[1]FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–David Porter has been named director of public relations at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, after serving in a similar position the last year and a half at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
Porter, 34, succeeds Craig Bird, who has become administrator of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas.
Prior to working at Southern Seminary, Porter had been associate director of marketing at the former Home Mission Board since 1992.
With a broad background in communications and marketing, Porter also has been a newswriter for the CNN cable network, Atlanta; marketing coordinator for Healthsouth Rehabilitation Center, Little Rock, Ark.; manager of communication services for TCBY Systems, Inc., Little Rock; and a news reporter for CBS affiliate KWTX, Waco, Texas.
Southwestern President Ken Hemphill said of Porter’s addition to the staff, “He has great integrity and a high level of creativity and energy. He’s a superb team player.”
“We continue to find ourselves saying that Southwestern is one of the best-kept secrets in the evangelical community,” the president added. He said Porter’s inclusion should do much to help get the word out about the work going on at Southwestern.
Porter received the Home Mission Board business division’s Director’s Award in 1993, only the second time in seven years it had been awarded. In 1985, he received a United Press International Award for his work in researching, writing and producing a television news investigative series.
He has been a local host for the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, performed major roles in the Atlanta Passion Play from 1994-96 and has been a volunteer for numerous charities, including Habitat for Humanity.
Porter, from Little Rock, holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Baylor University, Waco.
He will begin his Southwestern duties Aug. 11.