From the beginning, Margaret approached her work with care, intentionality and a deep love for the mission of Florida Baptists. One of her lasting contributions has been the leadership of the Florida Baptist writers’ network; a group of five writers positioned statewide to cover ministry stories from every region. Through workshops, training sessions and personal encouragement, Margaret helped sharpen skills in storytelling through words, photos and videos, creating a supportive community where communicators could thrive.

Her dedication was especially visible during moments of crisis. Following Hurricanes Debby, Milton and Helen, Margaret’s coverage of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers captured not only facts but compassion. She highlighted the hope of the Gospel and the heart of ministry on the front lines of disaster relief. Those stories went on to receive multiple Wilmer C. Fields Awards at the 2025 Baptist Communicators Association annual gathering—national recognition that affirmed the depth of her craft and her heart for people.

Florida Baptist Convention Executive Director-Treasurer Dr. Stephen Rummage shared these words of gratitude during his opening remarks at the State Board of Missions meeting Tuesday, November 11:

“I want to take just a moment to express our deep appreciation to Margaret Colson, who is completing her service as our Consulting Communications Editor. Since joining us in April 2022, Margaret has brought excellence, creativity, and a real heart for ministry to everything she’s done. She has helped us tell the story of what God is doing through Florida Baptists with clarity, warmth, and grace. Across the Southern Baptist Convention, Margaret is recognized as a respected leader in journalism and communications—someone whose professionalism and integrity have strengthened Baptist life for many years. We’re deeply grateful for the dedication, skill, and spirit she has shared with us. Please join me in thanking Margaret for her faithful and fruitful service among Florida Baptists.”

Beyond her role with the convention, Margaret is widely recognized across the nation as a Christian communications strategist and leader. She currently serves as executive director of the Baptist Communicators Association and executive secretary of the Association of State Baptist Publications. She has written thousands of articles, authored books, trained communicators, led webinars, and continues to serve ministries through her writing.

Those who have worked alongside Margaret know that her impact goes beyond output—it touches people. She believes in the power of words and in the power of encouragement. 

Outside of work, Margaret and her husband, Keith, enjoy life in the Atlanta area and peaceful days on their farm in middle Georgia. They love to travel and reflect on the beauty and lessons found in God’s creation. Margaret is also an avid runner and walker recently having backpacked the 82-mile Georgia Section of the Appalachian Trail.

Her life verse fits the way she has served Florida Baptists these three years:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

—Hebrews 12:1–2

Margaret’s leadership, kindness, and unwavering commitment to telling the stories of God’s work have left a lasting mark and Florida Baptists are stronger because of it.

In Florida, the Witness has been informing and inspiring Florida Baptists since 1884. Once a paid subscription, we now publish for free church stories and Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) news as we’re aware of them.

Our new digital format ensures that stories of all that God is doing around our state are reaching Florida Baptists quickly.

“Almost two years ago, the Witness board decided to convert to all-digital content and we’re not looking back,” said Mark MacDonald, Strategic Communication Catalyst of the FBC.  “We’re now reaching more people, by telling more stories, and delivering them conveniently in a free, weekly, customized email.”

“The Witness has three times the writers covering the entire state and twice as much content,” he added. “Ultimately now, Google helps us push our stories to an audience who’d never think of picking up a newspaper. God is blessing the digital Witness.”

“As a pastor and reader of the Witness, I love that the new version is easier to access and share,” said Derek Allen, pastor of Christ Centered Church in Miami. “As a Florida Baptist, I love how the new online version is more efficient and effective at communicating our message.” He also added that he likes not having to wait for a print publication to arrive by mail every other week but can instead go online and be in the know about the latest Florida Baptist news.

The Witness is sharing what God is doing at home through stories like Stetson Baptist Church’s who is loving on their community by canceling millions of dollars in crippling medical debt or the growth experienced by Hope Church Chiefland in just six months. We are also telling the stories of what God is doing abroad like the feeding of thousands and saving of hundreds in Dominica, Windward Islands.

