A three-person media team will be leaving for Haiti on April 22 to gather photos, videos and stories of what God is doing through the work of IM's missionaries, volunteers and  the Haitian Baptist churches.  Sites in the Dominican Republic and Haiti will be featured.  Interviews with IM missionaries Kristy Engel, Madeline Florez-Lopez, Vital and Ketley Pierre and Nancy and Steve James will begin to tell the amazing stories of hope that are happening thanks to the prayer, financial and volunteer support of hundreds of American Baptist churches throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. 

Stay tuned to this website for video clips, stories and photos starting May 7.  Also look for a report on the progress of relief and rebuilding efforts in the upcoming "On Location" print newsletter and for stories in the World Mission Offering materials that will be mailed to churches in July.

Meet the media team...

Francisco Litardo, videographer

 

Francisco brings a wealth of experience in cross-cultural communications, electronic media development and event management and production to the Haiti coverage arena.

 

He is currently the founder and principle creative director at On the Way Productions – Cross-Cultural Digital Storytelling. Francisco partners with faith-based communities, not-for-profit organizations and relief and development agencies to inspire and engage audiences and stakeholders through enterprising digital storytelling. Francisco enjoys creating stories that transcend the usual consumption of sound bites and enjoys creating “aha!” moments when audiences experience the story behind the story. Francisco has extensive cross-cultural experience and has walked-along-side communicators, producers and worship designers in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and South East Asia.

 

In the recent past, Francisco has served as director of Saving Grace Productions at the Church of the Resurrection, a 13-thousand member, United Methodist Church in Leawood, KS.

 

Prior to his work with the local church, Francisco partnered with a very dynamic and creative team of individuals at United Methodist Communications, in Nashville, TN where as Executive Director for Program, he directed and managed all editorial, creative and denominational marketing programs for the communications, public relations and marketing division of The United Methodist Church.

 

Francisco has also led various national and international efforts of the American Baptist Churches USA Mission Center in Valley Forge, PA, as he lived out his role as team leader for mission events and electronic media.

 

Prior to that, he worked as venue operations manager for a 1996 Olympic venue in Atlanta, and as press operations manager for the 1994 World Cup Soccer competition in Boston. Earlier, he directed public affairs for the Boston, MA WUNI-TV27 UNIVISION television station and for the Providence, R.I., PBS affiliate, WSBE-TV36.

 

Lucas Shivers, writer

 

 

Loving Jesus and loving others is my life goal. Before I was even born, my family started on a love journey. The electric meter man befriended my family and invited us to a small American Baptist church. His influence brought my family to know Jesus.

 

In my junior year of high school, I made my faith my own as I encountered the Word by reading the whole Bible. The community of faith became a vital part of my life. My experiences with many campus and faith-based organizations allowed me to pursue my personal passion of helping others change their lives through Jesus’ love.

 

I majored in elementary education and agricultural communications and journalism, with a leadership studies minor. I have combined my interests in agriculture and positive youth development with the goal of teaching upper elementary grades and investing the summers to serving Jesus.

 

God gave me a love-at-first-sight story in pursuing and marring my wife, Rachel, who continues to challenge me to fall more in love with Jesus. We are foster parents and love to open our home to others.

 

Due to my calling to the classroom, I currently teach sixth grade in Shawnee, Kan. I’m involved with the school’s Green Team, Site Council and StuCo. Prior to teaching, I served as a volunteer in missions with City Gate, Inc., a faith-based non-profit based in Washington, D.C. I worked with an after-school program in a community center in Southeast D.C., directed a six-week Summer Day Camp program and taught ESL courses.

 

In the summer of 2005, I served with International Ministries by working in the communications department. I developed new curriculum, edited mission journals and wrote prayer cards for more than 120 missionaries in 50 countries.

 

My life’s purpose promotes the most excellent way of love. My life mission is to love Jesus and love others while equipping and encouraging all to do the same.

 

Scott Smith, photographer 

 

Scott is the pastor of Arlington Heights Baptist Church, an American Baptist congregation in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he has served for nine years.  Scott and his wife, Megen, a speech language pathologist for Indianapolis Public Schools, have been married 27 years.  They are they are the proud parents of 21 year old daughter, Morgan, and a 19 year old son, Nicholas.  Morgan is studying bilingual education at Indiana University/Purdue University of Indianapolis.  Nicholas is studying recording arts at Butler University in Indianapolis.  Scott is a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.  He attended seminary in the Chicago area at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his M. Div. in 1988.  Since his ordination in 1988, Scott has served urban congregations.  He has had experience as a church planter, and has also served as a co-pastor in an integrated congregation.  Scott has written in the area of religion and society for an Indianapolis magazine, and has been a manuscript review editor for InterVarsity Press since 1992. 

 

Scott received a Lilly Foundation Clergy Renewal Grant in 2008 which gave him the opportunity to rekindle a passion for photography.  He is currently studying with Pulitzer Prize photographer, Bill Foley, and Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He is deeply involved in interfaith dialogue, and is a participant in an ongoing Jewish/Christian dialogue group. Scott also has a deep interest in the subject of violence and religion, with a particular focus on the theories of René Girard.  He also enjoys woodworking and writing poetry.