National datelines
Photo: Interviewing NBC’s Lester Holt on faith and journalism at the “Today” studio in New York.
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One of my goals as a journalist is to report from all 50 states.
Since joining The Christian Chronicle in 2005, I have reported from 45 states and Washington, D.C.
Below is a state-by-state list of my favorite and/or most memorable stories from each state. Asterisks denote stories honored by state or national journalism organizations. See my most recent stories here. Find my international portfolio here.
Alabama: Faith behind bars: Ministries shine Christ’s light inside prison walls (from Harvest, Ala.), published August 2010. Read the story here. *
Alaska: I have not reported from Alaska.
Arizona: ‘He was a hero to his church family’: Member killed, wife wounded when gunman opens fire on Arizona congresswoman (from Tucson, Ariz.), published March 2011. Read the story here. *
Also: Tears, prayers follow Arizona mass shooting (from Tucson, Ariz.), published March 2011. Read the column here.
Arkansas: Rural revival: Once-dying Arkansas congregation discovers new life (from Newport, Ark.), published April 2007. Read the story here.
Also: Trends in Christian higher education: Rising enrollments fueled by graduates (from Searcy, Ark.), published February 2011. Read the story here.
California: Modern-day prodigal son looks to reach lost souls (from San Francisco), published November 2009. Read the story here.
Also: Ministry in a multicultural city: FriendSpeak combines Jesus, conversation (from Los Angeles), published November 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Boys of summer: A’s reliever Brad Ziegler signs autographs with a favorite Scripture (from Anaheim, Calif.), published August 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Pepperdine aims to renew, refresh a cappella singing (from Malibu, Calif.), published July 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Church embraces two languages to form ‘one body’ (from Escondido, Calif.), published June 2009. Read the story here.
Also: Lift every voice and sing (from Malibu, Calif.), published July 2007. Read the story here. *
Colorado: Future of the church: Camp mixes fun, training on how to preach (from Denver), published August 2011. Read the story here.
Also: Building a lasting faith in teens: National Conference on Youth Ministries emphasizes the crucial role of parents (from Colorado Springs, Colo.), published March 2011. Read the story here.
Connecticut: Exodus Connecticut: Stamford church celebrates heritage while forging own path (from Stamford, Conn.), published June 2006. Read the story here.
Delaware: Facing financial woes, more Christian schools closing (from Newark, Del.), published June 2010. Read the story here.
District of Columbia: For congressman, faith provides a foundation (from Washington), published July 2007. Read the story here.
Also: Boys of summer: Nationals outfielder Josh Willingham’s faith, character praised (from Washington), published August 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Touched by an angel at D.C. congregation (from Washington), published July 2010. Read the column here.
Florida: From the pulpit to the dugout (from Jupiter, Fla.), published March 2008. Read the story here.
Also: A non-institutional institution (from Temple Terrace, Fla.), published April 2008. Read the story here.
Also: Minnesota Twins coach puts faith in God, not in game (from Fort Myers, Fla.), published April 2007. Read the story here.
Georgia: Addicts find hope, healing through recovery ministry (from Atlanta), published January 2008. Read the story here.
Hawaii: I have not reported from Hawaii.
Idaho: Learning to think like an outsider (from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho), published January 2009. Read the story here.
Illinois: Illegal immigration pits law vs. mercy: One minister’s passion for aliens (from Chicago), published March 2012. Read the story here.
Three languages, one church (from Chicago), published January 2010. Read the story here.
Also: A warm welcome in Windy City (from Chicago), published August 2006. Read the column here.
Indiana: Training to lead: Lads vs. LTC (from Indianapolis), published June 2012. Read the story here.
Teens eager to show faith by serving (from Mitchell, Ind.), published August 2008. Read the story here.
Iowa: Securing young hearts in Iowa (from Marshalltown, Iowa), published May 2012. Read the story here.
Kansas: Churches minister to victims of divorce (from Overland Park, Kan.), published April 2008. Read the story here.
Kentucky: At 100-year anniversary of split, ministers exchange Bibles at convention (from Louisville, Ky.), published August 2006. Read the story here.
Also: Popcorn, nachos … and sex talk (from Russellville, Ky.), published March 2012. Read the story here.
Louisiana: Surviving the storm: The story of one family’s Hurricane Katrina faith journey (from New Orleans), published September 2006. Read the story here. *
Also: The Spiritual Toll — Katrina Five Years: Beyond physical losses, hurricane’s path of debris left some New Orleans-area churches facing unexpected challenges (from Mandeville, La.), published September 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Little children, big opportunity in New Orleans (from New Orleans), published February 2008. Read the story here.
