Three messages for nurturing local writers

Kara Lassen Oliver shares three key messages for nurturing local writers in the 2-minute video below. As a published author and a former missionary in Malawi, she is passionate about equipping and empowering writers in Africa to write and publish the materials they need to strengthen the Church.

Developing local writers is about encouraging them and helping them embrace the gift God has given them. Three key messages for writers:

1. Writing is a calling. Look for where God is at work in your life and ministry. God has called you to write that story; it’s important to the world. Embrace your calling.

2. Writing is a ministry. People in the church need to hear your story. Keep in mind your readership. Don’t write too high of an academic level, but write to reach a person in the church. Watch your language; don’t be preachy. Consider your writing as an offering to the Church that can be used and shared again and again.

3. Writing is hard work. MAI Trainer Lawrence Darmani said, “When we go to heaven God will ask us if we left behind the books that God put inside us on earth–because they’re not needed in heaven.” Give yourself permission to dedicate time to the writing God has given you. It’s tempting to get distracted, but the work of writing is to finish the project before you.

You are gifted and called to write.

Kara Lassen Oliver serves as Director of Discipleship Resources International (DRI) Publishing Initiatives for The United Methodist Church. As a published author and a former missionary in Malawi, she is passionate about equipping and empowering writers in Africa to write and publish the materials they need to strengthen the church. She is also the acquisitions editor for the Africa Ministry Series, written by African pastors and lecturers, offering quality ministry resources for strengthening the church in the 21st century.

This video was taken by TeamDavid at MAI’s international publishing conference, LittWorld 2015, in Singapore.

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