• Write for non-Christians at all times.

• Realize what is at stake: the destiny of the souls of men. You are representing Jesus Christ (II   Cor. 5:18-20).

• Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and guidance in preparing and writing your testimony.

• Aim at an easy English level accessible to the international reader.

• Assume reader's zero knowledge of the Christian faith.

• Avoid religious jargons and clichés.

• Always give the plan of salvation in clear and simple terms. Think: Could a person be saved by   reading your testimony alone?

• As a general rule, it is good to quote at least one clear salvation verse, and no more than two   (Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:16; I John 5:13).

• Don't be preachy.

• Don't write critically or negatively about any other individual, group or church denomination.

• Create an interesting picture of your pre-conversion life and problems. The people who read   your story must be able to identify with you somehow.

• Explain what began to create a need and interest in Christian things.

• Consider including direct speech in quotes, because it is much more immediate and real.

• Be honest. Don't exaggerate, or portray the Christian life as a "bed of roses."

• Try to correct common misunderstandings about Christianity (e.g., good works and salvation).

• Show that being a Christian is a day-to-day relationship.

• Use a lively magazine-feature style.

1. Have a regular Quiet Time beginning with at least 15 minutes every day;

2. Live every moment of the day in the consciousness of God's presence. Converse (pray) with your heavenly Father (audibly or inaudibly, with eyes open or closed) during the day as you go through your various activities;

3. Use odd moments as opportunities for prayer. Instead of fretting in a traffic jam, use the time to pray. Pray while queuing in the post office, or while waiting for a late professor or for the rice to cook;

4. Be observant and sensitive to things and events around you. Pray for accident victims along the way. Pray for God's judgment on those that cheat the helpless and the ignorant. Give thanks to God for the fresh air, trees, grass and open space every time you enter the UP Campus. Take time out to appreciate and thank God for the flowers, the drops of rain, babies and creation in general;

5. Let an offering of prayer and praise to God be your first impulse on waking up and your last conscious thought before drifting to sleep;

6. Pray for all DCBC members by name at least once a month. This will require taking the effort to meaningfully know every DCBC member;

7. Read the news prayerfully. Pause to pray for individuals, the nation, the world and its problems or good deeds while you hear and read the news;

8. Keep a prayer list on a daily, weekly or monthly basis;

9. Use prayer guides (these are sent free of charge if you ask the concerned
Christian organization);

10. Come to the Worship Service earlier than 9:30 am and spend time in quiet prayer while waiting for the service to start. Say a silent prayer for all those leading in the worship - the choir, pianist, worship leader, pastor and preacher. Pray for the Lord to speak to everyone - including yourself;

11. Set aside extended time of prayer alone with God, e.g., on the eve of your birthday (or wedding! Or leaving for abroad), when faced with a crucial decision or very important exam, when rejoicing over a specially answered prayer, when under attack by destructive critics or gossipers or slanderers or when facing Satanic or demonic opposition; and

12. The life of prayer would not, of course, cancel meaningful interactions with others. There are many occasions however, when conversing with God is more necessary than conversing with men.

1. Need for more prayer partnerships;

2. Need for more attendance in the mid-week Prayer Meeting;

3. Need for more to join in the Prayer for the Nation;

4. Need for more regular and special overnight prayer sessions;

5. Need for more actual prayer in our meetings. A prayer meeting should have at least ½ of the time spent in actual prayer. The "sharing and prayer" period in our care groups should also have at least half of the time in actual prayer. In our Council meetings, every item in the agenda should be meaningfully committed to the Lord in prayer before we discuss anything.

6. Need for meaningful follow-up on "answers" to prayer;

7. Need to learn prayers of worship and offer more prayers of thanksgiving;

8. Need for more bible-based prayers - i.e.., prayers in response to a specific passage in Scriptures or prayers that use the very words of Scriptures itself - e.g., the Psalms;

9. Need for more hymn-based prayers - i.e., prayers in response to the words of a hymn or using the words of or singing a hymn as a prayer itself;

10. Need for more prayer participation during worship services - i.e., voluntary congregational prayer, or spontaneous, or small-group, or prayer partnerships during the worship;

11. Need for more teaching and preaching on prayer;

12. Need for more visible and consistent example of lives of prayer from the leadership.