As Johanna Moore prepares to become director of communications and editor of Connect magazine for the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists on June 1, she looks back and sees God’s guiding hand.
“Stepping into this position really feels like stepping into something God set up a long time ago that I never could have anticipated,” she said.
From making magazines and newspapers with friends as a child to working at a real city newspaper after college to serving as communications coordinator at an Arizona Southern Baptist church, Moore sees how God used her interests and abilities to lead her to this position with Arizona Southern Baptists.
“From early in my career, I knew God had called me to share stories of how He is at work in people’s lives, and so this feels like the natural next chapter to that,” she said.
Moore graduated from the W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and history.
‘Huge shoes to fill’
While a student, she began writing as a freelancer for Arizona Southern Baptists’ Portraits magazine, precursor of Connect. Her Christian Challenge director at the U of A, Julie Newsted, connected her to Portraits editor Elizabeth Young, who will retire as editor and AZMN director of communications June 30.
“For 13 years, writing under her maiden name, Johanna Willett, Johanna has had a consistent presence in Portraits and now Connect,” Young said. “She has amazed me, turning in assignments ahead of the deadline — a rarity for writers — and handling complicated stories with ease.
“I’m looking forward to serving alongside her for the month of June and then turning everything over into her capable hands. I can see how God has prepared her to take this step, and I will be her biggest cheerleader as she takes AZMN communications to the next level.”
Moore will be a “great fit” for the AZMN team, said Monty Patton, AZMN executive director.
“While she has huge shoes to fill following Elizabeth, we are confident that Johanna will be able to move us forward communicating the work of our churches to connect with God, Mission and Each Other,” he said.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Elizabeth Young and originally published by the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists.
