When the events of April 16 unfolded at my alma mater, Virginia Tech, I was devastated along with the rest of the country by the magnitude of what was happening on a campus that I love. The initial shock hadn't fully set in as I made that three-hour drive to Blacksburg from Richmond so I could meet and pray with my friends who are students.

Brandon Pickett and the rest of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV) media team met me on campus the very next day to help capture the story of the Southern Baptists' response to this tragedy. From students to campus ministry leaders, everyone we spoke with showed a resilience to remain strong as a united community in the face of this tragedy.

Within hours of getting word of the attack, disaster relief first responders were on the scene - a trailer stocked with food to feed hundreds and volunteers equipped to help a hurting people cope. Witnessing the events of those few days really opened my eyes to the responsibility we take on as communicators... more importantly Baptist Communicators.

I saw hundreds of news crews, satellite trucks and high profile network anchors. There were also many news outlets from all over the world. Millions of people from all over were being informed of this story at the same time. I was impressed with the importance of telling people the story from our perspective.

And to think all of this unfolded the day after I returned from the BCA workshop in Mobile. Did you know that BCA members stretch around the globe? And just like the media that I saw on the Virginia Tech campus, we too, as Baptist Communicators, are called to tell a story. Let me encourage you to search out people that you work with to become members of BCA. Because BCA is only as strong as our membership network!