Also: Faithful offer hope, help after Katrina (from Mandeville, La.), published October 2005. Read the story here. *
Maine: New England’s place of refuge, fellowship (from Raymond, Maine), published November 2008. Read the story here.
Maryland: Dialogue: A conversation with Kevin Bethea (from Baltimore), published January 2006. Read the interview here.
Massachusetts: I visited with Kevin Wells at the Brookline church just a few miles from Fenway Park and included him in the story here.
Michigan: All the more Pleasant: For new basketball coach at Rochester College, following in his father’s footsteps presents a challenge, but it’s nothing compared to the test he endured off the court (from Rochester Hills, Mich.), published March 2012. Read the story here.
Also: Bible Bowls: Textual preparation or trivial pursuit? (from Walled Lake, Mich.), published May 2011. Read the story here.
Also: Future looking brighter for Rochester College in Michigan (from Rochester Hills, Mich.), published July 2011. Read the story here.
Also: Race and the church: Getting beyond the handshake (from Southfield, Mich.), published October 2008. Read the story here.
Minnesota: South goes North: Mission efforts in Africa come home to benefit Churches of Christ (from Brooklyn Park, Minn.), published July 2009. Read the story here. *
Mississippi: Reporter Jerry Mitchell shines light on state’s dark past (from Jackson, Miss.), published August 2005. Read the story here.
Also: Five years after Katrina, stories of hope emerge (from Gulfport, Miss.), published September 2010. Read the column here.
Also: Once again, Yelton in the eye of the storm (from Gulfport, Miss.), published October 2005. Read the story here. *
Missouri: Big dreams, bigger hearts: In the aftermath of killer tornadoes across the nation, Christians reach out to help (from Webb City, Mo.), published August 2011. Read the story here.
Also: Missouri church mourns losses, counts blessings (from Joplin, Mo.), published August 2011. Read the story here.
Also: Courage under fire: Church member relies on his faith and family after losing both his legs in Iraq (from Clinton, Mo.), published September 2006. Read the story here.
Also: Sundays not segregated at Florissant (from Florissant, Mo.), published October 2008. Read the story here.
Montana: In Big Sky country, three congregations merge as members heal old wounds (from Helena, Mont.), published December 2011. Read the story here.
Also: Wherever two or more — or eight — are gathered (from Eureka, Mont.), published February 2009. Read the story here.
Nebraska: To recruit students, Christian colleges casting wider nets (from York, Neb.), published July 2010. Read the story here.
Nevada: Saving Sin City: West Coast meeting draws preachers, leaders to Las Vegas (from Las Vegas), published April 2011. Read the story here. *
Also: When the Saints come marching in — to Sin City (from Las Vegas), published April 2011. Read the column here.
New Hampshire: New England churches struggle to fill pulpits (from Manchester, N.H.), published December 2008. Read the story here.
New Jersey: ‘Freeway church’ draws a crowd (from Sewell, N.J.), published May 2009. Read the story here.
New Mexico: For one Navajo, a long journey home (from Gallup, N.M.), published November 2010. Read the story here.
New York: Manhattan church reflects ‘melting pot’ nature of New York City (from New York), published July 2008. Read the story here.
Also: Anchor for his soul: NBC’s Lester Holt reflects on faith and journalism (from New York), published January 2010. Read the story here.
Also: A cappella at the Apollo: Gospel preached at historic theater (from New York), published October 2009. Read the story here.
Also: Harlem minister sees need to bring races together (from New York), published October 2009. Read the column here.
Also: Father-son trip to the Big Apple an adventure (from New York), published July 2008. Read the column here.
Also: Churches in living rooms, coffee shops a growing trend (from New York), published July 2006. Read the story here.
North Carolina: The war at home: 10 years later, the legacy of 9/11 (from Camp Lejeune, N.C.), published October 2011. Read the story here.
Also: Special needs, special children (from Raleigh, N.C.), published December 2009. Read the story here. *
North Dakota: I have not reported from North Dakota.
Ohio: Ohio church’s message: Families matter to God (from Cincinnati), published January 2011. Read the story here.
Oklahoma: After 25 years, Mack Lyon keeps SEARCHING for the Lord’s Way (from Edmond, Okla.), published September 2005. Read the story here.
Also: ‘This is what the Lord made me for,’ says national motocross champion Trey Canard (from Shawnee, Okla.), published February 2011. Read the story here.
Also: After the earthquake, boys from Haiti reunited in the U.S. (from Ada, Okla.), published May 2010. Read the story here. *
Also: Finding quiet time in our busy lives (from Watonga, Okla.), published March 2007. Read the column here.
