Communications

Ray E. Sanders

Ray E. Sanders is the executive editor of the Baptist Messenger and Communications Team Leader for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

Sanders is a seasoned, award-winning communications professional with an extensive background in media, corporate communications and public affairs. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in broadcast journalism and mass communications.

Sanders' start in media initiated as a news anchor for a National Public Radio affiliate and as a photojournalist for a local TV news affiliate. Sanders' career eventually led him to Washington D.C. where he interacted with members of the U.S. Congress and the executive branch to produce radio and television programming for national and local news outlets. He has produced and directed multifaceted radio, television, print and Internet campaigns as well as serving as editor of a statewide financial news and information publication while leading corporate communications for one of the nation's most sound financial institutions.

As the head of the Messenger Network, Sanders seeks to provide a biblical worldview concerning news and information through the Baptist Messenger, the Messenger Radio Broadcast and BaptistMessenger.com. Whether in print, on the air or through the Internet, the Messenger Network exists to inform and enlighten audiences concerning critical issues affecting all of Christian life. Sanders also hosts The Messenger weekly radio broadcast.

The Baptist Messenger is the largest weekly news publication in the state of Oklahoma with a circulation of over 80,000 households.

Through electronic and interactive media, print communications and print operations Sanders leads the BGCO Communications Team efforts to effectively communicate and inform Oklahoma Southern Baptists regarding the impact Baptists are having through the Cooperative Program. He is also responsible for providing vision and direction, at the state level, for the Cooperative Program, which is the primary means of funding Southern Baptist missions and ministries worldwide.

In addition to speaking at churches and other venues throughout Oklahoma, Sanders is recognized by the media as spokesman for the BGCO. He leads the Ethics and Religious Liberties Committee for Oklahoma and represents Oklahoma Southern Baptists on a variety of social, political and moral issues. He is often quoted in the press on behalf of Oklahoma Southern Baptists and his writings are regularly published by a broad spectrum of media organizations. He was director of the award-winning nationally televised Falls Creek broadcast and producer of other BGCO prized communication ventures.

Tiffaney McClendon

Tiffaney McClendon is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and made the move to Oklahoma in 2006 to be part of the BGCO Baptist Messenger-Communications Team. She serves as Administrative Assistant, bringing years of customer service and administrative experience to her position, and is also a published writer whose credits include the Baptist Messenger.

Heidi Wilburn

Heidi Wilburn serves as the Communications Specialist/Spokesperson for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma with corporate communications experience.

Wilburn has joined the Communications Team in a new expanded role, leading out developing marketing and media communication strategies that convey the impact Oklahoma Baptists are having as they reach the world for Christ through the Cooperative Program.

As the Communications Specialist, Wilburn helps manage and ensure a quality BGCO image is maintained through the development of various marketing strategies, publications and mediums produced by the Communications Team, BGCO ministries and others. She serves as the primary copy writer for news releases, publications, advertisements and scripts. She interacts and coordinates media relations as the BGCO spokesperson.

Wilburn maintains a regular BGCO presence at the State Capitol in order to monitor critical moral and ethical legislation and policies and is responsible for the development and implementation of Rose Day and other ERLC activities.

Wilburn serves as a Communications Team liaison to the BGCO Board of Directors Public Relations Workgroup.

She and her husband, Brandon, are members of Guthrie, First Southern Baptist Church. Wilburn also previously served as the director of development and communications for the United Methodist Circle of Care, Inc. She also served as the donor relations coordinator for the Van Wezel Foundation in Sarasota, Fla. She earned a B.S. degree in journalism and broadcasting with an emphasis in public relations at Oklahoma State University.

Marcus Wehmuller

Marcus J. Wehmuller is the electronic media strategist of the BGCO Communications Team. He graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Degree in Communications and a minor in Marketing.

As strategist for the Electronic Media Department, Wehmuller produces many of the audio/video projects that come from the Convention, which include the Oklahoma State Missions Offering, Messenger Radio Program, Cooperative Program promotionals, and the Annual Meetings. Wehmuller also has experience in printing and web design.

Since starting in 1999, he has produced several national award-winning programs including the Falls Creek Television Broadcast, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Oklahoma State Missions Offerings, Gambling Mouse Animation and the "Image" CP promotional.

Jordan Wooley

Wooley is the Interactive Media Strategist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. His job includes managing the Convention's web presence and other auxiliary sites as well as helping ministries develop interactive content to engage people in the Gospel.

Wooley felt called to work at Falls Creek during high school and began developing innovative video solutions to help facilitate teaching students about the word of God. He has over eight years of experience working with the Falls Creek Conference Center and has helped provide interactive media solutions for a myriad of Conference Center's events.

Wooley started his own consulting firm and has helped numerous churches and other organizations develop web sites, videos, and other digital media elements to allow them to more effectively reach people for Christ.

Wooley worked with the Convention extensively to continue providing video support for the summer youth camp at Falls Creek and he also helped develop The Pursuit and The Discovery, two youth targeted interactive CD's designed to help young people in their daily walk. Approximately twenty other conventions across the country are currently utilizing these CD's in their youth areas, and several missions organizations have expressed an interested in having them translated into different languages for use in foreign countries.

