Advocacy Guide

To assist you in "being a voice for the voiceless," VOM has created an advocacy guide that will help you in encouraging prisoners while pleading for or on their behalf.

The Advocacy Guide includes sample letters; tips for when writing to prisoners, government officials, and prisoners; and other helpful resources.

Click here to download the PDF
Click here to contact our office if you prefer a hard copy mailed to you.

Looking for letter-writing tips online? Click here.
For prisoner names and addresses, Click here.

Letter-Writing Campaign

For more than three months, Rev. (Dr.) Andrew Brunson has been detained in Izmir, Turkey, for his Christian faith. Charged falsely with holding "membership in an armed terrorist group," he now desperately needs our help.

You can help by using the "sample letter" provided below or respectfully writing a similar letter of your own and sending it to the Interior Ministry of Turkey. Please note that the letter can be written in any language, as long as the name ANDREW BRUNSON is mentioned in large font – either within the letter or on the envelope.

The "sample letter" reads:

Dear Sir,

I am writing in regards to the imprisonment of Dr. Andrew Brunson who has served as a pastor in Izmir, Turkey, for the past 23 years.
Dr. Brunson has served according to the teaching and practice of his Christian beliefs. He does not support and is not associated with any groups or organizations operating against the Turkish State.

We request, therefore, that you take all steps necessary to ensure Dr. Brunson’s release from prison.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
(Add your signature)

 

Please post the letter to the following address:

Sayin Bakan Suleyman Soylu
TC Icisleri Bakanligi Icerisinde Bakanliklar
06580 Cankaya
Ankara, Turkey

When Writing Media

 Deal with specifics
 Deal with practicalities
 Appeal to shared belief
 Appeal to emotion,
    but not emotionally
 Raise questions


Building a Credible Case

 Let content, not bias,
   carry the case
 Have a clear, plausible
   thesis
 Appeal to readers' beliefs
   and convictions
 Acknowledge difficulties
   and problems
 Acknowledge alternative
   perspectives
 Communicate integrity
 Communicate fairness
 Display competence
 Write with conviction
 Be positive
 Be humble
 Invite dialogue

Writing to Editors

Writing short, concise letters to local and national newspaper and magazine editors (both print and online) is a highly effective way of raising awareness of current issues in the global Church.

What should I write?

  • Keep your letter friendly. Remember, you are Christ’s ambassador.
  • Keep your letter short. Concise letters with a single point are more likely to be published.
  • Keep your letter clear. State your subject and purpose in the opening paragraph.
  • Keep your letter relevant. Editors typically print letters that respond to recent articles in their papers or that address current issues of interest.

What should I NOT write?

  • Avoid being confrontational, abusive or offensive.
  • Avoid quoting Scripture. A wise and well-balanced biblical perspective, which serves to address a crisis, problem or other evil, can be conveyed without using Scripture.
  • Avoid preaching. Readers do not buy newspapers to read a sermon.

Click here to download a helpful article on writing to the media written by an editor of The National Post.

Helpful Writing Links

The following links will assist you in writing letters to government officials.

Government of Canada

The Canadian government's official webpages provide the names, mailing addresses, e-mail addresses, etc. for members of the House of Commons and the Senate.

Foreign Embassies in Canada

Click here for a directory of addresses, telephone/fax numbers and email addresses for foreign embassies in Canada.

Foreign Embassies in the United States

Click here for a directory of addresses, telephone/fax numbers and email addresses for foreign embassies in the United States.

United States Government Websites

Official U.S. Government websites with names, mailing/email addresses, etc.
Click here for the White House
Click here for the Senate
Click here for the House of Representatives

Permanent Missions to the United Nations

Click here for a directory of telephone/fax numbers, mailing/email addresses for U.N. permanent missions.