Oregon: Healing a wounded town: After a string of suicides, a minister helps bring answers to a small Oregon community (from Alsea, Ore.), published November 2011. Read the story here. *
Also: Saying goodbye to Cascade College (from Portland, Ore.), published June 2009. Read the story here.
Also: Down by the river: Come to Jesus, at camp (from Yamhill, Ore.), published September 2009. Read the story here.
Pennsylvania: Muslims, Hindus among students exposed to Jesus at Christian schools (from Pottstown, Pa.), published December 2007. Read the story here. *
Also: Friendly faces in the City of Brotherly Love (from Philadelphia), published June 2010. Read the column here.
Rhode Island: I visited with Bruce Bates at the Blackstone Valley church in Cumberland during a New England reporting trip and included him in the story here.
South Carolina: Children’s homes: Still a core church ministry? (from Duncan, S.C.), published January 2012. Read the story here.
South Dakota: I have not reported from South Dakota.
Tennessee: ‘Little youth rally’ draws 12,000 as teens make annual pilgrimage to Winterfest (from Gatlinburg, Tenn.), published April 2012. Read the story here.
Also: Minister’s slaying, wife’s arrest deal double tragedy (from Selmer, Tenn.), published May 2006. Read the story here. *
Also: Moving from ‘serve us’ to service (from Mt. Juliet, Tenn.), published February 2012. Read the story here.
Also: Walk in the cemetery provides odd comfort (from Cedar Grove, Tenn.), published June 2011. Read the column here.
Also: Raving about Jesus: A ministry for teenage girls (from Nashville, Tenn.), published September 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Her lifetime of love, faith and devotion (from Huntingdon, Tenn.), published February 2010. Read the column here.
Also: Unity discussion takes center stage at Freed-Hardeman (from Henderson, Tenn.), published October 2006. Read the story here.
Texas: Children’s home dedicates prayer room in memory of ACU bus crash victim (from Medina, Texas), published June 2012. Read the story here.
Busy doing the Lord’s work: Marshall Keeble’s tent revivals launched Houston’s oldest black church, still thriving after 80 years (from Houston), published June 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Steve Hawley loves teaching at a diverse Christian school in Texas, but it’s the subject matter — the Bible — that really excites him (from Houston), published May 2011. Read the story here.
Also: The Rookie, Part 2: After the movie about his life, Jim Morris’ life takes more extraordinary turns (from Abilene, Texas), published December 2010. Read the story here. *
Also: All-Star’s gift benefits Texas children’s home (from Arlington, Texas), published November 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Cecil Cooper adjusts to life out of baseball (from Katy, Texas), published June 2010. Read the column here.
Also: Fire ravages heart of Christian college in Texas (from Terrell, Texas), published March 2008. Read the story here.
Also: A son reflects on his parents’ labor of love (from Keller, Texas), published July 2007. Read the column here.
Also: Astros coach swings for the heavenly fences (from Houston), published October 2006. Read the story here.
Also: ACU Lectures promote ‘spirit of fellowship’ (from Abilene, Texas), published April 2006. Read the story here.
Also: No lights, but plenty of blessings as Texas church deals with Hurricane Rita (from Jasper, Texas), published November 2005. Read the story here.
Also: Dallas church, like others, opens hearts, wallets to Hurricane Katrina victims (from Dallas), published October 2005. Read the story here. *
Also: ‘Lord Byron’ still faithful to God at age 93 (from Roanoke, Texas), published May 2005. Read the story here.
Utah: Ministry in Mormon country (from Salt Lake City), published September 2011. Read the story here.
Vermont: I have not reported from Vermont.
Virginia: Virginia Tech massacre challenges young campus minister (from Blacksburg, Va.), published June 2007. Read the story here.
Also: Thriving congregation finds ways to expand outside the Bible Belt, inside the Beltway (from Fairfax, Va.), published December 2005. Read the story here.
Washington: Not sheepless in Seattle (from Seattle), published November 2011. Read the story here.
Military families find second ‘home’ at church (from Tacoma, Wash.), published February 2010. Read the story here.
Also: Membership in decline: Why some stay and some go (from Airway Heights, Wash.), published March 2009. Read the story here.
West Virginia: Singing, sweating and saving souls in West Virginia (from Parkersburg, W.Va.), published October 2010. Read the story here.
Wisconsin: Faith and flicks: Christian films gain a following (from Menomonee Falls, Wis.), published January 2010. Read the column here.
Wyoming: At some small churches, part-time youth ministers fulfill a calling (from Cheyenne, Wyo.), published October 2011. Read the story here.
– Bobby
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Photo: With my sons, Brady and Keaton, in Colorado.
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Photo: With my daughter, Kendall, in Utah.
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Photo: With a new friend at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