Such stories build awareness of God’s work in the world, often inspiring Southern Baptists to action, Jim Veneman, president of Baptist Communicators Association (BCA), told Baptist Press.

“We think it’s just one photograph, one story, one social media post — until God blesses it, and it’s exactly like that lunch [Jesus feeding the 5,000]. It has an impact way beyond the scope of anything we may ever even know about,” he said.

In the public relations category the Florida Baptist Communication Team received first place for the State Mission Offering communication strategy, first place for the redesigned FBC website in the interactive category, and in the design category third place for the design of the FBC annual report and second place for the “Be the Spark” Cooperative Program bulletin inserts.

Mark MacDonald, Strategic Communication Catalyst of the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC), represented Florida Baptists at the award ceremony.

“After reworking the FBC communication structure, along with our channels and tools, over the last two years since coming to my position, it’s gratifying to see that we’ve created a platform that can effectively share church and convention stories,” he said.

MacDonald leads the Communication Team which exists to share church and convention stories and help churches share their own amazing God stories through website, email, social, print and more. He also led in the creation of the Florida Baptist Communicators Network making Florida the first state to have such a network in the Southern Baptist Convention.  Through the network, church communicators from around the state can collaborate, share experiences and challenges, and encourage one another as they seek to tell stories of impactful ministry taking place in their churches. The network meets during the year throughout the state for training, exchange of ideas, encouragement and fellowship. More on that here.

“My ultimate goal is to let every Florida Baptist know how God is working in Florida — because He is every day! Having my fellow Baptist Communicators honor the work done by our Communication Team is an incredible blessing.”

If you’re a church communicator and are looking for some encouragement and community check out the Florida Baptist Communicators Network by following our Facebook group.

“It’s a privilege to tell the state about the great things happening in Florida Baptist churches,” said Mark MacDonald, Strategic Communication Catalyst for the Convention.

Since MacDonald’s arrival last summer, there has been a push to tell more and better church ministry stories as well as keep ministry leaders, church members, and the greater Church up-to-date with what’s happening in Florida Baptist and Southern Baptist Convention news. Our new digital format ensures that stories of all that God is doing around our state are reaching Florida Baptists quickly.

And the new emphasis on excellent church communication in our state is getting noticed.

“Be the Spark” recognized

Recently, the 2018 Florida Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program campaign video “Be the Spark” received honors from two different international organizations that receive hundreds of entries:

-a Bronze Telly Award in the Religion/Spirituality category https://www.tellyawards.com/winners/2018/non-broadcast/general-religion-spirituality and

-an Award of Distinction from The Communicator Awards in the Film/Video Fundraising category https://www.communicatorawards.com/winners/list/?event=1018&category=1923&award=9&_p=6.

The award-winning video tells the story of how Florida Baptists are the catalytic spark that transports the light of the gospel worldwide through their generous gifts to the Cooperative Program.

First-ever statewide Baptist Communicators Network

Another big change this past year has been the genesis of the Florida Baptist Communicators Network. Through the network, church communicators from around the state can collaborate, share experiences and challenges and encourage one another as they seek to tell stories of impactful ministry taking place in their churches.

“Florida is the first state to have a church communicators network in the SBC,” MacDonald said. “The network allows us to encourage church communicators and together raise the bar on all church communication around the state. I want to see church websites, social media, and print materials become more effective!”

Are you responsible for telling your church’s stories? Looking for some encouragement and community? Check out the Florida Baptist Communicators Network by following our Facebook group or click here for more information.

Want to know more about the advantages of a church communication strategy? Find out the benefits other churches in Florida have already seen by clicking here.

By Nicole Kalil, Florida Baptist Convention, August 14, 2018

So what can an effective communication strategy do for your church?

Be relevant.

Many churches fall into the trap of creating individual brands for each ministry on campus. Buck Buchanan, pastor of worship ministries at Mission Hill Church in Temple Terrace, said his church bought into that trend and it ended up eroding the overall unity of the church. Plus, he said, it was confusing for outsiders.

