Merritt Johnston will move to a full-time role as executive director of Baptist World Alliance Women starting August 1 after seven years of leading communications for BWA.
Johnston joined BWA staff in 2019 as director of communications and media and was later appointed as part-time executive director of BWA Women in 2021.
Johnston will work alongside Jeff Peck who was recently appointed as director of communications and media.
During her tenure leading BWA communications, Johnston helped align and strengthen the ministry’s global brand while significantly expanding its digital engagement.
She launched the BWA YouTube channel, produced more than 500 videos, led the development and maintenance of nine BWA websites, helped increase social media reach by more than 1,100 percent, and grew email subscribers by more than 165 percent.
She also provided art direction for the BWA Welcome Center, which opened in 2019, and designed numerous exhibits and displays throughout the BWA Global Mission Center in Falls Church, Va.
Johnston has provided communications leadership for five BWA annual gatherings and two Baptist World Congresses, including the first fully virtual congress during the COVID-19 pandemic, which connected more than 4,000 participants from 146 countries.
She partnered with Julie Justus Williams, former director of BWA Global Partnerships and Unity, to expand the weekly “One in Prayer” email guide into four languages, organized a 24-hour global prayer marathon at the onset of the pandemic, and recruited more than 400 volunteers to serve in the BWA Global Communications Cohort.
“The relationships built, lessons learned, and experiences gained during that season will continue to shape and strengthen my leadership as I serve alongside our sisters who are impacting the world for Christ in profound ways every day,” Johnston said.
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A better world for every woman and girl
A lifelong Baptist, Johnston has served in ministry leadership roles within the church and nonprofit sector for more than 25 years.
Her experience includes cofounding and leading a nonprofit while in college, providing pastoral care as a hospital chaplain, guiding communications for a global seminary, serving with an international broadcast ministry, and shepherding women within a multisite church.
“Stepping into the role of BWA Women Executive Director on a part-time basis four years ago was one of the greatest honors of my life,” Johnston said.
“It provided an opportunity to serve at the beautiful intersection of my calling and gifts while drawing from the ministry experiences God has graciously woven throughout my life. Every moment spent with our global sisters since has reminded me what a privilege it is to be part of this extraordinary family,” Johnston continued.
“I am overjoyed to now devote my attention more fully to the mission and ministry of BWA Women. I am deeply grateful for everyone who has prayed, worked, and partnered financially to make this transition possible, and I look forward with great anticipation to all God has in store as we link arms to share the love of Christ and work toward a better world for every woman and girl.”
Johnston holds a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Grace School of Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication/Journalism, Performance Studies, and Psychology from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
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