NOTE THIS SIMPLE SECRET!

Because I know a lot of kids it seems I get more than my share of letters from young friends who are going overseas on a "SHORT TERM MISSIONS project". That's neat; I'm all for it!

I've received everything from hand written letters to colorful glitzy photo filled letters asking for prayer and support. Hundreds of them.

Frankly I'm not impressed with many of the "Short term" sending agency's approach to gaining support. It's obvious by reading these candidate's letters that the agencies themselves are novices at showing their candidates how to get support.

These "Short-Termers" are encouraged to gain support by sending "their" letters to family and friends ... I fall in the friend category.

As one who has spent more than fifty years having to acquire thousands of dollars of support each month, let me share a simple secret that works every time!

PERSONALIZE EVERY LETTER! Never forget those three magic words!

We're tired of paper, we're tired of text, we're tired of glitz! We're tired of Dear Occupant, Dear valued customer, or Dear Home owner, or Brother in Christ, or whatever! We're tired of bulk mail! We're tired of our name spelled wrong!

Whenever I get a first class letter (Which costs a lot!) I open it up and I read it.

"Oh look! Here's a letter from a kid who wants to join a team and serve over seas for two months ...

I find it's a well-written letter from a kid I know and have known for years and he knows me. The letter is about his opportunity to join a team and minister for two months on the mission field in outer-Mongolia. And would appreciate prayers and support. Some letters don't even include a giving envelope, some do.

Dear von, Dear Pastor von, or Mr. von, E.G. von Trutzschler ... sometimes there is just a blank where my name has been handwritten in. I just shake my head as to who taught these kids to write a support letter like that.

The letter goes quickly to the trash can with the rest of the impersonal paper.

SECRET! If you know me and send me a first class letter, at least personalize it ... or it gets the same attention as bulk-mail; the trash can.

What do I mean by personalize it? Well, to make your letter personal! How? To handwrite something simple and personal to the person you know. Study the simple SECRET below!

Hand write, in pen, a simple something like "Hi von, how are you doing?" "Six handwritten words that will keep your letter from the trash." ... and just maybe some support! ... Something short and personal like!

"Hey von, how is it going?"
"Appreciate your prayers, von" "Von, keep me in your prayers."

Same thing for your uncle Fred ... never address him Dear Fred, but Hi uncle Fred! Handwritten note "Hi Uncle Fred, how is it going?"

See, it's easy ... and it pays!!!

PERSONALIZE YOUR LETTER! NEVER FORGET THESE THREE WORDS!

Be sure to share this secret with your sending church or agency, they need to learn this!