Helper, Missionary, Prophet, Teacher: Write to Serve

A guest post by Dan and Denise Harmer:

His writing has been translated into hundreds of languages, sold more than any in history, and touched untold millions of lives, yet we don’t even know his name. Our mystery servant writer was none other than the faithful amanuensis (scribe) of the apostle Paul. At times this author labored in a dank prison cell recording each word. Talk about a collaboration. The Holy Spirit working through Paul while this guy jots down each line, lifting his feet on occasion to allow the rats to scurry by.

Fast forward two thousand years. I would give away body parts to have a drop of that impact and influence for Christ, yet since the time I first conceived this post, I have realized struggles with my own servant’s heart attitude. My pastor is fond of saying “If you want to check to see if you have a servant’s heart, take note of how you react when someone treats you like one.”

Ouch!

I have the honor, right now, of collaborating with a Marine. An officer serving his second stint in Afghanistan. Read more

The Power of a Personal Letter

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With Twitter, Facebook, and email always at our fingertips, personal letters are a rarity. Yet, we all love to receive them. Today, putting away my textbooks and teaching notes to begin my teaching sabbatical (to fully enjoy my daughter’s last year of high school), I was moved — again — by a handwritten note from one of my students: “Thank you for sharing your dreams and struggles. Knowing them makes you more approachable and helps me when I struggle because I know you really understand me.” 

Her note, like others I’ve received over the years, was inspired by a letter I wrote for my College Composition students and share with them the first week of the semester:   Read more

Creative Marketing Ideas for Writers

In “Golden Rule Marketing for Writers,” Emily Akin reminded us that aspiring authors should learn to love marketing and spend as much as 80% of their time marketing their writing.  Still, some writers chew on this idea with apprehension, hoping they will be the exception. I think the problem is that we tend to approach marketing with the wrong perspective.

I recently ran across Meeting Needs, a blog post by Sarah Bolme, Director of Christian Small Publishers Association. She challenges Christian writers to see marketing differently. She says this:  ”Promoting a book is like being a missionary. Missionaries don’t sit at home and wait for people who need Jesus to come to them. They go “into all the world” and seek the lost.”  What a great perspective!

If you are beginning to feel differently about marketing, then you are ready for some new ideas to reach your readers. Here are five links to articles from creative writers and marketers that can get your creative juices flowing:

1. 1. Book Launch Party on Facebook
   2. Guest Blogging
   3. Virtual Author Touring
   4. Twitter Book Marketing
   5. Publishing and Marketing with Scribd.com

Question: How about you?  Do you have some creative marketing ideas that help you reach your readers?  Share them with us.

Imitating Ezra: Spiritually Preparing Myself to Serve Others

Editor’s Note: This is a guest article by Christian author and speaker, Kathy Howard, who challenges us with a timely message for every aspiring or seasoned author.

One of my heroes is a writer named Ezra, who lived about 450 years before the birth of Christ. The Bible describes this priest and scribe as a man who “had devoted himself to the study and observance of the law of the LORD and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (Ezra 7:10, NIV). Ezra passionately pursued God through the study and obedience of His Word. As he learned from God, Ezra then taught others and helped them apply God’s Word to their lives.

God has led me along a similar path. He gave me an insatiable desire to study His Word. As I study, His Word disciplines and refines me. God is faithfully shaping me into the woman He wants me to be. Meanwhile, He regularly brings teaching opportunities my way to share what He has taught me. Writing Bible studies allows me to teach the truth of God’s Word to a much larger classroom.

Why I Write

I usually write to meet specific needs in the church. For instance, a number of years ago, God began to bring adults to our church that had never studied the Bible before, but wanted to. I immediately found some material and began a short-term class. I soon realized that this material was insufficient to meet their needs. After teaching several of these classes, I began to write a curriculum specifically geared to this unique market. Read more

The Place to Start

“I just don’t know where to start.” 

Have you ever entertained these words?  I hear them often from my writing students or friends who sense a calling to write.

In her “must have” Bible study for Servant Writers, Write HIs Answer, Marlene Bagnull ofters the only plausible answer:

“Jesus’ example [of prayer] shows us that the place to begin all our writing is on our knees.  It is essential that we seek ‘the mind of Christ’ (1 Cor. 2:16) if we hope to bring his answer to our hurting world. If we’re too busy to pray, we’re too busy.”

“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?”  But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.  1 Cor 2:16 NLT

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Related Reading:

Goals, Habits, and Process of a Servant Writer

What part does prayer play in your writing?  We would love to hear from you.