In February 2006, Wooley began working full time for the Convention and has implemented an aggressive program to bring the BGCO a new cutting edge web site and help the Convention's ministries leverage the Internet is reaching Oklahoma Baptists.

Jacob Wright

Jacob Wright serves as a videographer/editor for the BGCO Communications Team. Wright holds a bachelor of arts in telecommunications from Oklahoma Baptist University. He is an experienced, gifted editor and communicator. Wright has a clear awareness of the need to communicate to a sight-and-sound generation the impact that Oklahoma Baptists have through the Cooperative Program.

Lisa Leininger

Lisa Leininger serves at the BGCO as the Communication Team's Ministry Coordinator. Lisa recently graduated from the University of Central of Oklahoma with a bachelor of arts in broadcast journalism and mass communications and a minor in performing arts.

As ministry coordinator, Lisa helps develop media and marketing strategies, project coordination and aids the Communications Specialist and Baptist Messenger in daily tasks. She comes with experience in radio and television as well as public speaking and leadership skills that make her a great fit for this team. She is dedicated to expanding the ways we reach the world for Christ.

Lisa is also involved in ministries outside of the BGCO. She and her husband, Kris, worship leaders at E-Church in Oklahoma City and they also work together to lead UnderSon Ministries, a music ministry based in Edmond. Lisa has a passion to serve the Lord and would love to travel the world and see people experience God through worship, conferences and events, comedy and creativity.

Bob Nigh

Dana Williamson

Dana Williamson has served as associate editor of the Baptist Messenger since 1994. Before that, she spent 25 years in the public relations office of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, where she advised media on Oklahoma Baptist events and issues, produced news releases published throughout the state and wrote radio scripts used by the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission.

A graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in political science and journalism, she has won numerous awards for feature stories which have appeared in national Southern Baptist publications, including SBC Life, On Mission magazine, Growing Churches, RA/Lad magazine, and also the Oklahoma Peace Officers magazine.

She is the author of one book, To Move a Mountain, and has served as ghost writer and editor for several other books.

She has traveled to Brazil, England, Africa, Israel, India and Italy on story assignments.

Charlie Atkins

Charlie Atkins is the advertising manager for the Baptist Messenger of Oklahoma.

Atkins came to the Baptist Messenger with a successful record of business experience in the fields of management, advertising and sales.

For 28 years Atkins worked for a large Oklahoma City screen-printing company whose customer base consisted of large national chain stores. While working for this company, Atkins held several positions including, project communications, training systems manager, inside sales manager, and regional sales representative.

Atkins is a deacon and Bible study leader in his church. He has a BA degree with a double major in Commercial Art from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Skilled in several computer programs, Atkins can handle both Macintosh and PC formats.

As advertising manager for the Baptist Messenger, Atkins seeks to provide you with effective advertising that yields results and gives you more value for your advertising dollars. He is also determined that your advertising experience be as enjoyable and uncomplicated as possible.

Bryan Barros

Stella Lane

Stella Lane is Circulation Coordinator for the Baptist Messenger, where she has been responsible for the Messenger going into at least 80,000 homes weekly since early 1994.

A native Oklahoman, she is a graduate of East Central State University, Ada, and the University of Oklahoma. Lane has worked for newspapers in Oklahoma and Florida, as well as in public relations for San Marcos Baptist Academy, San Marcos, TX, before coming to the Messenger.

Lane is a member of Portland Avenue Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, and has one daughter, whose family resides in Wimberley, TX.

Susan Keener

Susan Keener has been the Baptist Messenger bookkeeper since 1995. Prior to that, she worked at CMI Corporation for over 17 years in the accounting department.

She and her husband Mike reside in Yukon. They have a daughter Lisa, son-in-law Mitch and three beautiful grandchildren, Emma, Nate and Lydia. All are members of Piedmont FBC.

Linda Silvernail

Linda Silvernail has served as the Receptionist for the Baptist Messenger office since 1998 and now for the Communications Team of the BGCO.

She also assists in the area of circulation for the Baptist Messenger, helping to maintain and process our Oklahoma Baptist churches' subscription lists.

Texas was home for 17 years after growing up in Oklahoma City. Part of that time was spent serving as her pastor's secretary. Silvernail joined the Baptist Messenger team shortly after moving back to Oklahoma with her husband, Dale. They are enormously proud of their two grown daughters, Shelli and Cindy, and their three grandchildren, Hunter, Micah and Madison.

As a free-lance watercolorist, Silvernail has produced art work associated with the Falls Creek Baptist Convention Center.

Her and her husband attend OKC, Quail Springs.

Rob Miller

Billy Tuter

Bill Mays

Clint Walkingstick

Clint Walkingstick serves as a Graphic Designer for the BGCO Communications Team.

Walkingstick holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Central Oklahoma. He is a seasoned, award-winning communications professional with a firm background in design, corporate communications and advertising.

Derrick Killman

Danny Wilson

Ellis Wright

Stacy Tuter