation also will be the capacity to concentrate completely for a few brief seconds, blocking out all the other things that are happening.

When a great moment is about to occur, the temptation that most controls us is a desire to be involved. We want to clap and cheer too, or provide a needed hug. Sometimes what could have been a wonderful photograph turns into a group photo of smiling faces, all looking at the camera. Only our memory can recount what had happened seconds earlier. The moment had passed.

Over the last few days we've all seen powerful moments that are hard to forget. Images of children being led to a safer place, and the faces of those lost amid the tragedy. Moments indeed can be sad and sometimes very hard. Although photographs like these can take us to emotional depths, they can also be a starting point for change. The photograph of a moment can have tremendous power by simply making us more aware.

Although our nation has been hurt deeply, in this season we also have reason to celebrate. We celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We can push back the darkness that engulfs us and experience a God-given moment if we choose to see it. A photograph of such a moment can be a reminder of hope and can help lead us forward.

My encouragement to anyone reading this is to pull out that little camera or camera phone and be ready. Be ready to capture the moment that might help remind us of God's love for us and the joy we can have through Him.

Jim Veneman is director of visual communication and assistant professor at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

This column first appeared on Baptist Press (bpnews.net) on Dec. 19.