By Tez Brooks  “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” — Colossians 3:17 (ESV) Because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, our entire lifestyle is formed by this passage. If everything is done in the name of Christ, our writing should also follow. As journalists, perfecting our interviewing skills glorifies God. With this in mind, here are six best practices for conducting an expert interview.  Clarify As a Christian journalist and author, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that before any interview, I must clarify my visio ..read more

The Lausanne Movement is set to release a comprehensive State of the Great Commission Report as part of the EPA convention in April. The Lausanne Movement State of the Great Commission Report will describe the current state and future trajectory of global mission. The report brings together the best global data and key strategic thinkers to understand where the greatest gaps and opportunities are for the Great Commission’s fulfillment. This key document in the Lausanne 4 journey shares insights from more than 150 global mission experts and sheds light on how we as a global church can be obedie ..read more

Nona Jones and Russell Moore will deliver the opening and closing keynote addresses for the 2024 convention. Nona Jones is a rare combination of preacher, business executive, author, and entrepreneur. She currently serves as chief content and partnerships officer at YouVersion. Her corporate leadership includes serving as head of global faith partnerships at Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook. Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, was rebooked after illness forced him to miss the 2023 convention. Plans are also underway for a forum that will address the 2023 revival a ..read more

By Jennifer Matenaer Dear Diary, . . .” Growing up I recorded everything: first crushes in fourth grade, pretend superheroes in the woods, sleepovers with best friends. But my experience stretches beyond elementary-school love and outdoor adventures. I continue to use it not only to chronicle my thoughts but also to grow as a writer. Whether you filled diaries or never even owned one, journaling has benefits for everyone, especially writers. The Why: Consistency and Creativity Writing takes lots and lots of consistent practice, filling page after page of blue-lined notebook paper, scratching t ..read more

The 2024 Awards of Excellence and Higher Goals contests are now open for entries. The submission deadline is Friday, January 19, 2024. All entries must come from material published in the calendar year 2023. Certain digital categories that pertain to website design or the overall website platform will, by necessity, be judged in real time. For Publication members (traditional vs. digital) A change in the Awards of Excellence will affect only a few members—those who produce a traditionally-formatted, PDF-generated magazine on a digital publishing platform instead of a print piece. While these p ..read more

A couple of my writer friends were recently discussing the works of Anne Lamott and one of them commented: “I’m not that crazy about her fiction, which sometimes veers to the Jesus-y, but Bird by Bird is one of the best books on writing ever written.” The reference to Lamott’s fiction piqued my interest because I’m a “Jesus-y” kind of girl, but it may have had the opposite effect on others. Lamott must know that not everyone appreciates it when she weaves her faith into her writing, but she’s made a choice between sticking to her principles and pleasing the masses. All Christian ..read more

Given it’s stood the test of time so well, the Gospel of Luke offers a great reminder of the essentials of good reporting, especially to an age where the demands of the 24/7 news cycle seem to challenge some of the basics of solid journalism. In fact, Luke outlines a five-point primer, or refresher, in his introductory comments: Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everyth ..read more

Popular writer and educator Karen Swallow Prior headlines the fourth annual DigitalMediaCon virtual conference which is now open for registration. A stellar lineup of speakers will address digital communications and e-marketing with an emphasis this year on Artificial Intelligence.  The conference will take place using the Whova digital event platform on Oct. 24 to 26. Prior will lead a panel discussing how the digital culture is changing us and the world. She will be joined by Heather Thompson Day, the host of Christianity Today’s Viral Jesus podcast, Samuel James and Lark Kelsey. ERLC R ..read more

An audio recording from EPA’s 1971 Chicago convention has surfaced which features the keynote address from renowned New York Times reporter John McCandlish Phillips. The “Frontline Action” recording has been posted to a website that celebrates stories and recordings from Phillips’ career. The recording and transcript can be found here. Posted August 11, 2023     ..read more

The EPA Board has established a new award to be given periodically to recognize young journalists already excelling in their careers. Awards will be available for both writing/editing and visual arts. Nominations will be accepted through November 30 with awards announced at the annual convention. Nominations may be submitted by publications for eligible individuals on staff. Freelancers are also eligible to enter. A panel of three judges will review the nominations and choose the award winners. Click here for the nomination form. Criteria for nominations Age 30 or younger Two categories Emer ..read more