Brad Hawkins, a member of Eastmont Baptist Church in East Wenatchee, Wash., serves in his first term as a Washington State legislator.

OLYMPIA, WA — Public service has long been a passion for Brad Hawkins, but his election to a two-year term representing Washington’s 12th Legislative District has given him opportunities to spotlight a greater motivation –dedication to Jesus.

“It’s an uphill battle,” said Hawkins. “A lot of issues are difficult – just dealing with the politics of it all. I am here with good intentions of public service and want to honor my family, my constituents and my God. I know I felt led and am honored to be elected to represent my district and want to do so with honesty and integrity.”

Hawkins, 37, grew up in the Wenatchee Valley with a minimal church-going background.

“I often heard testimonies from people who struggled with issues such as drugs, alcohol or promiscuity who told how Jesus saved them from a destructive life,” he said, “but I didn’t smoke, drink or swear and I thought I was just fine. It was ultimately my high school track coach who led me to Christ. I tell people now that you might think you have everything, but not if you don’t have everlasting life.”

Hawkins earned a degree in English education at Central Washington University before moving to Washington D.C. to attend George Washington University while pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. He was able to serve for a time as a Washington State legislative intern. Marriage to his long-time sweetheart, Shawna, and the birth of their two sons, Luke and Tyler followed.

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Jacob Dahl thanks Southern Baptist Convention messengers for their prayers and Cooperative Program gifts that help reach college students with the gospel message as Paige and Keith Wieser (left) and his wife, Jessica, listen. The two couples shared the st

HOUSTON -- Thanking Southern Baptists for their prayers and Cooperative Program gifts that enable them to reach college students with the gospel, leaders of Resonate Church in Pullman, WA, also urged them to continue to continue investing in one of North America’s most strategic mission field.

“Our college church and Baptist collegiate ministries nationwide are indebted to our Southern Baptist family,” Pastor Keith Wieser told SBC messengers gathered June 11-12 for the SBC annual meeting in Houston. “As the Southern Baptist Convention invests in Baptist collegiate ministries, you are pouring fuel into the kindling of the most strategic of all mission fields.”

He listed impacts of their work at Washington State University in Pullman and at the University of Idaho in Moscow: students hearing the gospel for the first time, learning to be effective missionaries, growing in their capacities to become leaders in churches and launching out with the gospel to affect cities and transform cultures.

“Make no mistake about it, if we continue to invest in collegians by reaching them, by discipling them, by mobilizing them, we will see a great harvest for years to come,” added Wieser, who also is a Northwest Baptist Convention church planting catalyst.

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NWBC business manager Pamela Brock leads a Quickbooks presentation during a training conference in Volcano, HI.

VOLCANO, HI — Church leaders on the island of Hawaii are better trained in financial practices as a result of a partnership between the Northwest Baptist Convention and Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention.

Pamela Brock, NWBC business manager, and Steve Brock, chief financial officer for the Northwest Baptist Foundation assisted church leaders from the Big Island Baptist Association during a two-day training at the invitation of David Whitehead, director of missions for the association and a former pastor in the Northwest.

“David initially asked for Quickbooks training for financial people in his association,” Steve Brock said. “We had a mixed bag of experience with some just downloading the program the night before the conference started and others with much more exposure to it. Pamela led them in the training and then spent a lot of time answering questions.”

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Pat Melancon of Baptist Global Response leads NWBC disaster relief leaders through a series of training exercises and presentations.

June 6, 2013

VANCOUVER, WA -- Training for international relief efforts was the focus for ministry leaders from nine Northwest Baptist Convention churches during recent training sessions held at NWBC offices in Vancouver, WA. The two-day event was co-sponsored by the NWBC’s disaster relief ministry and Baptist Global Response.

Through a variety of workshop exercises, leaders emphasized the importance of preparation and strategic thinking in responding to international disasters.

“Without training, the work that’s well-intended is ineffective,” said Pat Melancon, BGR’s managing director of disaster response and training. “Folks have their hearts in the right place, but they’re not (always) thinking through what they want to do.”

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Robert Lowe, pastor of First Baptist Church, Yelm, WA, received his doctor of ministry, which culminated with his project report, “Creating a Community Transformation Task Force Concerning the Needs of Youth in Yelm, Washington.”

Stacy Kidd received a master of divinity, having also earned the master of arts in Christian education through Golden Gate previously. Kidd has the unusual distinction of having attended classes at all five of Golden Gate’s campuses. She lives in Tacoma, where she’s active in a Presbyterian church.