OHIO VALLEY — In an effort to deliver more relevant local news in 2013, the Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Point Pleasant Register and The Daily Sentinel are committed to revamping and improving the Friday Faith and Family section (typically found on Page 4). My vision for the “church page” is to focus more strongly on church news and less on editorial (opinion) columns. In order to successfully accomplish this, however, I need the widespread participation of our communities’ faith-based organizations.

I am requesting area church pastors, elders, committees, educational groups and youth groups take this opportunity to share their community involvement projects with the residents within those communities in which they live and serve. There is a tremendous amount of good happening in our tri-county area … things like faith-based support for our regional food pantries, fundraisers for the sick, visits with the homebound and scholarships established. I would like to redirect our collective attention to these newsworthy events and many others to be published in the Faith and Family section of the Friday editions of the newspaper.

Pastors’ editorial columns will still appear in the newspaper according to available space, but faith-based and community news will take higher priority. Since we are renewing a push for diverse faith-based and community news, columns and news items should not exceed 600 words.

In addition, we are preparing for the annual Faith and Family Magazine that will be printed in early February. We are seeking submitted stories of hope, grace and inspiration to be included in the 2013 magazine. The deadline for submission for the 2013 Faith and Family magazine is 5 p.m., January 31. Submitted stories should carry the email subject line ‘Faith and Family’ and will be published according to available space.

Church news, calendar and annual faith-based magazine items — text and accompanying photos, when applicable — can be submitted for consideration to the following email addresses:

For The Daily Sentinel: TDSnews@civitasmedia.com

For the Gallipolis Daily Tribune: GDTnews@civitasmedia.com

For the Point Pleasant Register: PPRnews@civitasmedia.com

Thank you for the continued support of your local newspaper. We reflect your interest in and enthusiasm for the betterment of our communities and look forward to partnering with you to implement positive changes in our publications and in the community, as a whole.