Western North Carolina Conference, Centenary UMC, and Lake Junaluska Recognized at 2020 UMAC Awards

“Each year, the United Methodist Association of Communicators recognizes excellence in communication through an awards program, the United Methodist Association of Communicators Awards Contest. The contest recognizes excellence in print publications, digital publications, writing, internet communications, video production, audio, photography, visual design, publicity/advertising and media presentations.” (The Executive Leadership Team for the UMAC) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s awards gala was held virtually.
 
We are proud to announce the following award recipients from Western North Carolina:
 
Doug Penninger, Director of Communications for Centenary UMC in Winston-Salem, won 1^st place in Magazine for an Annual Conference or Local Church for the July/August, September/October, and November/December editions of Through Centenary Windows. The church’s bi-monthly magazine highlights not only the happenings of the church, but more importantly, the lived expression of the congregation’s faith through mission and ministry in their local church, community, and around the world.
 
Stories of Faith, the Annual Conference magazine of the Western North Carolina Conference, won 3^rd place in Special Publication for an Annual Conference or Local Church. Stories of Faith is a magazine published by the WNCC, which tells the stories of everyday faith-bearers in our local congregations.
 
Melissa McGill, Director of Communications for the Western North Carolina Conference, won 2^nd place in Nonfiction Story for an Annual Conference or Local Church for her article “The Light Within You”. This piece, written for the Stories of Faith magazine, tells the story of Haywood Street Congregation, a church in downtown Asheville whose mission is centered, McGill writes, on “seeing the humanity and honoring the dignity of each person who walks onto their campus whether they are unhoused or they are shooting up in the bathroom or even if they are privileged, coming face-to-face with their own poverty for the first time.”
 
Teresa Tate, Marketing Coordinator at Lake Junaluksa Conference & Retreat Center, won 2^nd place in Photojournalism for a General Church Agency or Jurisdictional Area for “With You Always,” her photo of a guest in prayer under the shadow of the Junaluska Cross. In addition to her work with Lake Junaluska, Tate is also a freelance writer. You can find more of her work on her personal website.
 
The staff of Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center won:

• 3^rd place in Photo Series for a General Church Agency or Jurisdictional Area for “The Night Has Not Overcome the Day”, a photo series on the 2019 Easter Sunrise service at Lake Junaluska.
• 3^rd place in Campaign/Strategic Planning for a General Church Agency or Jurisdictional Area for their marketing of Winter Youth Retreats on their website, YouTube, and Facebook page.
• 2^nd place for a Publicity & Advertising for a Single Piece for a General Church Agency or Jurisdictional Area.

 
“Those honored at the Awards Gala are the best of the best,” says the Executive Leadership Team. “Competition is fierce, and we are grateful for the excellent work of so many writers, photographers, videographers and other communications professionals who dedicate their lives and their work to the Lord.”
 
Congratulations to all this year’s winners! To view the recorded video of the awards ceremony and a full list of this year’s winners, visit The United Methodist Association of Communicators website.