Charity funding today runs into the billions of dollars! The companies & people who give like to stay informed of what is happening regularly with the projects/people they support. Pastors & mission departments of churches also desire a hands-on involvement in the lives of the missionaries they support. They want personal connections in order to maintain financial connections. Regular newsletters provide this "hands-on" reporting of missions or humanitarian work being accomplished, and when written effectively, the newsletters help readers experience missions in a passionate, meaningful way.
Pre-Writing
1. Identify the audience. Consider targeting those who already have a passion for missions work, or those who may be seeking out projects/people to sponsor.
2. Set goals and objectives. Ask yourself (or your contacts) why readers will want to read your newsletter. Some goals might include encouraging global prayer or informing readers of project updates, needs and opportunities in missions. If you can identify your objectives of your newsletter, you will then be able to communicate clearly to your clients or supporters everything you are doing. An example of an objective could be Project Update, Fundraising or General News.
3. Consider the content of the newsletter. Focus on a central theme that allows room for development and creates greater impact in the reader's mind. For example, use a template provided by Apple's Pages program or Microsoft's Publisher program, that has pre-made designs and colors. Subconsciously, this makes the reader more comfortable and your content credible.
4. Stories tend to have the greatest impact. Short ministry stories will impact the reader much more personally and deeply than an itinerary of events or a dry list of strategies and projects. Avoid sermons at all costs as readers can get this at church. Readers want hard facts and, in some articles, detailed information.
Writing
1. Hook the reader at the beginning of the newsletter with a slogan, profound statement, headline or warm, heartfelt greeting. Examples of headlines can be found in newspapers or news magazines.
2. Weed out peripheral data and excessive wordiness. A large ministry, who learned from their own mistakes, recommended writing your newsletter as if you were writing to your Aunt Betty. :)
3. Use action verbs and the active voice. Stick with first-person writing and be careful not to go back and forth between first or third person.
4. Use a personal tone to capture the attention of readers.
5. Avoid the phrase "all of you". Only one person can read the letter at a time.
6. Use good formatting. Good use of white space and short paragraphs are more inviting. Try NOT to have your pictures and information crammed. Make sure your text is readable by both old and young alike. A good average font size is 10 - 12 points. Your picture descriptions can be 7 - 9 points.
7. Action shots are more interesting than stiff poses, if available.
8. Prayer requests are a good addition to any newsletter, provided the list is concise. Follow-ups on answers to prayer are also highly recommended.
9. Avoid financial issues. They tend to get sticky. Your newsletter purpose may BE to raise funds, and, if so, have a friend or two read it to see if they feel its like begging or artfully requesting funds.
10. Focus on an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness.
11. Be honest. Honesty will inspire readers and give them a more accurate picture of what missions work really looks like, as well as build credibility with readers. This means, don't be shy to talk about the negative sides of life and ministry, but keep it to a minimum.
12. Avoid whining or complaining.
13. Receive editing or feedback from a trusted, honest friend.
In communication, missionaries should strive for truthfulness, human interest, and personal connection. Likewise, missionaries should avoid dishonesty or exaggeration, overloading readers with too much marginal data and poor writing. Solutions for these common problems include accountability with honest editors and practice. By becoming effective communicators, missionaries will inspire future generations to follow in their footsteps, become mission-minded and gain a heart for global missions.
