Saturday, September 25, 2004
OVER THE TOP 700 – 755 = 55 over!!!
9-25-04
A while ago an anonymous donor made a sacrificial gift that put the total over the top.
Let us PRAISE God from whom ALL blessing flow!
May Jesus Christ bountifully bless this person in the short-term, long-term and eternity.
The company named Convio www.convio.com uses an online thermometer to track the progress toward the short-term fund raising goals for their many nonprofit clients. They said that the records show that that web page get far more traffic than any other on the site. People that are concerned about a cause may bookmark that page and check it several times. Theirs is automatic yet I have worked out a way to create one manually.
Go the bottom of this web page http://www.ears2hear.homestead.com/Donate.html
John 3:31 PM
Friday, September 24, 2004
Need 700 – 25 = 675
Yesterday I received 25 more dollars toward the need of 700 for Tuesday the 28th.
SUMMARY
Thermometer – a graphic way to present the progress.
Monthly – moving to ask for monthly partners too.
Avoided – why I have avoided this mess for years.
Solution – there are tools that will make it easier later.
Calling – I am getting closer to the heart of my calling
Requests – 7 requests for today
Thermometer
Imagine a fund raising thermometer with a little red at the bottom. 25 dollars is a small part of the 700 dollar short term goal. Recently the Holy Spirit has been reminding me of a service by Convio www.convio.com at has had great success raising money for nonprofits over the web using short-term goals and just such a graphic thermometer. Part of the game plan is to go with their services when they can be afforded. Convio services public broadcasting radio and TV stations. They also serve universities, museums and others. Their automated services and automatic record keeping will be needed when the Internet radio station begins to generate many new inquiries each week.
Many are praying about how God might use them financially during this important time of transition. An evangelist who uses this approach told me that it would be best to contact them again to learn what God has told them.
Monthly
Last night just before going to sleep I felt led to write myself a note to also emphasize monthly partners. It seems that more people can embrace a modest monthly amount than a large special contribution. Many small donations can add up just as a few large ones. Plus the repeat nature of those funds will smooth out the cash flow needs of the future.
Pray for me as I shift the emphasis. I will be going back to review the notebook and notes from the fund raising Boot Camp I attended in January. They taught this emphasis. I recall that the average monthly gift is 50 dollars.
Avoided
I understand that most people dislike being approached to donate money. There is a big resistance to televangelists because of their fund raising techniques. Christians get more appeals in the mail than they could possibly respond to with 10 dollars. I have often felt overwhelmed by the many worthwhile causes and my limited means to give. These are just some of the reasons that I have avoided going down this fund raising path for years. But God is using unpleasant circumstances to point me in that direction yet again.
I know that only a tiny percent of those who listen to Christian radio stations send donations. I dislike those pledge drives and usually tune away. May God grant me wisdom and insight into the most effective ways to enroll monthly supporters.
Over the years I have noticed that those who provide the programs on the Christina radio emphasize the sale of products more and the appeal for donations less. Then those who buy products are more likely to become donors by an appeal in the delivery of the tape or book. May God guide me in wise ways to blend these and other parts into a synergistic system.
Solution
I appreciate that everyone that reads my email is very busy. Some have said that they just scan them. I find myself just scanning the eNewsletters of others. There is an online service that helps to address this issue. Constant Contact www.constantcontact.com has attractive email newsletters. These have one or two paragraph articles with a picture and a link to a web page for details. It will take much time and some dollars to start using them. It will be part of a major upgrade in communication as I reach out to a wider audience of strangers.
I genuinely appreciate those of you that have prayed for me and read my updates for months or years. It seems that every few weeks or months there are major changes. It may have been frustrating for you. It has been for me. If I were you I would have given up on John long ago. I know that I have given up on myself dozens of times and especially lately. But thank God that my Good Shepherd has not left me or forsaken me.
Calling
One factor is that I have been struggling to find out clearly what the will of God is for my life. The Bible says that there is one hope to my calling. God is using the Purpose Driven Life to assure me that He has uniquely designed me for a special work in the Kingdom of God. He has given me three passions – education, mission and media. He has given me a pioneering spirit. Innovative ways to using these passions over the web has occurred repeatedly. You can go to the web site www.osuonline.org that has a sampling of projects that go back several years. That material is just like the many boxes of paper files in my closets. These all relate to brining together people, resources and opportunities by using information and education. I long to connect the greater Body of Christ in order to consistently improve evangelism, discipleship and benevolence.
I can tell you honestly that during the last few days I have felt more than ever that I am at long last approaching the good works I have been created to walk in. I sense that I am on the verge of manifesting my God-given destiny. That may sound super grand but those who have known me for a while will recognize that I am always seeking to harness the communication technology. The Internet radio station takes the static web site with audio messages to a whole new dimension. These will supplement and compliment each other.
My present challenge is to create a simple graphic to illustrate this relationship.
