How things have changed! The information available to us, the way we communicate, and the way we do business is changing so fast one can hardly keep up. Our world seems to get smaller and smaller as we become more connected with people and places around the world instantaneously.

And technology gives us opportunities to share the gospel and advance the kingdom in ways we never would have imagined. Who would have thought a magazine could be produced without typewriters or typesetters? Without a light table or darkroom? Without Exacto knives and rubber cement? Welcome to the digital and virtual office of the Lake Union Herald.

Our production starts with direction from Union administration. The Herald is a tool administration uses to communicate with you, the reader. In it, we “tell the stories of what God is doing in the lives of His people.” We seek input from our conference presidents so there is balance within our territory and so conferences can build each other up by sharing God’s blessings.

An editorial calendar is formed and themes are assigned to each issue. This calendar is published on the web for everyone’s consideration. Editorial direction is given to our managing editor, Diane Thurber, who works from her home office in Noblesville, Indiana. She directs a team of about 35 contributing writers and section editors, scattered throughout five states. They represent conference communication directors and assistants, public relations officers at institutions, and writers.

One writer is Bruce Babienco, a retired pastor and former communication director of the Michigan Conference. Bruce volunteers time to write stories about new members.

Judi Doty, our back pages editor, works closely with Diane. Judi is responsible for all the announcements, mileposts, and classified ads. She is the home base for the Herald, working at the Lake Union office as the communication department secretary. In addition, she is our head proofreader.

Another proofreader is Candy Clark. Each month, Candy reviews the entire magazine during two separate stages of the production cycle to look for errors and inconsistencies. Her corrections, along with Judi’s, are sent to Diane for final inclusion in the Herald.

The one responsible for the look of the Herald is our designer, Mark Bond. Mark takes all the stories, articles, features, news items, advertisements, and editorials, and assembles them together in a setting that is nothing less than a work of art. Diane and Mark spend about a week each month going over design elements and corrections. When they are finished, Mark sends the Herald to Color Press in Walla Walla, Washington, where it is converted into signature plates from which proofs are made. These are sent to Mark for final approval of color and positioning before the presses run. A stitched Herald proof is also sent to Diane to make sure the final product looks the way it is supposed to. Once everything is approved, about 33,000 copies of the Herald are printed and mailed directly to your home, as well as Adventist institutions around the world. The entire issue is then posted to the web, where it is available to be read online, or downloaded and printed.

So how is it that we can produce the Herald without typewriters and typesetters, light tables or dark rooms, Exacto knives or rubber cement? And how can I edit while on the road or in the air? And how can Diane be the managing editor while staying at home with her family in Indiana? And how can so many contributing writers and section editors be scattered over such a large territory? And how can Mark design the Herald from his barnyard office in the middle of Montana? It’s all made possible through Manage Everything, a cutting edge, web-based program offered by MCM Design Studios and Color Press.

Through this program, every member of the Herald team can logon to submit articles, upload photos, and edit copy. In addition, the Herald staff and conference communication directors have access to every article of every issue while it goes through the editing and production stages to ensure accuracy and to help us remain faithful to our mission. The Herald remains complete and accessible from anywhere in the world, at any time of the day.

As I write this article I am away from the office, yet Judi, Diane, Mark, and I are in constant communication with each other through instant messaging, and voice and video conferencing, from Michigan, Indiana, Montana, and wherever I happen to be at the time.

You too can be a part of our team and a part of the process. Visit our website at www.lakeunionherald.org. Click “Schedule,” and you will be directed to a place where you can find the subjects of upcoming issues and learn how to submit news or stories for publication. You can also contact any member of the staff to give your input and suggestions. We welcome your participation.

As you can see, it takes a lot of people covering a large territory to put the Herald together each month. I appreciate the staff and all the correspondents listed at the end of the Herald. Take a moment to look through the list. You need to especially note our communication directors from each conference pictured (below?). They are the leaders in providing the good news and stories you enjoy each month.

Thank you all, for another great year “telling the stories of what God is doing in the lives of His people.”

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Conference communication director and Lake Union Herald editor