Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Roger Alford announces departure from Christian Index

Roger Alford, editor of The Christian Index for the past three years, announced his departure Friday (March 22) from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's newsjournal, effective at the end of the month.
  • March 22, 2024
  • Georgia's The Christian Index, The Baptist Paper
  • First Person, Georgia, Latest News
Roger Alford
(Photo courtesy of The Christian Index)

Roger Alford announces departure from Christian Index

Roger Alford, editor of The Christian Index for the past three years, announced his departure Friday (March 22) from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s newsjournal, effective at the end of the month.

He noted the opportunity has been “a great privilege and a labor of love.” He added, “Giving that up isn’t easy.” Alford, who was named editor in April of 2021, brought the Index nearly four decades of journalism experience, which included covering news for The Associated Press.

“I took the job three years ago with hopes of pumping new life into the nation’s oldest religious newspaper, now 202 years old,” said Alford, noting increases in readership and that advertising revenue now covers the newspaper’s operational expenses. “With that mission accomplished, it’s time for a new challenge.”

He thanked The Christian Index team he as worked with and added, “In everything we have done, we kept the newspaper’s original purpose in mind, beefing up coverage of missions and ministries in Georgia and beyond.”

“We also began providing our readers with the most important news of the day from around the world, just as Luther Rice did in his day and as other editors did in their days, including during the Civil War when the newspaper carried the latest dispatches from the frontlines,” he said. “Readers responded well to that, and our little team has rejoiced to see clicks on the website, which used to be measured in thousands, rise into the millions.”

He noted, “One of the coolest things that happened during my tenure was the creation of the Index News Service, which allows us to provide our content free of charge to community newspapers across the state. We give those newspapers full access to all the religion news and features that appear in The Christian Index.”

Where it all began

Alford began his journalism career working for the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group as a reporter in the southeastern Kentucky town of Middlesboro. He worked at newspapers in Ashland, Kentucky and Portsmouth and Columbus, Ohio, before joining The Associated Press, first as a correspondent covering the impoverished central Appalachian region, and later covering government and politics.

Late in his career with The Associated Press, Alford surrendered to the Lord and became a bi-vocational pastor at Long Ridge Baptist Church in Owenton, Kentucky.  It was during that time that International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood, then executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, invited Alford to become the KBC communications director. Alford remained in that role for five years before moving to the IMB for a brief stint as vice president for communications. Prior to becoming editor of The Christian Index, Alford served as pastor of South Fork Baptist Church in Kentucky for two years.

Alford and his wife, Susan, have three grown children, Emily, Josh and Mary, who writes for the Arkansas Baptist News.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was compiled by The Baptist Paper. With reporting from The Christian Index.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Multi-generational flood recovery team deploys to Kerrville
    Multi-generational flood recovery team deploys to Kerrville
    July 17, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Creek baptisms spark ‘revival for your soul’
    Creek baptisms spark ‘revival for your soul’
    July 17, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Texans volunteers offer help, hope to Hill Country families
    Texans volunteers offer help, hope to Hill Country families
    July 17, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Multi-generational flood recovery team deploys to Kerrville

After losing his wife of 67 years a year and a half ago, Peña said, “They’ve dragged me back into enjoying living again.”

Creek baptisms spark ‘revival for your soul’

Last month, Keith Springs Baptist Church held what many are calling a small revival, as nearly two dozen people were baptized in the flowing waters of a creek on the Money family property in Franklin County.

Texans volunteers offer help, hope to Hill Country families

“This, … all of these volunteers, it means everything to us,” John Vlasek said. “I can’t believe they’re here and helping us.”

Pastor spends night on pond in latest VBS fundraising challenge

For 14 years, Deep Creek has set a giving goal to be met during VBS. In turn, pastor Mark Perko sets a challenge that he will complete upon the goal being met.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel