Executive Editor Rash celebrates 20 years at The Alabama Baptist

It’s her laugh that gives her location away. Long before she walks into a room, people know where Jennifer Davis Rash is because of her vivacious giggle and quick-moving footsteps that seem to almost precede her.

Rash’s high energy, outgoing personality, dedicated work ethic and visionary spirit are all part of what has made her a great asset to The Alabama Baptist (TAB) for 20 years, a milestone she marked Jan. 1.

Rash, who has served as executive editor of the state Baptist paper since 2011, took a non-traditional path to leadership, according to Editor Bob Terry.

He was looking for a full-time writer shortly after he became editor of the paper in summer 1995. Jim Oakley, former career counselor at the University of Alabama College of Communications and Information Sciences, had kept up with Rash after her 1993 graduation and recommended her for the position.

Terry recalled the December 1995 interview: “Jennifer had just come back from (her time as a Journeyman with the International Mission Board) and I thought a person with the combination of being an Outstanding Junior and Outstanding Senior in journalism from the University of Alabama, an active Baptist all her life and with missions experience would share the same zeal that I had for … how we do what we do in sharing what God is doing through Baptists.

“I thought she would be a great employee so I offered her the position.”

In typical Rash fashion, she wanted the best result possible so she countered the offer. Terry agreed and hired the young 24 year old.

‘Always striving to be better’

It wasn’t long before she moved from her role as news writer to news editor, then to managing editor in 2002 — “the best managing editor in Baptist life in my opinion,” Terry said.

Rash is “always doing and always thinking … which leads to her always striving to be better than yesterday — better not only for herself but for those around her and for the organization,” Terry said.

In the midst of doing excellent work at the paper, Rash has been involved in several communications organizations such as Religion Communicators Council, Evangelical Press Association (EPA), Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) and Associated Church Press, serving in leadership roles in several of the organizations. She also was a member of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama Roundtable, the planning committee for RCCongress 2010 and serves on the board of directors for Lives Being Restored.

Rash has helped TAB win honors for outstanding regional Christian newspaper for 19 consecutive years, along with countless other national awards for reporting, writing, photography and design.

Rash herself has received multiple national journalism awards for her coverage of the lottery debate in the state, including first place from EPA. She has won awards for her coverage of Alabama Legislature; a package on insurance; a story on prayer in schools; and many others. Rash also has three speeches published in the Congressional Record.

It is that caliber of work that made her a candidate for the position of editor of Arkansas Baptist News, something she declined in 2011 in order to continue her ministry in Alabama.

And her ministry does not just include her work through the paper or communications organizations. Rash is a member of NorthPark Baptist Church, Trussville, with her husband of 18 years, Jason. She founded and led the church’s photography ministry for 10 years before training others to lead the ministry last year and is a member of the guest services team. She also recently served on the personnel committee, which Bill Wilks, NorthPark Baptist pastor, said is “great because she has helped us make a lot of wise decisions there.”

“Jennifer is an incredible member of our church family and is always faithful and very supportive of leadership,” Wilks said. “She’s a person we go to about seeking wisdom on important decisions.

“The thing I love about Jennifer is that she is supportive but at the same time she’s going to ask the right questions and make sure we’re thinking everything through and doing the right things. She’s just a wonderful person and loved by everyone. She’s awesome.”

Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), said, “Jennifer Rash is the epitome of a Christian professional. Her Christian convictions are always uppermost in her life. Her professionalism is never in question. My admiration for her grows with time. She has yet to reach her full potential which means the best is yet to be.”

Doug Rogers, SBOM’s director of communications and technology services, has known Rash for 15 years and worked with her to cover Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meetings and state evangelism conferences. The duo also has worked together on stories about missions projects, church plants and other SBOM efforts along with leading the 2015 BCA awards competition.

“Jennifer is the type of person who makes me better just by being around her,” Rogers said. “Her amazing blend of talent, creativity, energy, organizational skills and sense of humor never fails to inspire me. … I always look forward to the opportunity to work with Jennifer on a project because she is committed to excellence and doing things the right way.”

Although her coworkers describe her as courageous, spirited, tough, loyal, driven, dedicated, creative, patient and spunky, they also call her friend, something Rash herself would say is the highest honor.

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