Advocating for ANM Without Public Speaking

I don’t enjoy speaking in front of large groups, such as at a church or a fellowship group. I get very nervous even talking to the staff at ANM, where I worked for many years.

With these nerves, you may think I can’t advocate for ANM and the native missionaries we serve. However, I have found that I can, and even if you have similar fears, you can too.

Speak to Individuals

A favorite method of mine is to look for opportunities to talk to people individually and connect them with ANM. 

Several years ago, my husband, Victor, and I visited a church in Pennsylvania to share about ANM. Victor spoke, and I staffed the ANM table. I took some samples of the blankets we were sewing to donate to the missionaries, along with instruction sheets for making them. 

At the table, I met a woman named Carol who got interested in making blankets. She has been sewing blankets each winter since then, along with her Mom, who has Alzheimer’s but can still sew. They send a box of blankets to ANM once or twice a year, so we can ship them overseas to the people who need them most. 

Operating the ANM booth and sharing information about the blankets encouraged Carol and her mom to get involved. I didn’t have to speak in front of any large groups to connect with them.

Get advocacy resources now.

Share a Relevant Topic

Another way I have shared about ANM is through Oliver Asher’s book, Invincible Joy. Oliver is the President of ANM, and I have known him since he was a student at the University of Virginia.

I edited Oliver’s book in one day by reading it. The reading and editing experience had such an impact on me, as my sister and brother-in-law were both very ill at the time, and I needed the encouragement to find joy in life. 

We gave copies of Invincible Joy to my family for Christmas that year, which turned some of them into advocates. My Mom especially loved the book and kept multiple copies to share, as she would not part with her autographed copy. 

I have also suggested it or shared copies with people who were struggling to find joy. It’s a relevant topic for both of us in the conversation and opens the door to advocating for ANM.

Start Casual Conversations

You can also advocate through casual conversations. Recently, I was talking to our waitress at a restaurant and asked if she needed prayer. After Victor and I prayed for her, she asked what we do for a living. 

I began to share about ANM, and she was very excited about the concept of supporting native missionaries. I gave her my card, and was even able to give her a packet of information about ANM a little later. I pray she follows up on our conversation.

I also start casual conversations in other places, such as the doctor’s office, the beauty salon, in line at the grocery store, and so forth. Since I’m a writer, I often share a story from ANM’s blog about what God is doing overseas through our missionaries. I share stories that have touched and excited me. It’s easy to share what you are passionate about!

I try to match a story to a person’s interests, if possible. For example, when I meet grandparents, I share how my sister and brother-in-law got their grandchildren involved in raising funds for gifts in the ANM Gift Catalog. Their story even inspired an ANM coloring book.

This fundraising event is now a family tradition for them. I have distributed the coloring books to children’s church groups, grandparents, and other individuals interested in involving children in missions.

Remember: Passion Is Contagious

All of these encounters prove that you can advocate for ANM and native missionaries without speaking in front of a large group. 

ANM is involved in so many varied ministries and projects, so you can follow my example and find stories, ministries, and projects that resonate with your heart. Then, tell anyone you meet about them. Your passion will be contagious! 

Pray that the Lord will give you opportunities and open doors for you to share, just as He has done for me. For example, if you love sports, we have several ministries that reach children through soccer programs. You can read a story from a soccer ministry in Southeast Asia on our blog.

Find other helpful links and advocacy resources on our website today. You can go out with confidence and advocate for ANM, just like I do.