LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — Directors of Arkansas Baptists’ newspaper have elected a Southern Baptist North American Mission Board official as the publication’s new editor.
The board of the Arkansas Baptist News, meeting Nov. 18 at the Baptist building in Little Rock, elected Tim Yarbrough as editor effective Jan. 1. Currently coordinator of the Southern Baptist domestic-missions agency’s Acts 1:8 Challenge, Yarbrough has extensive experience in journalism and communications.
He will succeed the retiring Charlie Warren, who has served as editor for the past 11 years.
“I am deeply humbled to be called as the next editor of the Arkansas Baptist News,” Yarbrough said. “It has become increasingly evident to me over the past several weeks that God wants my family and me back in Arkansas. It will be a privilege to serve alongside our friends in the state, in addition to making new friends.
Tim Yarbrough
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“The Arkansas Baptist News is an important trust and should play a significant role in advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and around the globe,” Yarbrough added. “I look forward to telling the story of how God is using Arkansas Baptists to boldly proclaim Christ to a lost and dying world.”
Prior to coordinating the Acts 1:8 program Yarbrough served as NAMB’s media strategist and director of church relations. From 1995-2002 he was communications director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. From 1989-95, he edited a magazine, books and other publications at the Baptist Brotherhood Commission, which later merged with NAMB.
“Tim brings with him experience, leadership and journalism skills and a wealth of ideas to creatively communicate Christ’s story to the masses,” said Erby Burgess, chair of the paper’s board and pastor of Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, Ark.
“Tim has a heart for missions, for Southern Baptists and for God’s kingdom work,” added Burgess. “The work of the Arkansas Baptist News — to inform, inspire and involve Arkansas Baptists in fulfilling the Great Commission — will be greatly enhanced by Tim’s leadership.”
Yarbrough was born in Kennett, Mo., but he has longstanding ties to the Natural State. His family moved to the northeastern Arkansas city of Jonesboro when he was a child, and Yarbrough was saved during a revival at Jonesboro’s Walnut Street Baptist Church. He and his wife, Pamm, were married in 1986 at First Baptist Church in Russellville, Ark. They also have been members of Baptist congregations in North Little Rock and Maumelle, Ark.
From 1987 to 1989, he was a section editor for the Arkansas Democrat — then one of two daily newspapers in Little Rock — and earlier served as news editor and staff writer for various small-city Arkansas newspapers, including the Courier Democrat of Russellville. He taught journalism as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he earned a master of arts degree in journalism. Earlier he earned a bachelor of science degree in journalism from Murray State University in Kentucky.
He also taught strategic communications as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and taught public relations at Columbia College, both of which are located in Columbia, Mo.
Charlie Warren is editor of the Arkansas Baptist News.
