These are momentous days with the current frenzy of calls to redefine marriage in Australia.  This is all the more reason to keep calling Australians to sign and support the Canberra Declaration.  We believe it is only through prayer and speaking out that hearts will be changed and the tide will eventually turn. Let us not grow weary or lose heart. Let's believe that God will see us through!

We are thankful for the wonderful progress made in the Double Our Numbers Campaign. Welcome to all our new signees.  A good number of you are church leaders. Thank you. 

We trust that you will all join the campaign and share about the Canberra Declaration with others. Please find a brief update so far below the blue line. You will also find links to the first three strategies which you can still use.

Today we are very glad to launch Strategy 4 which asks signees to consider becoming an Advocate for the Canberra Declaration. 

An advocate is someone who supports and speaks in favour of a person or a cause, an organisation or a proposal.

By reading and signing the Canberra Declaration you have already shown your support. We encourage you then to ask others if they know about the Canberra Declaration. Being an Advocate is simply speaking in favour of what the Canberra Declaration stands for. In doing so, this will encourage others to read and sign it.  An Advocate doesn't need to be an expert!

To help Advocates share with others we have developed a downloadable Canberra Declaration Promotional Package.  
 

This includes - 

• downloadable A4-size Canberra Declarations and
  signing sheets, 
   
• a poster and a tri-fold brochure and
   
• our newly-produced promotional video. 

Here are some recommended steps.

1. Choose a target group (e.g. your local church members, a home group or prayer group, a parachurch group, a community group, an interest group you belong to, teachers at a Christian school etc.) Read about Anne's experience.
    
2. Decide your method (e.g. set up a table, send info by email, personal visits, go to a local nursing home, share at a morning tea etc.) 
    
3. Prepare your materials (download and print the materials you will need; perhaps include a sample Good News Update. If you have a laptop you can have the video ready to play.)
    
4. Set a time and place and make arrangements.
    
5. Ask people to read and sign (either the signing sheet or sign at the Canberra Declaration website; ensure the person enters on signing sheet their name, full address and email if they have one and signature). 
    
6. Enter the signatures you receive on the signing sheets into the online form if possible (follow these directions). 
    
7. Post the signing sheets to the Canberra Declaration (for tabling later in the Federal Parliament).

For this first call for Advocates, we would like to encourage our signees to consider a very special group of people as one of your target groups - our senior Australians. 

Already we have noticed in the Double Our Numbers Survey and New Signees Survey that almost half of those who have signed the Canberra Declaration and volunteered for different tasks are 65 years of age or more! 

The commitment of our senior Australians to an Australia flourishing on a foundation of Christian values is very clear. We therefore want to honour them and let them know that we have not forgotten them. The signatures of Australians who have lived long lives in a land that they love, will be a
lasting legacy we will treasure.

Many do not have computers and indeed many may no longer be living in their own homes. You might choose to have a special morning tea for them or visit them in their homes or in aged-care facilities. Or you might be a grey nomad meeting other grey nomads in your travels! Take every opportunity to seek out others and share with them.

Please -

• Pray that God will raise up many advocates and place different target groups on their hearts. 
   
• Pray that as we seek out senior Australians, this will be a great encouragement to them.