Every year, churches and campus groups across the United States send handwritten letters to their members of Congress. Writing a heartfelt letter is a prayerful, reflective and personal way to seek God's justice for hungry people. When we join with our congregations or campus communities, we raise a strong voice.
Although members of Congress receive thousands of e-mails per week, handwritten letters are unique. They virtually guarantee that your senators or representative will take note of your opinion. That’s why it’s crucial for your letters on behalf of Seeds of Change to reach Congress early in the year. Just a few letters can influence his or her actions and votes.
Read tips from BFW members
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Step 1
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Order an Offering of Letters kit (includes handbook and short DVD).
Written specifically for the current Offering of Letters, the kit is packed with useful background information, facts, foreign aid success stories, and sample presentations that will make you an expert on our the farm bill and our Seeds of Change: Help Farmers. End Hunger. campaign! Available from our online store or by calling Bread for the World's publications associate at 1-800-82-BREAD. |
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Step 2 |
Pray for Seeds of Change
Reflect on Scripture's call to bring justice to poor and oppressed people. Prayerfully ask God to show you how to interpret this call. |
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Step 3 |
Create Your Team
Consider who might be helpful in planning and publicizing an Offering of Letters: Your pastor? Christian education director? Social concerns or mission committee? Youth group leader? Invite them to join your team. |
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Step 4 |
Gather Resources
Read the handbook thoroughly for information and ideas (available for order from our online store). Then see what other resources are available through Bread for the World, your denomination, church or campus. Check with your BFW regional organizer about which member(s) of Congress to target. Visit www.bread.org for updates and the most recent sample letter. |
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Step 5 |
Develop a Plan
Arrange a meeting with your team to review resources. Consider how to integrate the Offering of Letters with preaching, worship and coordinated activities. Decide when and where to hold your Offering of Letters. Spring is a particularly effective time to hold it, because letters are apt to reach members of Congress before they decide how to vote. Keep your pastor informed and ask for his or her support. Discuss a strategy for publicity and education. Devote time during Sunday School classes to talk about Seeds of Change. Involve children, youth and adults through creative activities |
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Step 6 |
Get the Word Out:
Ask your pastor to preach about Seeds of Change. (Biblical support for the offering is found on our Web site and in the handbook.) Write an article on the Offering of Letters for the church newsletter or Web site. Place a Seeds of Change bulletin insert or announcement in the Sunday bulletin. Offer a "Minute for Mission" during worship. Encourage members of the church to spread the word at their small group or Bible study meetings. Display the poster found in the pocket of the handbook on a bulletin board. |
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Step 7 |
 Conduct and Bless the Offering:
Letter-writing can be done at a special time during worship, in the pews or narthex after Mass or a chapel service, at fellowship hour, in a class or youth group, near dining halls, or anywhere people gather. Have paper, envelopes, pens and the latest sample letter available. Invite anyone who prefers not to write to pray for hungry people affected by this legislation. Identify volunteers to answer questions and provide assistance during the offering. And remember that letter-writing at home yields fewer letters. Encourage letter writers to also fill out the sign-in sheet for a one-year free membership to Bread for the World.
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Harvest the Letters
Offer the letters up to God for a blessing during worship. Count and note the number of letters written to each member of Congress. Stamp and mail each letter individually; do not bundle in one envelope. Complete and return the evaluation form, "We Need to Hear from You," online or download  and mail in. Your report ensures that BFW staff can follow up effectively with congressional offices. |
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Give Thanks
To God, to your team, to your letter-writers and to those who prayed. Consider how to let people know about the fruits of their labor. Will you publish monthly updates on the legislation in your church or campus newsletter or on your Web site? Have the letter-writers signed up to receive updates from Bread for the World on the legislation? Remember that progress typically comes in small steps. Celebrate victories, large and small! |
What is the best time for writing letters?
Any time is a good time to communicate with your member of Congress. Holding your Offering of Letters early in the year, though, helps to create the necessary political will to introduce the legislation and build co-sponsorships. Having the offering early in the year makes it possible to follow the process and to further communicate with members of Congress.
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