Oregon
Ready to tell stories that matter
TIGARD, Ore. — The Christian Chronicle has been part of my life and my reading material for as long as I can remember.
As a child, I fell in love with stories, both factual and fictional. I loved diving into books. I loved creating my own narratives. Eventually, I channeled these interests into academic paths, earning a degree in English from Harding University in Searcy, Ark. There, I learned more about reading and writing through the lens of faith.
“How do I speak about faith in a secular classroom? How do I live evangelistically around my roommates and my cohort? How do I build intellectually consistent frameworks of thought?”
Now, I’m pursuing a master’s degree in rhetoric and composition at Boise State University in Idaho. I’ve spent much of the last year — as a student in a worldly environment — grappling with how the church engages with culture.
How do I speak about faith in a secular classroom? How do I live evangelistically around my roommates and my cohort? How do I build intellectually consistent frameworks of thought? As an educator, how do I help students grow as communicators and critical thinkers without compromising my own beliefs? When to speak? When to stay silent?
I’ve watched as the Chronicle has engaged with many of these same topics.
Not to sound dismal, but I believe that this is the moment when the church is being sifted and tried. The world is changing rapidly, and the cultural Christianity we’ve found so comfortable seems to be dissipating.
The longer I live, the more I long for Jesus to return, but we must live in this world until he comes. Part of that means staying connected with the larger body of Christ.
Telling stories through media like the Chronicle is one way to accomplish this.
After growing up in Churches of Christ in the Pacific Northwest, I have a vested interest in keeping up with Christianity and culture.
I love the body of Christ dearly, and I’m delighted by the opportunity to help tell stories that matter in this world and the next.
MAKYRA WILLIAMSON is an intern for The Christian Chronicle. A member of the Southwest Church of Christ in Tigard, Ore., she is a 2019 graduate of Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
Read intern Chloé Franklin’s introductory column.