“The community doesn’t know what these brands mean,” he said.

Leaders at Mission Hill went so far as to not only rebrand but also rename the church, which was formerly known as First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace. Buchanan said the new name is more representative of who they are as a church and how they want to be seen in the community. Buchanan hopes the changes will help the community see the benefits of having a church as a neighbor.

“The community around us doesn’t look at us as something they need or that we’re even relevant,” he said. “If we were gone would they wish we were still here because we made an impact on them?”

Be less busy.

This was one of the advantages that had a major impact on the leadership and staff of Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton. Like many established churches, Pine Terrace offers its members many options for small groups, fellowships, discipleship classes and activities. Senior Pastor Mike Wiggins said with two services on Sunday and a big schedule on Wednesday nights, there was a lot going on.

The church’s new communication style is not about doing and offering more but by focusing on what they do best. Wiggins credits Florida Baptist Convention Strategic Communication Catalyst Mark MacDonald with helping them focus in on who they are as a church and what they want to be known for in their community. That knowledge freed them up to concentrate on the areas of ministry that were most relevant and really needed.

“The problem with a lot of churches – and we’ve dealt with it too – you see many churches chasing after programs and methodologies, which leads to an eclectic kind of approach to ministry and you end up not knowing who you are,” he said. “Mark can help people get on target and understand themselves and do what they do best, not what the church across town is doing.”

Be heard.

Communicating the right message to the right people should be an easy task to accomplish but with so many different means of communication available to churches, each with inherent pros and cons, getting the word out isn’t always as straight-forward as it could be.

That was one of the issues the staff of Fort Caroline Baptist Church in Jacksonville was contending with. Senior Pastor Ricky Powell said after taking a serious look at how and what they were communicating, church leaders realized much of their messaging was “insider-focused.”

“We were communicating in many different ways and using different types of media but we weren’t clear on who the target audience is and what the best practices are,” Powell said.

Fort Caroline is in the process of evaluating what they say, where they say it and who they’re saying it to in order to streamline their message. Powell is certain a cohesive communication strategy will increase the likelihood that their message is truly heard by the people who need to hear it – namely, a community in need of Christ.

Want to know more harnessing the power of church communication? Be sure to attend an upcoming Church Communicator regional meeting near you!

Winter Springs – Central/East regions – June 4 – Register here!

Fort Lauderdale – Southeast region – June 5 – Register here!

Fort Myers – Southwest region – June 6 – Register here!

By Nicole Kalil, Florida Baptist Convention, May 22, 2018

Participants received benefits both tangible and intangible though all were valuable:

• The opportunity to connect with other church communicators, many for the very first time
• Questions answered about how to more effectively tell their church’s story
• Tips for effective church branding
• Free books, t-shirts and mugs

Eric Yeldell, pastor of Contemporary Worship and Ministry at First Baptist Church in Naples, handles the church communication responsibilities at the church. Despite a busy calendar, Yeldell felt it was worth it to take a day out of his schedule and make the drive to Jacksonville to find out more about how he can make the most of his church’s communication strategy.

“I gained better perspective on the significance of healthy & effective communication to our church family, as well as to our community,” he said.

The retreat was led by Mark MacDonald, Strategic Communication Catalyst and head of the Convention’s Communication Team. MacDonald, who has almost been at the Convention for six months, created the Network to come alongside Florida Baptist Communicators as they handle the big task of managing their church’s internal and external messaging. MacDonald was pleased to be able to offer the retreat free of charge thanks to the churches who faithfully give to the Cooperative Program.

MacDonald told the Communicators that their aim is to delight their audience – whoever that may be. MacDonald certainly delighted his audience as the Communicators took to social media, posting pictures, words of encouragement and some of the things they were learning. They also shared pictures of the Play-Doh sculptures they made throughout the day, with the best one winning a prize.

