By Tanner Royalty, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - 鈥淚've been ordained for this purpose, to help people through journalism. It is my God given earthly assignment.鈥�
Kentucky Educational Television journalism Renee Shaw spoke at 青瓜视频's weekly chapel service on Nov. 28 in Ransdell Chapel. Shaw serves as a KET producer, writer, journalist and host.
Shaw spoke on how she uses her job as a platform to help the 鈥渓east of these鈥� throughout the state. She said, 鈥淚 don't practice a cafeteria style Christianity where I can pick and choose what I do, and when I do it.鈥� Within her message, Shaw used Matthew 25:40, 鈥淎nd the King will answer them, 鈥楾ruly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'鈥�
Shaw said, 鈥淕od is way more concerned with our character than our career.鈥� She pointed out that if we work on our vertical relationship with God and place that first then our horizontal relationships with those around us will be better as well. She said, 鈥淕od has our backs vertically.鈥�
Shaw encouraged students to impact and change lives through their career fields. She said, 鈥淲e can bring change through journalism and media or even other career fields. We should help the outsider, hopeless and helpless.鈥� She reiterated that she strives to make a positive impact, because that is the opportunity journalism has offered her.
鈥淲hat I have learned, and it's taken me a while to gain this perspective, is that there's tremendous liberty and freedom in what God has ordained me to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd, with each interview, policy discussion or story, I understand who I am and my relation to humanity and Christ in the process.鈥�
She said she grew up as the only African-American in her class through kindergarten through 12th grade.
She said being different prepared her for dealing with similar environments even to this day.
鈥淎nd what's more,鈥� she said, 鈥渋t stoked a commitment to understanding other folks who feel marginalized, or outcast, without demonizing those we may consider to be the oppressors.鈥�
She said her New Year's resolution is to investigate more the issue of poverty and tell the story of some 27 percent of Kentucky children, more than one in four, who live in impoverished households - the 52 percent of Kentucky children who are on free and reduced priced meals at school.
鈥淚t is my goal to leverage a productive conversation about poverty that's not riddled with race-baited language about 鈥榯hose people' and 鈥榳elfare queens' and moochers and slackers,鈥� she said.
鈥淲hat is important is that we get to the real truth about why jobless numbers are higher than the national average in rural and Appalachian communities and communities of color,鈥� Shaw said.
She said Kentucky has the fifth highest poverty rates in the nation, and Kentucky can 鈥渋ll afford to shelve a real and robust conversation about poverty, especially considering one third of our households earn less than $25,000 a year.鈥�
鈥淭his is where we need wisdom, truth and grace,鈥� she said. 鈥淛esus says we shall always have the poor among us, but he does not leave that declaration as an excuse to allow more to fall in poverty's grip.鈥�
Shaw concluded by simply saying, 鈥淕o bless someone's life.鈥�
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| With Renee Shaw, third from left, journalist with Kentucky Educational Television, are, from left: John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president; Dr. Michael V. Carter, president; Shaw; Dr. Twyla Hernandez, assistant professor of Christian ministries; and Ed Pavy, director of campus ministries. (青瓜视频 Photo by Rachel DeCoursey) |
青瓜视频 is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.