I had another blog post planned continuing our series: Free Online Gifts Every Communicator Can Give, but in light of the tragic mass shooting in Newtown, CT today, it didn’t seem particularly meaningful. And that gives us the opportunity to talk about another gift we as communicators can give those we communicate with – relevance and perspective.
When tragedy strikes, consider whether it makes sense to move forward with pre-tragedy plans or whether it would be better to put those plans on hold.
Do our pre-tragedy plans seem trivial or even inappropriate now? We can put them on hold.
Are the people we’re communicating with in need of compassion, understanding and perspective? We can share how we about the circumstances. And we can share God’s perspective on tragedy, by sharing the truth of His Word such as:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33
Is there some action we can rally people to take? At the very least we can pray and ask others to pray. In some circumstances we may sense God calling us to rally financial support or even go and serve those in need.
It’s also worth noting that should a crisis hit your organization directly, you’ll be far better able to respond if you have a crisis communications plan in place.
Discussion
- Have you made any changes to your communications plans because of the events in Newtown, CT?
- Can you share another time when you decided to deviate from your communications plan because of a crisis?
- What other advice do you have for communicators?
7 Comments
I would like to post my condolences to all the people involved .
I add my and my families agreement to everybody's prayers, numbers do count the bible says.
These sort of happenings are a function of the following statement
EVIL FLOURISHES BECAUSE GOOD MEN DO NOTHING.
There always signs that lead up to these things happening, but as the individuals get more and more perverted in their minds and souls, nothing is done about it BECAUSE WE DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED.
Paul, I thank you and bless you and Ourchurch.com for the opportunity you give me, that even though I cannot yet afford your full services, I still have the opportunity to offer 'bible solutions' to help the situation.
If anybody wants to know what they are, I am sure Paul would you give the site details.
We need to offer all these hurting people 'solutions' an be galvanized by their pain in to be doing something.
Bless you for making it possible for me to offer practical 'to do' bible solutions, because they are sorely needed.
Blessing to you all
Thanks Doug. It serves as a good reminder that there are many lost and hurting people around us. Let's keep our eyes open, our hearts tuned to the leadings of the Holy Spirit and have the courage to live like Jesus, interuptable and loving strangers and outcasts.
Thanks also for your kind words about OurChurch.Com.
Did you not receive the post I placed yesterday? I do not see it anywhere.
Blessings
Doug, I don't think I did. Was it a post or a comment? When and where did you post it?
It was in the original posting off your newsletter in regard to the newsletter in the comment section. Something happened somewhere because the next thing was that I got an invitation to join Intensedebate.
As I have to deal with dysnomia and slight dyslexia, I can't surface at the moment exactly what I said.
It was expressing my concern for the happenings at NewTown, and also expressing my profound gratitude to OurChurch for the opportunity that you give me.
Even though I can't yet afford to access the full package, which is very reasonable, I am still able to try and do my bit in sorting out the mess the world is in, because of the website you have made available to me.
Blessings to all of you, and yours
Thanks Doug. I found it caught in the spam filter. Sometimes it mistakenly filters out legit comments. I was able to recover and publish it. I appreciate the comment and your kind words. 🙂
Thank you for finding the posting, and publishing it, Paul.
May the Lord bless you and yours for 2013, and forever.