01-17-2009, 01:49 AM
intervarsity
Letter Writing to Missionaries in Restricted Countries
Mail is so important to those far from home. But for those living and ministering in countries where missionaries are not formally allowed or where Christians face hardship just for being Christians, we need to take special care in communicating with them so that they will feel cared for without their ministries or their safety being jeopardized. Here are some guidelines to help you as you write to your friends and family overseas. Most of these will also apply to Email communication as well.
1. Most mail entering and leaving is routinely read, in spite of official denials. Nothing is âcensoredâ out of letters⦠in some areas much mail never arrives. It is good to number letters, or to say, âThis is my third letter to you since Christmas.â Note that typed letters, especially aerogrammes (which you can buy at the P.O.), arrive more easily than handwritten letters.
2. Write freely about your personal life and share how God is working in your everyday affairs. Ask about your childâs job, studies, living conditions, lifestyle, sightseeing, vacations, etc.
3. Be positive and encouraging; responding to some items in your childâs letters that will show that you are prayerfully read them.
4. Avoid mentioning politics or specific political events or making negative comments about the government, the culture or the people.
5. Donât use the full names of any other Christians in the area or otherwise identify them. Use initials or code names instead.
6. In no way imply that your son or daughter is in this country as a missionary or âfor the Lordâ or is any way connected with any Christian organization. (See below for list of words to avoid.)
7. Do not write on paper that has church, mission or any Christian agency letterhead.
8. Do not ask about giving out Bibles, or about any type of witnessing, teaching Christ in the classroom, or about meeting house-church Christians.
9. Do not refer to the âteam,â since this is a common reference to religious activities that authorities watch for.
10. Do not send missionary prayer letters, mission or church magazines, or tapes, unless asked to do so by your son/daughter.
11. Send photos of special people, events and places. Send interesting and meaningful cards. Special American holidays provide a great time to show you care through cards, etc. Post cards, birthdays, Easter, Valentines Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas are meaningful times to remember your family far-away. Frequent cards are better than one long letter.
12. Find out from your child if sending packages is all right. In some places packages never arrive. It may also cost your child a lot of time and money to retrieve the package from the post office. In many countries they will be required to pay duty which may end up being more than the worth of the package. If itâs safe to send a package, do so, even if itâs something small, since itâs nice to get a little bit of America.
13. Do not be offended if you donât get an immediate reply. Your letters may take a long time to reach your son/daughter. And a longer time to reach you in return. Government offices may be shut down for long periods of time. Political or practical reasons may exist for not writing or not being able to reach the local post office. Keep writing and praying, trusting that your letters are appreciated.
14. Pray for your son/daughter as you write!
TERMS TO AVOID
* âIâm praying for youâ
* evangelism
* witnessing
* outreach
* converts
* ministry
* missionary work
* survey work
* translation
* foreign mission field
* âthe teamâ
* Islam, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.
* âsupportâ or any reference to financial gifts, apart from Christmas or birthdays
* newsletters or prayer letters
* IFES, IVCF, or any other Christian organization names or abbreviations
Letter Writing to Missionaries in Restricted Countries
Mail is so important to those far from home. But for those living and ministering in countries where missionaries are not formally allowed or where Christians face hardship just for being Christians, we need to take special care in communicating with them so that they will feel cared for without their ministries or their safety being jeopardized. Here are some guidelines to help you as you write to your friends and family overseas. Most of these will also apply to Email communication as well.
1. Most mail entering and leaving is routinely read, in spite of official denials. Nothing is âcensoredâ out of letters⦠in some areas much mail never arrives. It is good to number letters, or to say, âThis is my third letter to you since Christmas.â Note that typed letters, especially aerogrammes (which you can buy at the P.O.), arrive more easily than handwritten letters.
2. Write freely about your personal life and share how God is working in your everyday affairs. Ask about your childâs job, studies, living conditions, lifestyle, sightseeing, vacations, etc.
3. Be positive and encouraging; responding to some items in your childâs letters that will show that you are prayerfully read them.
4. Avoid mentioning politics or specific political events or making negative comments about the government, the culture or the people.
5. Donât use the full names of any other Christians in the area or otherwise identify them. Use initials or code names instead.
6. In no way imply that your son or daughter is in this country as a missionary or âfor the Lordâ or is any way connected with any Christian organization. (See below for list of words to avoid.)
7. Do not write on paper that has church, mission or any Christian agency letterhead.
8. Do not ask about giving out Bibles, or about any type of witnessing, teaching Christ in the classroom, or about meeting house-church Christians.
9. Do not refer to the âteam,â since this is a common reference to religious activities that authorities watch for.
10. Do not send missionary prayer letters, mission or church magazines, or tapes, unless asked to do so by your son/daughter.
11. Send photos of special people, events and places. Send interesting and meaningful cards. Special American holidays provide a great time to show you care through cards, etc. Post cards, birthdays, Easter, Valentines Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas are meaningful times to remember your family far-away. Frequent cards are better than one long letter.
12. Find out from your child if sending packages is all right. In some places packages never arrive. It may also cost your child a lot of time and money to retrieve the package from the post office. In many countries they will be required to pay duty which may end up being more than the worth of the package. If itâs safe to send a package, do so, even if itâs something small, since itâs nice to get a little bit of America.
13. Do not be offended if you donât get an immediate reply. Your letters may take a long time to reach your son/daughter. And a longer time to reach you in return. Government offices may be shut down for long periods of time. Political or practical reasons may exist for not writing or not being able to reach the local post office. Keep writing and praying, trusting that your letters are appreciated.
14. Pray for your son/daughter as you write!
TERMS TO AVOID
* âIâm praying for youâ
* evangelism
* witnessing
* outreach
* converts
* ministry
* missionary work
* survey work
* translation
* foreign mission field
* âthe teamâ
* Islam, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.
* âsupportâ or any reference to financial gifts, apart from Christmas or birthdays
* newsletters or prayer letters
* IFES, IVCF, or any other Christian organization names or abbreviations