An Interview with Fiction Writer, Donald James Parker

Creative people energize me, but when I meet actively creative Christians like Donald Parker, who spend much of their time creating stories, I’m inspired.  Why, because they stand as constant reminders that God created us in His image — with the ability to create.

Jesus, himself, embodied creativity.  He chose the power of story to communicate His message.  Why should it surprise us when His people have a latent desire to package biblical principles with stories?

Although I’m just getting to know Donald Parker, his dedication to use his gift for storytelling can inspire us all, especially by reminding us that it’s never too late to serve God and others with the gifts and passion placed in our heart.  Read more

The Fragrance: A Challenge for Servant Writers

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Dr. Ron Barnes, Servant Writer and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at San Diego Christian College.  

A Persian fable says:

One day a wanderer found a lump of clay. So redolent of sweet perfume, its odors scented all the room. “What art thou?” was his quick demand. “Art thou some gem from Samarkand, or spikenard in this rude disguise, or other costly merchandise?”

“Nay, I am but a lump of clay.”

“Then, whence this wondrous perfume, say!”

“Friend, if the secret I disclose-I have been dwelling with the rose.”

The years of having children had bypassed a God-honoring couple named Zacharias and Elizabeth. But is anything too hard for the Lord? Read more

From ‘Samaritan Woman’ to ‘Anna’: An Interview with Jeanne Sant

Once in a while a person enters our lives like a tsunami, knocking us off our feet.  Some do it with an uncanny ability to discourage and defeat.  And then, there are the Jeanne Sants — those who possess insurmountable energy, enthusiasm, and zeal for life… for people… for God… for His Word — the kind of people who by their very presence inspire us to stand a little taller and up our game.

 What else can I say? When I grow up, I want to be like Jeanne Sant.

 I first met Dr. Jeanne Sant a couple of years ago when she moved to San Diego to serve as an administrative assistant (as a favor) to the interim president of San Diego Christian College where I teach writing. For the next months after our first meeting, I saw this 5′3″ – 62 year dynamo launch her first blog after a 30 minute lesson, start “Women Study Hall” a new Sunday school class for women, and inspire women to devote themselves to Bible study and fall in love with their savior all over again. Read more

Communicating the Vision: An Interview with Kathi Macias

Congratulations to our book winner, Joie Fields, and a big ”thank you” to Kathi Macias

Many up-and-coming writers believe that authors who have found a level of success in the publishing world are beyond reach because they are too busy doing what they, themselves, would love to be doing – writing.  With thirty books to her credit, Kathi Macias is everything but unapproachable.  She has a deep love for the written word, yes, but she is a true Servant Writer willing to share her experience and wisdom with others.

I was first introduced to Kathi last year when a friend gave me her book, The Train-of-Thought Writing-Method: Practical, User-Friendly Help for Beginning Writers. As a writing teacher, myself, I felt an immediate connection with someone who had clearly taken the time to communicate what so many attempt  to say, but in a creative and fresh new way.  I must confess that for a minute I was envious that I had not written such a book for my students.  Imagine my delight when my friend and Servant Writer, Dawn Wilson, connected us.  Seldom have I appreciated e-mail technology more than the afternoon Kathi and I exchanged several emails in preparation for our interview.  Although we have yet to meet face to face, I have been moved by her sweet spirit and willingness to share what she has learned with those  who are still on the journey toward print publication.

In this exclusive interview for WritingtoServe.net, Kathi Macias opens a window into the life of a full time Christian author Read more

Goals, Habits, and Process of a Servant Writer

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by writer and speaker Dawn Wilson of Heart Choices Ministries

When I write, three goals, inspired by Scripture, focus my writing — I want to glorify God (I Corinthians 10:31), support the saints (Galatians 6:10), and win the world (Mark 16:15). Regardless of the topic, these goals always give me direction. 

When I was asked to speak about my writing habits, I realized that although I’m not mechanical about them, I like to slow down and examine my work to see if I’m meeting at least two of my goals, one of which should always be to bring honor and glory to the Lord.

Luke tells us that as Jesus grew into manhood, He developed mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially (2:52), so my passion in writing is to teach and encourage for growth and change. I keep my readers’ growth potential firmly in mind as I write — I can inspire the spirit by using the Word of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through the Scriptures. I can inform the mind by teaching old truths in new ways, to capture a person’s imagination for God and build a biblical worldview. I can involve the heart by telling my stories with simplicity and authenticity, so people can identify and connect with my message. I can influence the will by offering choices that reflect the perspective and priorities of God.

“…as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  (Galatians 6:10)

Everything else is process — the vehicle that helps me achieve these goals and minister to my readers. My writing process includes four habits: research, record, rewrite, and refine. Read more

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