November 16, 2000

"Dear Friend,

The Observer is a mainstream newspaper standing for biblical family values, but some in this community are working hard to ensure that such a newspaper is a short-lived phenomenon. We need to work together if we're going to overcome such opposition.

There are three ways you can help ensure that a Bible-based, comniunity-oriented, pro-life message remains at the heart of The Observer -- and thus an important part of this community.

First, you can encourage members of your congregation to support Observer advertisers--and to tell those advertisers why. You can encourage your congregation to ask every business they patronize to support The Observer. Most advertisers spend their money to place their message before the most loyal, consistent audience. Your congregation is part of that audience which has to make its voice heard.

Second, you can encourage business owners within your circle of influence to support The Observer with their advertising dollars. Aside from supporting a consistent pro-life, pro-family message, these business owners will reap the rewards of putting their advertising before the largest single audience of readers in the region.

Finally, you can come together with other churches and work with me to create a weekly 'church directory' page in The Observer. Such a page will go a long way toward offsetting the pro-abortion boycott efforts-- and it will serve as a beacon for all of the area's newcomers who need to know that faith in God is an important part of this community.

Thank you again for your support for our shared mission. If Christian business owners and churches pool their resources, support each other, and encourage each other in the face of ungodly opposition, surely we can overcome.

Thank you,

Jeffrey M. Peyton Publisher

P.S. If your congregation is planning any major events around the holidays, please let me know so I can try to arrange for press coverage. We're a small staff, but with advance notice most events can at least receive advance coverage" (Letter from The Observer, November 16, 2000).