Local and national media is an unquestionably underutilized medium for communicating news of the Suffering Church. Writing short yet concise letters to newspapers is a highly effective way of raising awareness of current issues in the global church.

What to write

• Keep your letter friendly – remember you are Christ’s ambassador.
• Keep your letter short – concise letters which make a single point are more likely to be published.
• Keep your letter clear – state your subject and purpose in the opening paragraph.
• Keep your letter relevant – editors usually print letters that are responding to recent articles in their papers or which address current issues of interest.
• Keep your letter real – Many hold to a world-view without following it to its logical conclusion. The Christian can show where certain assumptions, beliefs and trends will lead.

What not to write

• Avoid being confrontational, abusive or offensive – such conduct falls far short of our directive to be ‘salt and light’ as Christians.
• Avoid using Scripture quotes – a wise and well balanced Biblical perspective which serves to address a crisis, problem or other evil can be conveyed without peppering a letter with Scripture.
• Avoid preaching – readers do not buy newspapers to read a sermon!

Click here to download a helpful article on writing to the media written by an editor of the National Post.