A good way to help your church get a feel for a people group and it’s culture is to subscribe to a foreign newspaper. You may not realize this, but many newspapers from around the world are also printed here in the United States for the immigrant market (often in English). Since everything is published online, international editions, as they’re called, arrive on subscribers’ doorsteps while they’re still in news racks in their country of origin.
Of course you can subscribe to many newspapers’ online editions and receive daily copies via email or RSS feed. But there’s something about a print edition lying around that encourages your church members to read it. Also, a physical copy may include advertisements and news that is specific to the home region. These are the things that give you a peek into the culture.
You might leave copies of Thailand’s Bangkok Post lying around your office. Asia Weekly would be great for people to peruse near the coffee bar. You could lead your people to pray specifically though The Portugal News as part of your missions emphasis.
Finding these English-language print edition newspapers is as easy as a Google search. A great place to start is onlinenewspapers.com or newspaperdirect’s list of printed newspapers from around the world. You may find international newspapers at a news stand in a more diverse neighborhood or at the airport.
If you already feel led to get involved in ministry to a specific region or people group, reading their newspaper will help you understand their worldview. If you aren’t sure, praying through newspapers from around the world might help you decide where and how God might use your church to build His kingdom among the nations.
