Communicating

The story…

Communicating

The vision!

The Objective:

To inform, inspire, invite, and involve all parts of the church in God’s mission and Christ’s ministry of healing and hope in a broken world.

The importance of story…

•Stories illustrate the vision

•Stories are about relationships

•Stories connect/hook people

•Stories seek to involve others

The process…

Effective communication moves an individual or an audience through five phases:

1. Unaware2. Aware3. Comprehend4. Committed5. Acting

UNAWARE…

To…

AWARE…

To…

COMPREHENDING

To…

COMMITTED

To…

ACTION

A few assumptions:

1. An audience will not (typically) jump two steps at a time.

2. Individuals will follow the process in order.

3. Different audiences can enter the process at any one of the five steps, depending on where they are already at.

Writing tips:

•Think. Plan a beginning, middle, and end.

•Write about people first, then things and facts. Supporters need to hear about changed lives.

•Write in plain language. Spell out acronyms, make no assumptions about readers.

•Describe your work in the context of the story.

Writing tips:

•Quote what was said, record who said it, and what was written. Put yourself in the reader’s place.

•Use active verbs.•Keep your sentences short.•Keep your paragraphs short.•Be specific. Use illustrations,

cases, examples.•Use a single idea per sentence.

Writing tips:

•And most importantly, always remember to mention your supporting partner(s) (MC Canada Witness) – your direct connection to donors.

Photography tips:

•Take pictures of people you work with and relate to.

Photography tips:•Take pictures of you engaged

in your work with people.

Photography tips:•Take pictures of significant

events, focusing on the subject.

Photography tips:•Focus on one or a few people

rather than large group activities or crowds.

Photography tips:•Focus on one or a few people

rather than large group activities or crowds.

Photography tips:•Capture the gesture.

Photography tips:•Use interesting angles.

Photography tips:•Intimate pictures can tell

wonderful stories, but respect the individual/situation.

Have fun!!

Procedure: Do’s and Don’ts

•DO send your stories to MC Canada communications office/your MC Canada staff facilitator FIRST.

•DO take and send us your photos... Lots of ‘em!

•DON’T by-pass the home office and send stories directly to the media.

This presentation will self-destruct in five minutes. Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

To inform, inspire, invite, and involve all parts of the church in God’s mission and Christ’s ministry of healing and hope in a broken world.