Two BCA members, Lonnie Wilkey, editor of the Baptist & Reflector, and Will Hall, executive editor of Baptist Press, became the first two fellows inducted to Union University's Center for Media, Faith and Culture during Union's summer commencement ceremony Aug. 2.

Union President David S. Dockery honored Wilkey and Hall for their work in reporting on the Feb. 5 tornado that caused $40 million in damage to the Union campus in Jackson, Tenn. At a time when Union was without power and without a website to communicate emergency information, Dockery said, "Two major people and their staffs came to our help and our aid. They went above and beyond the call of duty."

In the aftermath of the tornado, Baptist Press devoted a special page of its site to Union-related stories and helped provide up-to-the-minute information to Southern Baptist readers.

Two days after the tornado, Wilkey and other leaders from the Tennessee Baptist Convention were on the campus looking for ways to help.

Wilkey also ran several stories about Union - both in the Baptist & Reflector newspaper and on the Tennessee Baptist Convention website.

Dockery presented Wilkey and Hall with plaques, honoring them for their service to Union.

"We are deeply, deeply grateful," Dockery said. "They are special friends."

Have you joined the BCA group on Facebook yet? This members-only group is a great place to connect with other BCA members. Plus, you'll have access to some features that are not available elsewhere. For instance, right now, you'll find the feed for the recent BCA workshop in Arizona. The feed features audio files and presentation materials from several of the workshops. Join Facebook today, and ask to become a member of the group!

WOW! It's been a busy month for your fellow BCA members. We've got updates from: Doug Rogers, Julie McGowan, Marty O'Gwynn, Wilmer C. Fields, Norman Jameson, Trennis Henderson, Anita Bowden's, John Yeats, Brittany Howerton and Kelly Durham. Check out Grapevine news here. Got news to share? Drop us a line!

BCA members who attended this year's workshop in Phoenix will remember Louis Spears, North American Mission Board missionary and church planter strategist in Arizona. Louis spoke about his ministry at the workshop, and BCA members gave $636 to buy Bibles for those Louis is reaching with the gospel.

Louis' wife, Shelley, died May 6 following a sudden, brief illness. A church and home NAMB missionary, Shelley was a partner in ministry with Louis.

She leaves behind a daughter and son-in law, Amy and Kyle Roseberry, and their daughter, Kailey.

Condolences may be sent to Louis at Valley Rim Association, 1235 E. Evergreen St., Mesa, AZ 85203.

Ninety-six BCA members and guests participated in the annual workshop in Phoenix.

Members collected an offering for North American missionary Louis Spears, church planting strategist in Arizona's Valley Rim Association. The $636 that was given will be used to purchase Spanish Bibles for those Spears' ministry is reaching with the gospel.

The program included a tribute to Keith Beene, who served as BCA administrative coordinator for 12 years prior to his unexpected death in November 2007. "Frankly, Keith Beene was a godsend," according to former BCA president Terry Barone, who had a hand in Beene's hiring in 1994. Barone described Beene's commitment to his task as BCA coordinator as well as his loving devotion to his family.

In the business session Friday, members recognized three students who will be receiving scholarships from BCA: graduate student, $500, Brian Koonce, Midwestern Seminary; undergraduate student, $1,000, Christi Ann Mitchell, OBU; minority student, $1,000, Junghoo Song, Union University.

Members also named a committee of three immediate past BCA presidents (Joe Westbury, Norman Jameson, Doug Rogers) to explore options to grow an endowment fund of $5,000 provided by Missouri Baptist Foundation for future scholarships.

Members also voted to hire Margaret Dempsey as BCA administrative coordinator. The 2009 annual workshop is scheduled for April 15-18 in Nashville, and in 2010 BCA will hold its annual workshop April 7-10 in conjunction with Religion Communication Congress (RCC) in Chicago.

My first BCA conference was Denver, 2005. I knew no one, at least I thought I didn't. I was amazed at the number of "A-Ha" encounters when I saw name badges of people with whom I have traded e-mails and voice messages as we've worked madly to help one another meet deadlines.

Fast forward three years and it feels like I am on my way to a family reunion in Phoenix. What I experience at the BCA conference is a celebration of one another and the work that we do. And while all roads do not lead to heaven, I am reminded that there are many ways of communicating the truth of the Word.

Being a designer my thoughts are prone to wander, which is challenging when singularly-focused moments are required. This is why you will be taken directly to voice-mail when I am in the process of making a rather detailed selection in Photoshop. In that moment I am singularly-focused. The "Photoshop Tips and Tricks" workshop, led by David Shough, was stellar. It is so easy to hang on to the comfortable ways in which I work that I rarely experiment in areas that are less familiar. David brilliantly walked through several steps of non-destructive photo editing that will bring a fresh approach to the way I utilize Photoshop. Hopefully, over time, the singularly-focused moments will blend into more efficient ones.

Being a designer with wandering thoughts (as mentioned above), I naturally found myself sitting in a workshop called "Factors that Attract, Retain or Repel Believers to and from Churches" led by Brad Waggoner. The interesting note is not that I was in a workshop led by Brad, but that the workshop focused on current trends and implications relating to membership in the local church. Translated: GRAPH-A-PALOOZA!! When the first research data slide appeared on the screen I thought, "Uh-oh! I made a huge mistake." And had I not been sitting front and center, I just may have politely excused myself for a less graph-ic session. I am extremely glad that my pride forced me to stay, because the data presented should affect what and how we all communicate. I was reminded that while I have responsibilities in my place of work, I also have responsibilities in my place of worship. I was confronted with the idea that communicating "to" the church and communicating "within" the church are not mutually exclusive of one another.

As I sat through the final keynote address Saturday morning, I admit I was a little sad. Few remained; many had gone. It felt, I guess, what I imagine the rapture would feel like to those who were not taken. Dramatic? Maybe. But when God delivers friends into our lives the emptiness of absence should be felt. Until next year.

Andy is a production manager with the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Did you attend the 2008 BCA Workshop in Phoenix? Please take just a few moments to let us know what you thought about the workshops, the speakers, the location -- everything!

Your feedback will help the folks planning the 2009 BCA Workshop in Nashville.

Click here to take the survey now.

P.S. Even if you DID NOT attend the workshop, we'd like to hear your ideas for the upcoming event. You are invited to take the survey, too!