O ur supporters often contact us suggesting that we send our reports and regular updates to politicians, in order to make them aware of the plight of the suffering Church.
While we circulate our material to as wide an audience as possible – and some congressmen, senators and other key political figures do take notice – our supporters are in a much better position to than Barnabas Aid itself to seek support.
Politicians are generally more interested in the views of the people they represent than organizations such as Barnabas. After all, it is the voters who will decide whether or not to support them at the next election. Furthermore, legislators will often feel obligated to respond to letters from their own constituents, but not necessarily to correspondence from charities, aid agencies or lobbying organizations. Such groups are expected to be campaigning for a particular issue or adopting a particular stance – and as such we may have less impact than you in raising issues.
If you would like to share something brought to your attention by Barnabas Aid with your elected representative, here are some guidelines to help.
Write to Your Elected Representative in the U.S. Congress
We recommend that in most instances you should write to your own congressman or senator. It is possible to write to a relevant member of the government (for example, the Secretary of State) but a letter to your own representative is more likely to gain a response. Remember that your representative will feel more of an obligation to write back to you, while the Secretary of State or another member of the government may feel able to ignore your letter. You can ask your congressman or senator to raise the matter with the relevant member of the administration.
Your congressman is your representative whether or not you voted for them and whether or not you support them or their party. Do not write to a congressman from another district, or a senator from another state, just because you support their party. The issues affecting the suffering Church around the world are likely to fall under matters that are the responsibility of the federal government – therefore we advise that contact your representatives in Washington D.C. rather than in your state legislature.
If you are unsure who your congressman is, you can
find out here: www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Write a Letter Rather Than an Email
Politicians are more likely to take notice of a letter delivered by mail than an email. Whether or not it is a fair reflection of your efforts, there remains the perception that sending an email is easy and can be undertaken without much thought or care, while writing a letter demonstrates more serious intent. Whether you write a letter or an email, remember to include your address and zip code so your congressman knows that you are from their district or your senator knows that you are from their state.
Write to:
The Honorable [name here]
United States House of Representatives / Senate [delete as appropriate]
Washington, D.C. 20510
Use Your Own Words
It is generally better to write using your own words. Your representative is more likely to see that you are passionate, serious and committed by your own writing. One letter like this can have more impact on a politician than ten identical letters signed by different people.
Keep Your Letter Brief and To The Point
Politicians receive a lot of correspondence, so it helps if your letter is brief and to the point. A letter of 5-6 pages will be skim-read at best, with large chunks of it overlooked or ignored. We recommend aiming to write one side of letter-sized paper, and certainly no more than two. Please do use facts and statistics to support your point, but using too many numbers and figures can deaden their impact.
Explain What You Want Your Representative To Do
In your letter, be clear about what you would like your representative to do. There is little point writing a letter that simply describes or complains about the situation facing Christians in a particular country – you must set out how you would like your representative to respond. In the case of Afghanistan, for example, you may want your representative to write to the President or to the Secretary of Homeland Security asking the U.S. to allow Afghan Christian refugees to settle here. Remember also that the ability of your representative to act may be limited. A congressman or senator – or even the U.S. Government – is unlikely to be able to do anything for Christians imprisoned in North Korea, for example.
Feel Free to Respond – But Know When to Stop
If you disagree with the reply you receive, there is nothing stopping you from responding with a second letter to express your disagreement and try again to make your point. The chances of changing your representative’s mind though are slim, so carefully consider whether such a response is a good use of your time. It is probably advisable not to send a third letter after this. Similarly, if your representative has not replied after several weeks, then it is acceptable to send a follow-up letter. Do not send multiple follow-up letters, however – this may be viewed as harassment, and certainly as a nuisance.
Be Polite
It is easy to become angry when we read of the persecution and suffering endured by our brothers and sisters around the world – but none of this is the fault of your congressman or senator. In practical terms, a polite letter is more likely to gain a positive response. A rude or bad-tempered communication can be safely ignored, but well-mannered writing may make your request stand out – sadly, politicians receive abuse all the time. Regardless of the practical advantages, remember that your representative – whether or not you agree with their views – is a person made in God’s image and worthy of respect.
Pray
Our Lord is sovereign over the hearts and minds of politicians, regardless of whether or not they are believers. When Nehemiah presented his request before the pagan king of Babylon, he “prayed to the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 2:4) and received a favorable reply. As you write and send your letter, pray that God will use it for the good of His suffering people around the world.
