Great Commission writing: How Christians can share gospel through publishing ministry

When today’s Christians write to publish, through both printed material and online internet publications, they can reach millions of people worldwide with the message of Jesus Christ. The internet has transformed writing and publishing today just as Johannes Gutenberg’s newly invented printing press revolutionized book publishing in 1436. 

With more than 5 billion people around the globe actively using the internet, Christian authors now possess greater potential than ever before to proclaim and teach God’s Word, illuminate biblical values and share their own powerful personal testimonies. Never before has the prospect to reach people for Christ been as wide-ranging. Carrying out Jesus’ Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) has never been so achievable. And never before has our world so urgently needed Christian writers to offer their biblical worldview and scriptural perspectives on pressing societal issues.

The world in need

Words are powerful and long-lasting. Writing to publish gives a Christian believer a platform, a voice of wisdom and desperately needed hope for the world to hear. When pastors and ministers write to publish, they spread God’s Word far beyond the walls of their churches. When parents and grandparents write their families’ histories, publishing them in book form, they transmit their Christian teachings, lasting legacy, Christian heritage and biblical instruction to their children, grandchildren and family members not yet born. 

Convenient and available classes

Never has it been a better time to learn how to write well and get published. No longer must a writer interrupt work and home duties to commute to universities and sit in classrooms to learn how to write great stories, devotions, book proposals, inspirational articles and novels. Online classes that teach Christians how to write and publish are readily available at any time, and with the touch of a button, they can be accessed from any location.

Whatever your age, station or season of life, if you’ve ever wanted to begin a writing ministry, now is the time to get started. The need is great for published Christian material. In 2018, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics reported a high global literacy rate of 86.3% for all people ages 15 and above. With the availability and convenience of e-books, online magazine articles, social media and audiobooks, many people are reading and listening to online content regularly through devices like smartphones, e-readers, tablets, computers, smart speakers and other devices.   

Start now

If God has planted a passion in your heart to write, you can learn the necessary writing and publishing skills. Here are some simple, practical steps to start your writing ministry:

1. Pray for guidance. Christian writers never write alone. They are equipped and guided by the Holy Spirit. Spend time in prayer, asking God to direct you in choosing what to write, how to write it and how to target the readers who most need to learn what you teach. 
2. Identify your writing interests. 

• Do you want to target Christian readers or secular readers? 
• What ages and groups of readers do you want to focus on? 
• Do you want to craft nonfiction stories or fictional novels? 
• Do you want to write nonfiction articles for secular and Christian magazines? 

Writing opportunities today are unlimited, with tens of thousands of magazine editors needing articles on an endless variety of topics and book publishers searching for great book ideas that will minister to their readers. 

3. Study and learn. Pray that God will open doors for you to educational opportunities. 

• Learn how to write in ways that will communicate clearly to your chosen readers. 
• Learn how to write well using metaphors and similes, painting meaningful word pictures that help explain your message and keep your readers engaged. 
• Study book and article topics in which you have an interest and some knowledge. 
• Research the book publishing and magazine marketplace to discover the publications where your topics would fit nicely and reach your chosen audience. 
• Learn how to choose book formats and article types that will best communicate your message. 
• Investigate the new free book self-publishing platforms, a popular way for authors to take full control of the book writing and publishing process, earn a higher percentage of royalties and get books published more quickly than a traditional publisher can. 

4. Join a group of Christian writers. Online Christian writing groups allow writers to stay in touch, brainstorm topics, learn new writing techniques and pray for and encourage each other.

No doubt you, like thousands of other writers, will find the writing ministry challenging, fulfilling and exciting. Writers face no mandatory retirement age; with advancing age come new insights, greater understanding, better-developed writing skills and deep life experience. 

Get started today and reach out to a world of readers who are waiting to hear what you have to say, to learn what you have to teach them and to be inspired, encouraged and offered Christ’s eternal hope through the books and articles you write and share.

Visit ChristianWritersforLife.com/conference to register for our free, in-depth online conference, “How Christians Can Become Published Authors,” on June 10, 9–10 a.m. CDT.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Denise George is the author of 31 traditionally published books, a dozen self-published books and more than 2,000 magazine articles. For years, she co-taught The Writing Minister with Calvin Miller, who was a pastor, professor and storyteller at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School. Through Christian Writers for Life, an online writers group with more than 3,400 members worldwide, Denise teaches online writing and publishing seminars, helping Christian writers to learn how to write well and get published.