Communicators Meet for Annual Convention

Nicole Dominguez

More than 260 registered communicators, composed of professionals and students, gathered at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center in Chicago, Illinois, on October 17, 2024, to attend the Society of Adventist Communicators (SAC) Convention. For the next three days, participants enjoyed breakout sessions, local media tours for college/university students, new tech, and top-notch speakers to engage and inspire.

Media Tours, AI, and More

Thursday consisted of the arrival and registration for the writers, social media managers, communication directors, designers, photographers, podcasters, pastors, and other attendees. While students, at a record-breaking number of 76, went on media tours to places such as Intervarsity Press, the CBS and ABC Chicago affiliate TV stations, and Edelman (a worldwide public relations firm), the morning held onsite meetings for union publication editors, and a meet-and-greet for the conference communication directors.

The first general session in the afternoon set the tone for the convention with a welcome from Brenda Dickerson, SAC president, and Kimberly Luste Maran, SAC executive director, before the opening speakers took the stage. There were three presentations, each exploring the duality of how communicators must apply their skills.

Author and award-winning journalist Bekah McNeel opened with her presentation, “Stories That Hurt, Stories That Heal a Divided America,” urging communicators to confront internalized “us vs. them” narratives that politicize our perspective on human issues. “Politics have coercive power. We often discuss human issues in and through political language, stripping it of its humanity,” said McNeel.

Dewey Murdick, executive director at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), discussed a practical roadmap for artificial intelligence in church communications through his presentation, “Decoding the AI Communication Puzzle: A Pragmatic Guide to Pros, Pitfalls, & Possibilities.” His presentation explored the nuance that can come from applying AI for everyday communication needs and the advancements still to be made.

Greg Dunn, SAC vice president for recruiting and development, and Kevin Lampe, executive vice president for Kurth Lampe Worldwide, also took the stage, sharing how they handle crisis communication at their Chicago-based firm, Kurth Lampe, engaging the audience with an activity and challenging them to apply what they’d learned to a real-life crisis.

The evening concluded with a reception in the exhibitor’s hall so that attendees could learn, mingle, and network.

The bulk of the Convention’s agenda took place on Friday, with attendees gathering bright and early to attend TechTalk, which has become a beloved mainstay of SAC, with Bryant Taylor, D.Min., SAC past president and Southern Union communication director. Though new technology and programs geared toward videographers, editors, and creatives were still featured, this year included a new element. Sandy Audio Visual (SAV) sponsored a portion of the technology raffled and offered a presentation by Colin Sandy, the company’s founder, who introduced their mission and vision and the technology they offer.

Keynote, Breakouts, and Vespers (and S’mores)

After TechTalk, Edelman strategist Lynn Hanessian’s keynote highlighted how data drives effective communication strategies and organizational growth. Friday held the three breakout sessions, each containing five workshops on topics like copyright law, podcasting, crisis communication, résumé review, communicator “self-care,” technology breakdowns, and more.

As participants milled about the outer hallway during breaks, they could visit booths from the numerous sponsors/exhibitors of the event, such as AdventHealth, AdventSource, Adventist Health, Adventist HealthCare, Adventist Connect, SermonView, SAV, Adventist Community Services, and Voice of Prophecy; or visit the podcasting booth with a complete set-up for roaming attendees to try their hand at podcasting. One exhibit allowed communicators to try new technology and test features such as sound editing programs, aerial drones, and camera setups.

“I love not just the networking but really building relationships while I’m here. Over the years I’ve gotten to know a lot of people …. this also brings together people who are all doing the same thing — this complicated area of ministry — that we’re doing because we love the Lord. We come back here; we want to share our ministry,” said Kristina Busch, Southwestern Union communication director and editor of the Record.

After dinner, the attendees’ knowledge of Adventist history was tested with a Kahoot game led by the hosting Lake Union Conference leadership before a praise team of District 5 church members gathered to lead a song service. JoAnn Davidson, Andrews University theology professor, preached on how Adventists are so focused on the Sabbath being “right” that the joy of the Sabbath is often forgotten. “We haven’t entered the joy of the Sabbath,” she said, “We are so focused on the right day, we draw attention to our place on the right day in our name, but the Sabbath is more than ‘not Sunday.’ It’s a day of joy and a royal invitation.”

The Joy of Connecting, the Joy of Ministry

The joy of the Sabbath was encapsulated Friday evening with a s’mores afterglow event, sponsored by Adventist Learning Community, where all members could huddle around bonfires, toast marshmallows to assemble s’mores, and forge friendships.

On Sabbath morning, the District 5 praise team opened the service, followed by a Sabbath School panel discussion hosted by Lake Union Conference. The worship hour started with Wintley Phipps, pastor, offering his vocal skills with a rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” Phipps’ sermon was a powerful commentary discussing how the war in Heaven became a communication war of disinformation and lies, and how people today still utilize misinformation and name-calling as “the most effective tool in the communication war.” Drawing upon points from Isaiah 59, Phipps implored the audience of communicators to remember that they are “communication soldiers in the war of words.”

After the Sabbath service concluded, attendees could attend one of two guided tours: visiting the Unshackled radio program and the Pacific Garden Mission, or a photo tour of downtown Chicago. Members also had the option of using the time to continue connecting with other attendees, explore the area, or rest. In the evening, however, all participants returned refreshed and well-dressed for the awards banquet.

While enjoying a vegetarian meal, guests saw the proof of concept/pilot episode of The Color of Threads, a Son-screen and Walla Walla University production that has been making the rounds at numerous film festivals, winning awards for its quality performance. Finally, Kirk Nugent, SAC board podcast representative, and JeNean Lendor, newly elected SAC president, handed out awards to communicators in professional and student categories ranging from short-form writing to best digital campaign.

Southern Adventist University won four awards and received two honorable mentions, and Oakwood University won one award and received one honorable mention. The Reger Smith Cutting Edge Award went to Southern Tidings 2024 Camporee Pin Set Campaign by O’livia Woodard and Christina Norris; and the SAC Award of Excellence went to “Focus on Daniel,” by Voice of Prophecy. The evening ended with Nicholas Gunn receiving the Student of the Year Award; Claudia Allen taking home the Young Professional Award; and, finally, Gary Burns earning the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was accepted on his behalf by Matt Webster, a family member and SAC board representative for communication education.

“Communications isn’t just another department in the Church. It’s also ministry. Let me repeat: it is also ministry,” said Nugent. “If we can frame all of the skills and talents that are being entrusted to God’s people as skill sets that He will require from us for His purpose and for His glory, we can be more inclusive of what it means to utilize [them] for ministry.”

Southern Union | February 2025