Knowing Your Audience

It's amazing how people respond to someone who speaks...well, there's so many descriptives: off the cuff, flippant, out of ignorance, without regard for those whom they speak off...the list could continue.

Social media is abuzz regarding comments made by the hosts of an opinion-based talk show regarding the nursing profession.

After reading some nurses response, I realized...the hosts didn't know or didn't care what they were talking about it. If only they cared enough to know.

Upon this realization, my mind jumped...to the countless hours of study and preparation made my missionaries getting ready to enter the field. The work is to help them be effective. To help them be efficient. In order to do so, they have to care about what is going on in that region; among that people group; the culture of that environment.

They have to know their audience!

What good is your message if you don't know how to present it in such as manner as to ensure you succeed in being properly understood?

On this #missionsFriday, pray for missionaries and the countless hours of preparation and study that goes into their ministry. Pray for increased opportunities to know their audience through conversation and sharing life experiences. Pray for knowledge, resources and tools for them to be effective in sharing the gospel of Christ. May the truth be known, understand and shared, to the extent people experience love, grace and compassion, rather than anger, frustration and offense.  Pray that the planted seeds of the Gospel fall on good soil; whereby the transforming power of Christ can change attitudes, hearts and minds; lest all of us would be the most selfish individuals any of us have ever known.

-PNC

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