a lesson in communication, thank you to WIS "media family".

As I continue to discern further my ministry call, I know effective communication within the church is very much a defining factor of it. While I may be switching from a dream in the newsroom to the Church, my love of telling a story is not. The concept of journalism is to tell an objective story; well-rounded, thoroughly researched, many sources, both sides of the story, etc. It is about telling the stories of the people in a community and exposing  the truth. There is a responsibility to be a voice for the people. This journalistic philosophy is one I am still passionate about. Just because my direction has changed, many thing within my heart have not. How these passion will play out in the upcoming future just now looks a little different.

To be honest, I have been grieving my journalism dream. This is not something I ever planned to let go of, nor do I do so fully without a lot of bittersweet-ness. For seven plus years this was the goal I was working towards rigorously. All of my steps were taken in this one particular direction and no one could waver me from it. I had an amazing support team surrounding me, especially mentors in the WIS community. While I no longer looks towards a future in the newsroom, I have come to realize that God directly put me on this path because of the individuals I would meet who would teach me about faith and becoming a "voice for the voiceless". I reap many lessons from these years of study that will be beneficial to my future ministry and I know it was all a part of a greater plan.

As I move forward in my ministry discernment and close one chapter, I cannot do so without expressing my thanks to a group of people who did change my life. While I thought it was for one reason, it was for another that God used their influences, relationships, and experiences together to help define my future career.

 

 

Through Dawndy Mercer Plank, God taught me what compassion for a cause looks like. How you can use your faith and life experiences to spread a message of hope or encouragement to others. He also taught me what it means to reach out to someone who looks up to you, and try to help them along their way.
Dawndy: I will never be able to thank you enough for everything you have done for me. From the first time we met in the studio and you extended a warm hug of welcome instead of a simple, polite handshake, you have touched me. I spent hours with you that first day just sitting in the studio watching as you anchored. Afterwards, you extended your hand in helping mentor and guide me over these past three years. All the times you let me shadow you on the field or in the newsroom are wonderful memories I will cherish always. You did more than affect my journalistic life, you also affected my spiritual life. You taught me through your actions about what a woman of God looks like in the newsroom. Besides journalism guidance, you also offered life guidance. You listened and offered advice when I came to you with problems about college or life. There was also the time you had the grief counselor come do a segment on dealing with grief, when I was dealing with it myself. As I watched that segment that day I just balled. That meant EVERYTHING to me as you actively loved me in my time of need. Your impact on my life has not and will not end. You have a powerful passion for seeking help for viewers to keep them informed, and you passed that lesson on to me. In my future ministry I will carry on that lesson of seeking justice and uplifting the voice of the people in community I am a part of. You changed my life and I'm forever grateful to you. Thank you for "adopting" me. I will never be able to repay you for all you've done.

Through the example of Mary King, God taught me what pure joy for life looks like. No matter what life circumstances may throw your way or what time in the morning you have to get up, a smile can still be on your face. This type of zest only comes when someone is full of the Holy Spirit. When someone is that personable, people feel they can relate to you and therefore trust you with information. When your job is to help keep others informed, that type of trust is vital. Mary: you have always been so kind to me. Our lunch dates, shadowing you at 3:45 AM on Sunrise, and your cheerful disposition has always warmed my heart. You are one of the most genuine people I know. That resonates with me as I know I need to treat others that way. You extend that compassion to all you encounter and I know that it will be important I do that to those I serve in ministry, later. Thank you for that lesson and taking me under your wing.

Tim Miller my Twitter buddy. You always have a smile on your face and jokes coming off your lips. That wit has always made me laugh in our Twitter correspondence. When we were finally able to meet in person, the laughs continued. Thank you for reminding me about the power of social media and how it connects people. I also plan to use that to better connect congregations or people of the Church in my future ministry; a lesson I owe to you and our friendship. Through all the wit, you also take your responsibility as a weatherman very seriously. This balance is a lesson I take away as well about how to fulfill my responsibility of those I serve in ministry, but also doing so in ways that help make people laugh.

There are so many others at the station that have taught me lessons about telling the story that I cannot express my thanks enough for. Judi, PJ, Len, Beth, and basically everyone there. In the past three years, WIS has truly felt like an extended "adopted" media family. You all always welcomed me to shadow and explore the studio, soaking up all I learned. You all kept me encouraged through social media too, especially when I was in Washington, D.C.

I may not be going into the newsroom, but I have gained so many lessons from my time with those at WIS that I will carry into my future. While I knew that God brought WIS and the people there into my life to shape, influence, and change me it was not in the ways I initially thought. In fact it was in even more real and powerful ways.

These people taught me about compassion. These people taught me about what it looks like to fight for the truth and being a "voice for the voiceless". These people taught me about caring for the community you are in and holding true to that responsibility. These people taught me a lot about myself. For that I will always be grateful.