“The fidgeter in me is enjoying the Play-Doh,” tweeted Katrina McMillan, who handles communication at Celebration Baptist Church in Tallahassee.

Tommy Green, executive director-treasurer, stopped in to offer words of welcome and encouragement.

If the day’s goal was to empower and encourage Florida Baptist Communicators, MacDonald and team certainly hit the mark.

“Mark MacDonald and his team gave beneficial insight into how we can better connect with our audiences and appropriately utilize the unique avenues of communication available to us,” Yeldell said. “I left the conference feeling better equipped to serve our church, reach our world and tell better stories of how the Gospel impacts hearts and changes lives.”

The Communicators were not the only ones to walk away from the day encouraged.

“These Florida Baptist Communicators are forging a path into Southern Baptist Church history today. I’m blessed to watch their resolve, leadership, and creativity as we planned the Network’s next steps,” MacDonald said. “The future is oh so good!”

By Nicole Kalil, Florida Baptist Convention, February 6, 2018

Mark MacDonald of Clemmons, N.C. will join the convention staff as strategic communication catalyst, effective mid-August. Ricky Bailey of Miami will begin as the Baptist Campus Ministry director in Miami in July; and Nathan Schneider of Saraland, Ala., will begin as Baptist Campus Ministry director in Tampa in July.

In his new role, MacDonald will manage the Convention’s communication arm and offer training in communication strategies to Florida Baptist churches. The nationally recognized church communications specialist will fill the position left vacant with the Aug. 31 retirement of Barbara Denman, a 30-year Convention employee.

He will reside in the Jacksonville area.

Prior to accepting this role, MacDonald was strategist and president of “Be Known For Something,” an agency that specializes in helping churches create a unified marketing message. MacDonald, who created the agency in 2010, is in great demand to speak at national conferences and churches; and writes articles for national magazines and blogs. He is the author of “Be Known For Something, Reconnect with Community by Revitalizing Your Church’s Reputation,” an Amazon best-selling church growth and church leadership book, published in 2017.

Florida executive director Tommy Green first worked with MacDonald when he served as the consultant and creative director for the Convention’s 2015 “Right Beside You,” rebranding campaign.

Prior to creating his own agency, the Canadian native served as creative director of PinPoint Creative in Winston-Salem, N.C., 2001-2010; director of communications for Physicians Laboratories, Winston-Salem, N.C., 2000-2001; and vice-president for marketing, BKM Research and Development in New Brunswick, Canada from 1998-2000.

The married father of two adult sons was educated at the Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, and Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., where he received a bachelor in arts in 1986.

As Miami campus ministry director, Bailey will serve both the University of Miami and Florida International University, assuming the position left vacant with the resignation of Matt Wofford, who moved out of state.

In 2016, Bailey was named as college pastor of Christ Fellowship Church in West Kendall, taking a dying college ministry and within eight months, turning it into a successful ministry with increased funding and support. He also grew a campus ministry at Florida International University in Miami from 10 to an average attendance of 50 in a year.

The Briceville, Tenn., native received the bachelor of arts degree from Temple University in 2015.

He and his wife, Stephanie, will reside in the Miami area.

As the new Tampa-area BCM director, Schneider will serve on the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College and Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland. He will fill the vacancy created when Rahul Agarwal move to a staff position at a church in metro Atlanta.

Schneider served as student pastor of Redemption Church–formerly FBC North Mobile—in Saraland, Ala., since June 2012, where he led and implemented a comprehensive vision for reaching and discipling students to impact the world with the gospel.

Previously he served as children ministry intern and researcher of family ministry at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., from January 2011 to May 2012; and as intern at Family Church in West Palm Beach.

A graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Schneider holds the master of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.; and is working towards a doctor of ministry degree from Southeastern in next generation track.

He and his wife, Michelle, have a son, Ezra, and daughter, Karis. They will reside in the Tampa area.

By Barbara Denman, Florida  Baptist Convention, June 13, 2017