SUPPORT CENTER FEATURE
SUPPORT CENTER FEATURE
By TIM Weddle
MERI
Brock came to the
Christian Motorcyclists Association in March of 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and is currently Design Department Head.
She began her career in 1990 at Peerless Engravers in Little Rock, working in pre-press. There, she handled photography setup, and color correction for 4-color printing found in finely detailed catalogs of fragrances, clothing, and jewelry from high-end companies such as Neiman Marcus and Dillardβ s. During her training with the Hell Graphics Systems, she learned image manipulation, cloning, retouching, and preparing files for web press printing. She also worked as a freelance multicamera green-screen editor for an online Christian television network and a freelance graphic designer for several clients. Although she was accepted to the Savannah College of Art and Design to pursue a Masterβ s degree, she ultimately was led to CMA. As always, God had a plan and prepared Meri for ten years before she joined CMA, bringing her creativity and design skills. There are no coincidences. He brought her here to do exactly what He had prepared her to do.
Before coming to CMA, she had been receiving a full-color magazine from a major ministry, and the quality of the 4-color process and the pressβ s perfect output blew her away. In her judgment, this was the most beautiful non-profit publication she had ever seen in the industry. It was definitely guidance from the Holy Spirit when the decision was made to have the CMA HeartBeat printed by the same company and on the same Heidelberg presses that had impressed Meri so many years ago. I think God is a huge fan of quality and is in total agreement with the CMA mission statement of being the best-equipped ministry with quality products that aid in evangelism.
That is Meriβ s mission as she designs covers for the HeartBeat, tracts, books, and other printed materials, not to mention patches, pins, website graphics, banners, and t-shirts. In the early days, CMA members would have only five to eight new t-shirts to pick from. Last year, Meri created 42 original designs. Sure, technology and science are involved in the production of these products, but it is the craftsmanship where Meri excels. I believe she produces her most powerful work as she pours her Holy Spirit-led creativity and sincerest prayers into each new, exquisite
Meri is just one story of the impact donations to the general fund make in supporting the National / International Support Center. General donations and the sale of Goodies fund the operations and maintenance at CMA National as well as provide for the maintenance and upkeep of our Iron Mountain facilities.
Above all, we want to thank you for your continued faithfulness to the ministry of CMA. Through your generosity, we are able to support evangelistic outreach to the motorcycling community worldwide with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Run for the Son award print.
Meri doesnβ t just randomly crank out a new design every few days; there are many factors to consider and pray over. Does the shirt speak to evangelism? Does it convey an encouraging message? Does it rise above the secular culture? Is the message from a neutral position? Would you, as a CMAβ er, be proud to wear it? So many things she must consider: is it too bike brandspecific, does it cross CMAβ s interdenominational lines, will it spark a conversation about Jesus? Trying to create universal designs intended to speak to grandparents and grandkids alike, and all types of riders can be a daunting task, but Meri labors faithfully under her mission statement,β Distinctly Christian, Distinctly Motorcyclist, and Distinctly CMA.β
Meri is grateful for a few improvements over the last couple of years, including a small photo studio with display fixtures and dedicated lighting to shoot quality photos for the shopping site. This beats the days of draping a t-shirt over the picnic table and hoping the cloud doesnβ t obscure the sun or start leaking. Also, her tablet was upgraded to a larger size with higher resolution and freer movement capability. She is so thankful for your continual, generous donations that provide the software and tools that make her job easier to accomplish. CMA
Tim Weddle is a media writer for the CMA National / International Support Center.
19 cmausa. org