International (MNN) — There have been a slew of attacks recently around the world on journalists and freedom of the press. From reported cyberattacks on media outlets, to outright killings of journalists, it’s a trend for you to be praying into.
Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries (IMM) says this level of resistance to truth isn’t new, especially from governments.
“We’ve seen that all through history in different times and places, as we’ve had different means of delivering information,” she says.
“But I think it’s so important to recognize that while there’s these challenges to free speech, there’s still other ways to get truth into different cultures.”
IMM creates media to reach Europe, Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East with the hope of Jesus. (Photo courtesy of International Media Ministries)
One of those ways is storytelling, which IMM has used for years to spread the gospel. Godwin says stories point people to truth and inspire critical thinking — what they believe and why they believe it.
“It could be a docudrama, or a dramatized Bible story, or a short social media conversation starter. These are moments that story can get behind a line that maybe a straight-up journalist story about corruption can’t.”
The Church can help fight global resistance to truth by raising awareness. Learn about recent abuses here or at cpj.org (Committee to Protect Journalists).
“God calls us to stand up for the poor and the widows and to stand up for justice,” Godwin says. “Most of us aren’t going to have much opportunity to speak into the closing down of a channel. But we can repost something about a journalist being killed in a country that is restricting the opportunities of free speech.”
Also, pray!
“Pray for truth to be available, that the Holy Spirit would be at work. There (are) just so many parts of the world where the spiritual battle is real and intense,” Godwin says.
“It’s really important that we find a way to get salt and light and truth in the gospel into more places. What a privilege to be part of that.”
Learn more here about IMM’s media ministries in Europe, Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East.
Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of The Climate Reality Project/Unsplash.
