You sit down at your computer with your coffee, ready to conquer this task and your mind goes blank. “What do I write about in my newsletter?” “Where do I begin?” When crafting a good newsletter, it’s best to keep these 4 things in mind every time.
- Keep it simple. When you’re writing, people really want to read about what you’re planning to do with your life! They want to know all about this thing called DTS and YWAM, and you’ll have to write all about it and explain it in every single letter you send to people, but they want it simple. Don’t write a 6 page essay, front and back, single spaced, no pictures . . . simply inform people “this is what has happened, this is what I’m doing, and this is what’s next.”
- Be creative and authentic. Yes, you can be creative in a newsletter, it’s yours! Creativity is a gift from God and you should embrace that in any aspect of life, including your writing. Add pictures of yourself and experiences, share stories about how God spoke to you. If you’re sharing about multiple trips, steps, etc. use headings to organize your thoughts. You can tug on your supporters’ heartstrings or make them fall over laughing if you want! Remember, it’s you writing the letter so be real!
- Keep God in it. This is the most important thing to remember. When you’re writing, don’t force your words, let God lead you in what to write. Write about what God has done in your life recently or how He has called you into this new stage of life.He’s the reason you’ve applied to do a Discipleship Training School and come into this crazy life of a missionary, you can’t afford to leave Him out!
- Invite people to connect. At the end of your letter, invite your supporters/readers to connect with you by praying, giving, messaging. Make sure they know you care and want to be in relationship with them; give them options on how to contact you. Don’t forget that humans want to help each other out and desire to be close to others, so stay connected with your supporters! Newsletters are not a one and done thing, keep the updates going as often as needed.
It may seem a bit frightening to write a letter informing people about your life, but it’s definitely necessary! If you know God wants you to take this leap of faith into ministry (even if it’s just for a few months), take the leap even further by telling people you love about this amazing thing you’re going to be a part of.
