Volume 25, Issue 4
WisconsinChristianNews.com
Page 7
We Can’t Do It Without You (Continued from Page 5)
come a regular monthly contributor to Wisconsin Christian News, you can do that on our website: WisconsinChristianNews.com or write: Wisconsin Christian News 225780 Rib Mountain Dr. #229 Wausau, WI 54401
Finally, I made a deal with God: “Ok, I will do this, but You will need to sell the photography studio for me,” I told Him. I did my part. I put some ads in newspapers around the country. I thought I was pretty smart. I thought I was “off the hook.” I thought “no one is going to be in- terested in such a highly specialized business in a small town like ours.” But the first person to call and come see our operation offered to buy it, at the price I was asking. I trained the new owner for about a year, and then on December 31, 1999, I handed over the keys, left the building for the last time, and was unemployed for the first time in my life, with only this “Christian newspaper” idea, which I had yet to set up. With the proceeds from the sale of my studio, I purchased the needed equipment and remodeled my basement at home to be my of- fice. I was so naive in those days. I thought everyone was going to want our newspaper. I imagined it would be in grocery store checkout lanes, next to the R-rated gossip maga- zines. I thought every church for miles around would want it to share with their members. I thought every Christian radio station would be on board with us, and every Christian bookstore would be eager to carry it. In April of 2000, with virtually all of the funds from the sale of our studio now gone, our first edition came out. And then the hard truth hit me. Those gossip magazines at the gro- cery store checkouts pay massive fees to be located there. Not a sin- gle church would have anything to do with us because we weren’t of their specific denomination. Chris- tian radio stations told me they weren’t interested because we were, as they said, “competing media.” And Christian bookstore owners told me they had no room in their store for something that was given away free, that they weren’t able to make a profit on. We’d gotten our first issue out, but it appeared there was little hope for a second one. I thought we’d have plenty of advertisers to cover our ex- penses. But try selling ads in a newspaper that doesn’t really exist yet. Even my own church, which my family had attended since I was a baby, and which my wife and I had tithed to faithfully for years, took six months to decide to support us, and when they did, they chose the small- est possible ad they could — giving us a whopping $50 a year. I remember sitting down at the din- ner table many times, with my wife and three small children, and thank- ing God for what I truly believed was our last meal, because there really was no money for another one. I thought to myself, “What have I done?” And I took the situation to God, “Lord, I did what you said. I thought You would bless this work
and take care of us, but now You’ve left me in this ‘wilderness’ with no way to even feed my family or pay the bills.” And thus began my ‘wilderness ex- perience’ and my education regard- ing pastors, churches and ‘Churchianity’ in general. I learned a lot, most of it not good, to say the least. The Lord put me through many tests and trials, and it was more than ten years before the fi- nancial stress let up, even a little bit. Yet somehow, God always made a way for another edition of Wisconsin Christian News, and for our family to survive. We’ve learned to live one day at a time, on God’s grace and provision. There was a point when we had a very good advertiser base, as the newspaper expanded and word got around. Instead of distributing in churches, we rented space on racks in grocery store entry ways and gave the newspaper away for free. In other locations, we purchased our own news racks and placed our paper in there. My original vision for Wisconsin Christian News was to be Wisconsin only, but God had bigger things in mind. People in neighbor- ing states began picking it up and taking it back home. Soon we had distribution points in Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa, as well as throughout Wisconsin. And the newspaper grew in size as well. For many years now, we’ve published 48 pages every issue. Today we have more readership than ever before, with bulk distribu- tion in 18 states, subscribers in all fifty states plus Puerto Rico. And the quality of our content has increased as well. I believe we have some of the very best writers in the nation, and we aren’t just “fluff” — we’re not just “poetry and recipes.” Wisconsin Christian News is richly filled with substance. If we were just full of nice “poetry and recipes,” there’s no doubt we’d have plenty of paid ad- vertisers. Instead, because we are not politically correct, and because we address the issues and topics that 99% of pastors wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole, our advertising revenue doesn’t come anywhere close to covering even a portion of the needed budget each month. And although we have many paid subscribers now, subscription fees only cover the cost of printing and postage, with about a $4 margin per year. Still, God has increased our reach beyond anything I ever could have dreamed of. We’re literally reaching people around the world. In addition to the printed newspaper, I also do a twice-weekly radio com- mentary, we maintain a very busy website, and I host a weekly internet TV program called “WCN TV.” Many times each week, I get won- derful testimonies from people who are still finding Wisconsin Christian News for the first time, and they’re
telling me there’s nothing else out there like it. Hearts, minds and lives are being profoundly touched. Peo- ple are coming to know the Lord for the first time, or returning to Him after many years away, after en- countering our newspaper. And be- cause we’re in newspaper format, with something of great interest on the front page every month, people pick it up and read it — even those hostile to the things of God. Whereas a Bible, book or tract would be easily discarded or disre- garded, people seem to be drawn to our newspaper. By God’s grace, we’re having a world-wide impact now. I believe all the years of work we put in have led us to this point in time. We cover the most vital news and information of the day that the churches and pastors will not... and we do it all from a biblical perspec- tive, regardless of political correct- ness. We tell people the real truth, in a day and age where telling the truth is not popular, to say the least. But while we now have greater readership than ever before, we also have enormous expenses. For several years now that this publication has been primarily reader-supported. We survive only by the gracious donations from in- dividuals. Advertising and sub- scription revenue is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what we must raise every month to keep this all going. Our printing bill each month alone, can only be de- scribed in one word: “staggering.” I’ve cut every expense possible to the bone, I have no staff, but I’m grateful for our distribution volun- teers who help me get the paper out to news racks far and wide. But starting this month, after being 48 pages for longer than I can re- member, this issue will only be 40 pages. Cutting out eight pages of con- tent is not an easy task, but I’m confident that we’ll still be the best Christian newspaper you can find, and the best source of news and information on the most important things you need to know in the days, months and years ahead, as you walk through this crazy world and honor the Lord. When I started Wisconsin Chris- tian News, we were one of about 225 Christian newspapers through- out North America. Today, there are less than a dozen left. I know there are many wonderful min- istries that need your support and I realize it’s a sacrifice, but if the Lord provides, I’d ask you to also support Wisconsin Christian News . We’re definitely not a huge organi- zation, but we’re having a signifi- cant impact, with eternal consequences for so many, all around the world. If you appreciate the work we’re doing, please know
that we need you — God’s people — to help keep this all going. We can’t do it without you. Email: Rob@WisconsinChristianNews.com Phone: (715) 486-8066
If you’d like to make a donation or be-
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