Crossroads uses informal, conversational language that is seeker-friendly and non-churchy. Our voice is inclusive (no inside jokes, please) and our readability is simple and accessible. The voice of Crossroads should strive to be honest, easy and friendly.
Someone who’s asking questions, from simple curiosity to deep soul-searching. A season of looking for truth, healing,and something to stand on. Seeking God for the first time, God again, or just God in this new community of Crossroads.
We assume that seekers are not familiar with "churchy" language, or that they have negative baggage associated with it. For example, we do not use phrases like "born-again Christian" or "are you saved?" We don’t assume seekers would label themselves as such. Therefore, we don’t use the word "seekers" when speaking to this audience. Instead, we use phrases like "those who want to know more about God."
When writing a piece for a particular ministry area, it’s critical to consider your audience. For example, Student Ministry would not write a letter addressed to students in the same way they would write a letter to parents.
Crossroads has a great sense of humor. We love to be funny, but there is no rule that everything that’s written has to be funny. Sometimes funny can be distracting, and not everyone’s sense of humor translates well in print. When writing, just ask yourself, "do I feel funny right now?" If the answer is no, it’s OK to write something not funny. It isn’t worth the risk of being misunderstood or having a bad joke flop.
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Clear as mud? Check out this example:
God loves us and he cares for us. The people love Him. We receive from Him because he loves us. All of these statements are biblical because they appear in the Bible.
Certain writing tendencies can create disconnects for the reader. Here are some examples of common pitfalls to avoid:
We're talking about sentence case versus title case and when to use them.
Check out our manifesto