My husband is very excited about our tape ministry at Portland.
We have all kinds of people on the list. People bring names to us that aren't being visited by their pastor or they can't come to church. The tape ministry has been a wonderful way to reach the shut ins and the lost.
We need more evangelism in our churches!
He too has a hard time charging for tapes (Especially if it is his message lol!)
They do get expensive if you are a smaller church and can't afford to buy the bigger bulk, so Bobby went to the Lord in prayer over it. He put a simple article in our church bulletin explaining the need. Not begging just simply stating the cost and the way that God had been using the ministry.
Our wonderful people gave! We have some who give pledges every month, including us. Others give a special offering when they can. No one has been turned away. Our members who want tapes he asks for $2 explaining that the extra made goes back into the tape ministry.
We do not make proffit. We are continually having new names. My husband use to spend hours every week recording tapes because we did not have a duplicator, now the church has been able to purchase one and he can have more time to actually go out and visit those who are receiving the tapes.
Now we are having non members who receive the tapes (and who never saw the article) sending money. God always supplies the need.
So I guess you'd say we don't charge non- members or even suggest a charge. Those members who can't afford it we don't charge either.
We found out recently that some one had been sending their old tapes to Michigan and so we put them on the list too!
FYI Something pastors might want to think of, our children church director gets a tape. We never thought of that until one day she asked for one because she wanted to be fed too! We are blessed! ( No, we do not charge her

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All my hopes, my dreams and my plans are wrapped up in His hands.