In a renewed effort to expand the influence of faith-based literature, Media Associates International (MAI), in partnership with Africa Christian Textbooks (ACTS), has called on Christian writers to drive positive change through life-transforming publications across diverse media platforms.

This call formed the core message of a three-day Short Story Writing Workshop held at the International Press Centre.

The event was facilitated by veteran journalist, author, and JFC Founder, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, who also serves as MAI Nigerian Ambassador.

The workshop aimed to empower Christian writers to produce inspiring, edifying, and impactful content that glorifies God and uplifts society.

WRITING TO GLORIFY GOD AND EDIFY HUMANITY

Mr. Otufodunrin urged participants to approach writing as a sacred assignment— one that must glorify God and bless humanity. Quoting Scripture, he reminded the audience that “God gave the Word, and great was the company of those that published it.”

He emphasized the importance of prayer and spiritual preparation before writing, describing writers as sowers and readers as the varied soils from the Parable of the Sower. He encouraged perseverance even when feedback is minimal, noting that writers must prioritize pleasing God over popularity.

“Your calling as a writer is to amplify God’s ideals, not to chase applause,” he said.

CRAFTING ENGAGING CHRISTIAN FICTION

Author and Gender Advocate, Mrs. Emeke Oyemade shared insights on clarity and crafting stories that captivate readers. Drawing from her experience with her book “A Cry for Help,” she explained how understanding her target audience helped her navigate early criticism and achieve success.

She challenged Christian writers to answer for themselves, “Why am I writing what I am writing?” while stressing that effective fiction must begin with action, sustain suspense, and use realistic settings.

Mrs. Oyemade also advised writers to reach a broader audience, not limited to just believers. “A good Christian story should reflect truth and creativity that speak to everyone,” she said.

FICTION WRITING: THINKING LOCALLY, SHARING GLOBALLY

Day Two featured Mr. Pusonnam Yiri, a minister and seasoned writer with over 150 published short stories.

Speaking virtually, he outlined the building blocks of fiction writing, asserting that “every story is a solution to a problem.”

He encouraged Christian writers to “think locally and share globally,” creating stories rooted in authentic African contexts. “Make sure your setting is real— give the world what they don’t have,” he advised.

Mr. Yiri also highlighted the importance of continuous professional development: “The writer is the number one building block— your input determines your output.”

In his Question and Answer session, he cautioned against overcrowding short stories with too many characters and encouraged collaboration with readers:

“Don’t write a story for your audience; write a story with your audience,” he said.

CREATIVITY AND FAITH: LESSONS FROM CREATION

Illustrating creativity through biblical imagery, Mr. Yiri described two levels of creativity:

“God creating Adam from dust is 0-to-1 creativity— something out of nothing. Writers, however, can engage in 1-to-2 creativity, as God did when He made Eve from Adam,” he explained

He further urged writers to creatively combine ideas to produce new and relatable narratives.The session ended humorously when he asked, “When a fish marries a bird, where are they going to live?”—leaving participants smiling both online and on-site.

EXPANDING THE REACH OF CHRISTIAN LITERATURE

The three-day workshop followed MAI’s successful debut session in Ghana, facilitated by Mr. Lawrence Damani, publisher and author of “Pick Up Your Pen.” Copies of the book were shared with Nigerian participants as a gesture of cross-border collaboration.

Facilitator Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin expressed appreciation to Mr. Damani and announced that the next edition of the workshop would hold in Burkina Faso, to be moderated by Mrs. Joanna Ilboudo.

ABOUT MAI

Media Associates International (MAI) is an interdenominational organization committed to satisfying the world’s hunger for the written word. Through transformative, biblically inspired, and life-changing publications, MAI seeks to inspire hope, nurture faith, and promote lasting societal impact across the globe.

The workshop concluded with a charge for participants to produce short fictional stories reflecting the lessons learned and writing stories that will inform, inspire, and transform.