ABSC Communications Team takes home 11 awards at annual BCA conference

Shown left to right: Alex Blankenship, Ethan Dial, Craig Jenkins, Travis McCormick, Mary Alford

Richmond, Va. – The Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Communications Team on Wednesday, April 24, picked up a total 11 awards — five of them first place — in the 60^th Wilmer C. Fields Awards Competition.  

The awards banquet takes place during the annual Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) conference. BCA is a nationwide group made up of Southern Baptist communication professionals from Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) agencies, state conventions, Baptist newspapers, and Baptist universities. Each year, this group gathers for a conference consisting of workshops and the annual awards ceremony.   

“The BCA is made up of very gifted and talented individuals representing several state and national organizations that share the same aim, advancing God’s kingdom,” said ABSC Director of Convention Advancement and News Craig Jenkins. “I am so proud of our ABSC communications staff for their hard work and awards received. Travis, Ethan, Mary and Alex are a joy to serve with and love to share the stories of how Arkansas Baptists are working together to see lives transformed by the Gospel of Jesus.”  

This year, the group gathered at the International Mission Board (IMB) headquarters and heard from keynote speakers like Bobby Ukrop, chairman and chief executive officer of Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, and Cynthia Price, associate vice president of communications and media relations for the University of Richmond.  

Breakout sessions ranging from “Communicating Compassionately” by IMB Director of Abuse Prevention and Response Administration Somer Nowak, “AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Evangelism and Discipleship” by IMB Director of Innovation Don Barger and more were offered throughout the four-day event.    

On Wednesday, the Wilmer C. Fields Awards were handed out at the Hippodrome in Richmond. The awards are listed below.  

Total Public Relations or Development Campaign 

2^nd place – Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering & Week of Prayer, Communications Team  

Social Media: Single Post  

1^st place – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief, Alex Blankenship and Ethan Dial  

Social Media: Campaign or Event 

1^st place – Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering & Week of Prayer, Communications Team  

2^nd place – Pray First 2023, Communications Team 

Email Marketing: Single Email 

1^st place – September Arkansas Baptist eNewsletter, Communications Team  

Email Marketing: Series 

1^st place – Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering & Week of Prayer, Communications Team  

2^nd place – Pray First 2023, Communications Team  

Photography Division: News – Single  

1^st place – Look Up, Ethan Dial 

Photography Division: Event Coverage – Series  

3^rd place – Disaster Relief, Ethan Dial  

Single Article – 750-1,500 words 

3^rd place – Halfway there: The story of Hiding Place Hollow continues, Travis McCormick  

First Person Column/Blog: Single entry  

2^nd place – Generational encouragement: Light grows in communal crafting, Ethan Dial