Church communications give a voice to the silent and shy

I can be loud--really loud. Not obnoxious loud, not loud when I speak normally, just loud in volume when necessary. I often joke that it's because I'm the daughter of a drill sergeant, but regardless of the reason, if a group of people at church want an auditorium of milling adults and kids to be quiet so we can pray and no microphone is available, no problem.

Though I spend a lot of time quietly writing and putting together resources, love solitude,  and don't consider myself particularly chatty, I never really thought about what it means to be too shy, too quiet to talk about something when necessary. For some reason I assumed that most church communicators were people who didn't have a problem getting their message out when they wanted to and that the tools I create for them simply helped them do, in perhaps different or more professional ways, what they were already doing.

Then I got this comment after creating a series of church invitation cards for Come Back to Church Sunday (CLICK HERE if you want to see them):

Thank you for such a simple, yet powerful way to communicate the love of Jesus to others. I am encouraged to keep on and not give up.  Even "shy" people lose their excuse to talk to others with this invitation.

Oh my. I didn't realize until I read that comment, how as the creators of church communications we can give a voice to others. Not everyone is loud, I knew that. But I forgot that many struggle to speak, to share, even if they feel they should. The tiny tools we create--church invitation cards, postcards, emails that can be forwarded, flyers to give to a friend--these communications can speak the heart's desire of a previously silent person and help them share Jesus.

We can bravely create for shy people and give them a tool--perhaps to leave somewhere quietly or anonymously or to mail or tuck into a little gift. They may not have the courage to speak out loud, but they can use the tool we create and pour out their words to the Lord for receiving and responding hearts.

What an added joy and responsibility for church communicators--and a reminder of how we serve each other in the Body of Christ.