Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend an event to honor a long-time friend — Greg Warner who had to retire last year as executive editor of Associated Baptist Press for health reasons. ABP established a distinguished service award in his honor.
Greg and I are contemporaries. When I joined the staff of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Education Commission in 1982, Greg served on the staff of the Radio and Television Commission which was then based in Fort Worth, Texas.
We both worked in the news room of the annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention, learning our trade from journalists like Dan Martin, Roy Jennings, Jim Newton, Linda Lawson, Robert O’Brien and countless others. There were several of us who “grew up together” in that setting and went on to serve on Baptist state paper staffs or other communications-related positions. And though we sometimes desired the same positions when they would open up, we have always remained good friends.
Greg was one of the “stars” among those up-and-coming journalists. Greg was a natural reporter and was as good as anyone I have ever met when it came to getting a story. Greg also was and is an excellent writer and has won numerous awards for his writing skills. He served as the associate editor of the Florida Baptist Witness for several years before becoming the executive editor of Associated Baptist Press, a position he held for 17 years. He led ABP to be a respected and viable news service.
Though he was based in Jacksonville, Fla., and I was in Tennessee, we remained in contact over the years and saw each other at SBC-related meetings as well as gatherings of Southern Baptist state paper editors.
Greg and I share a love for golf and we would often find time to slip away for a quick round between meetings. In recent years Greg has undergone a tremendous amount of back pain. Yet, despite the excruciating pain, he would continue to play. His rationale: His back was going to hurt whether he played golf or not. At times the pain would be so bad, that whether he was playing golf or covering a meeting, he would have to find a place where he could stretch out on the floor or ground to help alleviate the pain.
I have learned a lot from Greg over the years related to journalism and writing, but I also witnessed a lesson in courage. I never heard him complain about the pain or question God. Instead he remains a positive witness for Christ. Numerous surgeries have failed to heal his back, thus hastening his medical-related retirement. In fact, he is facing additional surgery.
Greg has a lot to offer through his writing and I know God will continue to use him. I am proud to call him friend.
