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.
Makyra Williamson
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.
ROCK HILL, S.C. — I grew up in the Crawford Road Church of Christ, a South Carolina congregation where my dad is the minister. The most important part of my life is that I am a Christian. I was baptized into Christ when I was 15 years old.
Chloe Franklin
From the third grade through high school, I attended Lake Pointe Academy, where I took part in a rigorous English curriculum. The grammar and writing skills I learned there gave me a solid foundation and inspired me to pursue a career in journalism at Elon University in neighboring North Carolina.
I joined Elon’s university newsroom, reporting and writing for the school newspaper, The Pendulum, the Elon News Network website and the Elon Local News live shows. Through that experience, I learned that I enjoy researching a story, interviewing people and meeting a deadline. Seeing the finished product brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment.
I’m looking forward to learning more about journalism and gaining experience as a writer through my internship with The Christian Chronicle.
I didn’t know much about the Chronicle, but a woman from my church is a subscriber — Anita Stockdale — and told me about the newspaper’s ad seeking an intern. Unbeknownst to me, my parents, Derek and Patrice Franklin, had been getting the paper at our house for years. They are fond of the Chronicle.
So I decided to apply. I was excited to be chosen for this opportunity because it combines my love for writing with my love for the Church of Christ.
I look forward to writing about topics I am passionate about, while helping to inform fellow believers about what is happening in Churches of Christ across the U.S. and around the world.
TV news anchor. Travel writer. Lawyer. My goal is to achieve all three at some point in my life. And with God, hard work, focus, prayer and opportunities like these, I can.
CHLOÉ FRANKLIN is is an intern for The Christian Chronicle. A member of the Crawford Road Church of Christ in Rock Hill, S.C., she is studying journalism at Elon University in North Carolina.
