A Welcome from the Publisher

            Before creating The Christian View, I served as a newspaper Editor, each year writing hundreds of stories -- on government (reporting on County Council meetings and some cities' council meetings and interviewing candidates for city, county, statewide, and national offices), education (reporting on the county's School Board meetings and events at the 24 elementary, middle, and high schools), law enforcement (the Sheriff's Office and police departments), the American Legion veterans posts,  various charitable organizations, and other beats, and winning awards, in news reporting and in feature writing, from the state Press Association. Once I became involved in church, I desired to also write stories with a Christian theme, with a change of direction in writing -- not to win awards, but wanting to win others to Jesus.
            In each issue of the newspaper, I also wrote a personal column, as our newspaper's owner/Publisher had done for many years, and my Pastor would always thank me when I would write stories or columns about him and our church. I also wrote about many other churches in our community, as well, with the focus being on those churches serving the Lord Jesus Christ. I met and came to know many pastors while I was a newspaper Editor and afterward while publishing The Christian View, and I served with six pastors on the seven-member Resolutions Committee for the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
            Two years after our newspaper's Publisher retired and sold the newspaper, the Lord placed a calling upon my heart to create a Christian publication, and, upon asking the advice of a family member, a close friend, and my pastor, I left the newspaper to step out in faith and create The Christian View to use writing as a way to share the Gospel.
            Through interviews with individuals sharing how their faith in Christ has changed their lives, from pastors, evangelists, and  ministry organizations to sports, music, and inspirational stories, The Christian View strives to offer in-depth feature stories to share the Good News of the Gospel.
            I appreciate that one of my pastor's sons-in-law, who is also a pastor, called me 'a missionary journalist.'  Whatever our occupations may be, all Christians are missionaries, witnesses to those whom we can reach with the Gospel. 
            Most importantly, we can be witnesses for Christ by the way we represent Him in how we treat others: not only telling others about Jesus but showing them Jesus. 
            The most important witnessing tools for Christians are not talent, ability, skill, intellect, education, or accomplishments, but character and love that reflect the heart of Christ. 
            The most effective way to be a witness for Christ is to represent Him well.  In fact, that is what matters most.
            The encouraging words from many from my own church and other churches and those in Christian ministries have been appreciated, because I realize that some opposition to the message of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can be expected.
             I appreciated that my pastor wrote me, "You have touched people that you probably are not aware of. The LORD has used you and has plans for you. You belong to HIM and HE will lead you and guide you. The enemy is always trying to discourage us and defeat us, but I am praying that you will turn a deaf ear to him and go on serving GOD as you have."
            And I appreciated that, when I was interviewing him for a story on his ministry, he told me, "I appreciate you. I appreciate what you do here, but I appreciate the coverage you give us, too. I think the Lord sent you here for a lot of reasons."
            Part of an inscription he wrote to me in a Bible includes these words: " ...  I have watched God not only save you but help you to grow in grace and knowledge. I am glad you are a part of the family of God and our fellowship." 
            In that same Bible, part of the inscription my pastor's wife wrote includes these words: " ... You are such a blessing. And continue to live for Jesus. It really pays off. God bless you. Love you."
            Also in that same Bible are treasured inscriptions from family members as well as friends and fellow church members, including the person who is responsible for my coming to church and his wife. 
            I think our pastor stated it well when he was preaching at the South Carolina Baptist Convention's Bible Study and Preaching Retreat in July, 2003. He called out my name, saying that I had been there for every service, and he related to the audience of mostly preachers how I had come into the fellowship of our church, as a result of being influenced by the Christian witness of then Clemson Tigers Head Football Coach Tommy Bowden. "And anybody who wins souls to Jesus, I kind of like them," he said.
            In a sermon at our church the morning of January 5 of that year, he had spoken about Tommy's father having shared his faith in leading others to Christ, and the fact that soul-winning had been passed down from one generation to the next. "You know what I've seen? It's been passed down. There's somebody here, sitting here today. Do you know why they're here? Because this man shared his faith with them, in Jesus Christ, and they gave their heart to the Lord. We need to be soul-winners, and we need to teach our children to be soul-winners."
             In supporting The Christian View,  our pastor told our congregation during a Sunday night service that he wanted "to put a plug in" for me, and he added, "With all of the junk out there, we need some good stuff to read, stuff that's got the truth in it."   
            One cannot believe everything one sees or reads in the national news media; the media can cross the line from responsible journalism to sensational or 'yellow' journalism. Falsehood and deception, however, have never been exclusive to the news media profession, but can be found in other professions, as well.
            Truthfulness and kindness depend upon a person's character, not occupation.             
            Much good can come from the media, if the media is used in the right way, for the betterment of mankind, and that is how I have always seen the role of a journalist.
            One can always believe everything that I write, for I have always been meticulous about reporting facts, and, just as I always speak the truth, I always write the truth.
            In both my personal life and professional life, I have always lived by 'The Golden Rule':  as Jesus stated, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them"  (Matthew 7:12). If everyone were to live by 'The Golden Rule', that would take care of all other rules.
           Truthfulness,  as kindness,  is to be expected of everyone, especially those who claim the name of Christ, and there is never a reason for any Christian to not take responsibility for their words and actions or to not display the love of Christ.
            Truth and trust are an important part of any relationship, including the relationship of reader and writer. As a person of integrity, I always have been and always will be a journalist of integrity. 
            I have known other journalists of integrity, as well, including some from other newspapers and also including our newspaper's former Publisher, our newspaper's former General Manager, who passed away the year our Publisher sold the newspaper, and my former co-workers on our staff, who, after the newspaper was sold yet again, left and founded their own newspaper (and I wish them well).
            The mission of The Christian View magazine is to share the Gospel through journalism and to point others to Jesus, as a lighthouse shining the Light of Christ through stories of how He is changing lives.
            Welcome to The Christian View. 

K. Brewer
Publisher

e-mail address:  Publisher@TheChristianViewMagazine.com