The production of a monthly newspaper requires
the labors and contributions of many people. From the writers
to the printer from the folders, addressers, and sorters, to the
mailmen many people are involved in getting the paper into the
hands of those who will hopefully read and benefit from it.
One of the very important jobs in this production
is what is termed the "layout" or the "composition."
After all of the articles have been written and received, they,
often with pictures, must be selected and edited and, then, must
be placed on the various pages. How they are placed in
their particular spaces on the pages is the work of the composer
or the layout person. There are several variables involved in
doing this, and the skill in which this is done gives each page
and the entire paper its attractiveness and readability.
We have been blessed by one of the best composers
anywhere. His name is Bobby Jennings of The Mountain Statesman,
in Grafton. Brother Bobby has been composing our paper for many
years, and I want you, our readers, to know more about him. He
is a wonderful and remarkable young man. I asked him for some
information about himself (several times before I finally received
it), and I want him to tell you about himself in his own words.
"I graduated from Grafton High School in
1989. I went from there to Fairmont State and earned a degree
in Elementary Education. It was at that time that I started at
the newspaper, working as a darkroom tech/photographer on a part-time
basis to help support myself while going to school. Not wanting
to leave the state to teach, I took the job of Production Manager
at the paper upon my graduation. I worked at the paper for several
years until company down-sizing cost me my job.
"I felt then that I was tired of just reporting
on the news and all that was going on and I wanted to make a difference,
so I went to work as a dispatcher for MECCA 9-1-1 in Morgantown.
I really liked the job there but felt that it wasn't what I wanted
to do for the rest of my life.
"I had been working with the church for years,
doing various things with the youth group at Wilson Ridge and
abroad. The church meeting at Wilson Ridge was always a very special
group of people to me since I had been with them from the late
80's when the church was still worshipping in my grandmother's
garage. On many occasions, the men, many of whom were my Bible
class teachers as a youth, would ask me to fill in and preach
when our regular preacher was away. I guess that is what prompted
my desire when I decided to leave MECCA to seek a way of life
that was going to be even more productive and helpful to others
preaching the word.
"I then attended the West Virginia School
of Preaching at Moundsville and graduated in the spring of 1999
10 years after my graduation from high school. While attending
the school, I had the honor to preach in several locations but,
most of that time, I spent my Sundays bouncing between the New
Freeport Church of Christ near Hundred and Wilson Ridge. On Wednesday
nights I would find myself traveling down from Moundsville to
attend Bible study with a group of really close friends at the
Proctor Church of Christ. "Upon my graduation from the school
of preaching, I returned to Wilson Ridge and began preaching full-time
in June, 1999. I am still here working as full-time minister with
a group of highly devoted, loving brethren who have been a tremendous
inspiration and help to me and to the cause of Christ. I am also
back at The Mountain Statesman, working on a part-time
basis in the composing department to supplement my income and
to be able to afford health insurance."
Now, dear readers, you know something about the
man who puts the finishing touches to our paper every month. He
is a humble man, but he is a person with great faith. Of our work
together, he said, "Thank the Lord that I was able to meet
you and Nancy and that we have been able to work together the
way we have through it all." I asked Bobby once why he always
seems to be so happy and smiling. He laughed and said, "I
read the last chapter in the Bible and WE WON!"
We are thankful for Bobby and for the many, many
other faithful young people who are active and busy in the work
of the Lord throughout our brotherhood.