Miami, Florida, United States…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Church communication directors from throughout the Inter-American Division territory met for a communications workshop at its headquarter office in Miami, Florida, Feb. 9-10. The workshop, which was the second such event during the current quinquennium, included seminar topics on church media relations, crisis communication and public relations.
“This [workshop] has become necessary because of the many activities, changing circumstances and events which make it imperative for us to recalculate strategies in order to accomplish our mission as communication directors,” said Pastor Leon B. Wellington, vice president and communication director for the church in Inter-America.
Among the speakers was Ray Dabrowski, World Church Communication director, who emphasized the mission statement, strategic statement rationale of the communication department and the guiding principles to ensure that proper plans are implemented. He also reviewed the expectations of the communication director and news reporting in the context of the church.
Also, John Banks, associate communication director for World Church taught church communicators on the importance of their role in church media relations, public relations and crisis communication in their communities and territory.
Also present were representatives of Adventist Television Network and Adventist World Radio who spoke about the programs, updates and features of their respective ministries.
Workshop attendees were able to report on the progress in their respective territory regarding their efforts in dealing with the media representing the church.
At the end of the workshop, Pastor Wellington encouraged all workshop participants to share their learned knowledge with their communication directors in their respective union territory, and continue committed to using the technology available to further the work of the church.
“It is our hope that this workshop will sharpen your skills, increase knowledge and enhance communication between you, us, the agencies and individuals whose common desire is to see Jesus come,” Pastor Wellington said to the church communicators. “As communication directors you are therefore critical to the success of any strategy for advancing the Kingdom of God,” he added.
