The Biblical Recorder’s managing editor, Chad Austin, was recognized by the Baptist Communicators Association for ‘exceptional achievement’ in news writing, taking home the 2026 Frank Burkhalter Award.
The Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) presented the Frank Burkhalter Award for Exceptional Achievement in Religious Newswriting on Tuesday night to Chad Austin, managing editor of the Biblical Recorder.
Austin was recognized during the BCA’s 62nd Wilmer C. Fields Awards ceremony April 14 in Mobile, Ala. The award is one of seven grand prize awards given every year.
Austin received the award for “Faith on the field,” an October 2025 story about Cary First Baptist Church’s ministry to Cary High School’s football team. He wrote about the church’s weekly meal ministry growing to see almost the entire team profess faith in Jesus. Eleven players were baptized after a practice on Oct. 7, Austin reported.
Lisa Misner, BCA’s 2026 awards chair, said Austin’s article “continues the rich tradition of Frank Burkhalter Award winners by making stories come alive for its readers. It draws them in, sharing how God is at work in the lives of students in the local community.
“North Carolina Baptists, indeed, all Southern Baptists, are enriched and better informed because of communicators like Chad,” Misner said. Misner is the news and information manager and contributing editor for the Illinois Baptist State Association.
Nathaniel Williams, chair of the Recorder’s board of directors, said the board is “incredibly proud” of Austin for his reception of the award.
“Chad is a gifted journalist who excels in his craft, and he approaches his work with humility and excellence. North Carolina Baptists are blessed to have Chad telling the stories of what God is doing in our state,” said Williams.
N.C. Baptist Marketing and Communications Director Kathryn Carson expressed similar remarks.
“Chad Austin is a gifted editor, journalist and storyteller. I am genuinely grateful for his leadership of the Biblical Recorder and his commitment to accuracy and integrity as he shares the stories of what God is doing in the lives of North Carolina Baptists,” Carson said. “This recognition is well deserved.”
Austin participated in a panel discussion during the BCA workshop on Tuesday. He joined a conversation about shared resources, professional development and new collaborative opportunities between the BCA and the Association of State Baptist Publications.
Chad Austin speaks at a luncheon panel discussion during BCA’s annual workshop April 14 in Mobile, Ala. Austin shares how communications professionals can work together to advance God’s kingdom.
He helped attendees consider how denominational communications professionals can work together to advance God’s kingdom.
Austin began serving as the Recorder’s managing editor in July 2022. He has been on staff with North Carolina Baptists since 2014, previously serving as editor and public relations coordinator. Before joining the state convention, he worked in different communications roles in business, higher education, online news, college athletics and daily news.
Austin studied journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a master of arts in ministry leadership from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The BCA is an organization of more than 250 communicators who serve in editorial, public relations, electronic media, photography, management, marketing and graphic design roles within Baptist agencies and institutions.
By Liz Tablazon, N.C. Baptist Contributing Writer
EDITOR’S NOTE — The featured image is courtesy of the BCA, taken by Marc Ira Hooks. In the photo, BR Managing Editor Chad Austin receives this year’s Frank Burkhalter Award for his achievement in religious news writing.