I have been reminded of the verse in Acts 3:6 says silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. Today I do not have silver or gold but what I do have is truth and love. I offer you and others is the truth as I know it and the love of God as He pours it through my soul. These days people are seeking authenticity. Many have told me that they respect my transparency.
Requests
This is a time of testing for me. I call upon you to pray for me more than usual during these days. Many of you have already. Here are some specific targets for your prayers.
The symptom is the rent that is due soon. But the solution involves changing my habits. As I quickly get into the pattern of implementing the many lessons about fund raising I have learned over the years, then the outcome will change.
Pray more FERVENTLY.
Trust God with ALL my heart.
Obey the guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ DAILY.
Use each day, evening and night most wisely.
Move through my walls of fear.
Ask and keep on asking.
By faith and with actions overcome the giants that have stopped me before.
THANKS again for your prayers.
John 11:19 AM
Thursday, September 23, 2004
CHICK OUT OF EGG
9-23-04
I feel like a chick breaking out of an egg.
It has been hard work to get to this point and more remains.
THANKS again for your prayers. God is giving grace and strength moment by moment.
I had 2 good appointments today. One is with a professor and the other with another key staff person. I have set two other appointment with professors next week. And I need to fill in my calendar with more.
At the end of each meeting I ask the person to pray for me and the emerging ministry. They have been praying strong prayers of protection. They see the spiritually vulnerable nature of this phase. Please join your prayers for spiritual protection with theirs.
I have gotten outside of my comfort zone and make calls that I had been avoiding for months. I have called my friends and church members to pray about assisting with the rent need. They are doing that I trust.
I have faith that God will provide the full amount needed in His time and in His way. Meanwhile He is developing Christ likeness in me during the process.
Yesterday 200 dollars was received and paid on the rent. This gave them some peace of mind. This morning I negotiated for the next payment of 700 dollars on Tuesday September 28th. Kindly pray EARNESTLY that this goal will be reached. May God guide me in my prayers. May He lead me in who to contact and what to say. Knock that the right doors be opened.
Thankfully the making the phone calls and presentations is getting easier with practice. I need to stay FOCUSED and keep going. My temptation is to get distracted into various other projects. There are a few projects that require my time in the short term. May God grant me wisdom to discern which those are.
I am getting clear that moving through theses external difficulties is being used by God to adjust, train and purify things inside of me. That will make me a better vessel for His glory.
Recently watched a recruiting DVD for the National Guard. I am far too old for their consideration. But the section with how Boot Camp is a rough process that makes them into soldiers spoke to my heart.
Here are the short term prayer needs.
Go through the many possible names and be clearly guided as to who to contact.
Contact them by phone, email or in person.
Have favor with them.
Raise the 700 dollars before the deadline.
Mention the need also to enroll monthly partners.
Request referrals and use them wisely.
Load up the web site with audio message of others and me.
Create simple diagrams and mind maps for meetings and the web.
THANKS again for your prayers.
John 4:00 PM
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
RENT CRISIS
9-22-04
Apartment manager said need to pay some on the past due rent TODAY or they will begin the eviction process.
The total amount due to past due rent plus electric is 1,341 dollars Then about 50 more will be due at the first of October.
Been to a prayer meeting and in much prayer.
Already received 200 today.
May God grant me His grace and mercy. May He give me wisdom guidance. May I know who to contact and what to say.
I may be directing people to the Donate button on the web http://www.osuonline.org/Feedback_Form.html . SO you can kindly pray over that.
THANKS,
John
Jesus is giving me His peace.
John 1:51 PM
TUESDAY BRIEFING from John S. Oliver on September 21, 2004
BLESSINGS
ALL glory to God in Jesus Name!
May you have peace from Jesus.
May you be filled with the Holy Spirit.
May you have intimate fellowship with God the Father.
Amen?
COMPLETED
· For years I could sit down and write most of the Tuesday Briefing in one sitting and them tidy it up a few hours later before sending it. But this time there was much mental confusion and emotional distractions. It was not as bad as last week. I suspect the enemy does not like me to have this lifeline.
· After much prayer I felt led to I let go of moving Tenn. and began to focus on staying in TX. That was a huge internal shift that has brought about a change in plans and actions.
· The Friday Community Gathering has moved from inactive to active in status.
· A brand new development will greatly increase the traffic flow to the web site with the audio messages. I have begun to share the vision for the network of community based Internet radio stations.
· Very soon I will send out the links to the initial announcement with the program guide.
CURRENT
· I am now in the process of writing down the words I have told more than a dozen people when I showed them the graphic. These additional two pages will round out the presentation. Then I can post that on the web.
· Most importantly is the graphic that shows how the web site works in harmony with the Internet radio station plus audio CDs that are mailed out. I have a mental and verbal concept but it needs to become visual soon.
· The past due rent is still not paid. This has been a goad to keep moving and not stall in excessive planning.
· I have several appointments already set with key people. Pray for me to set many more appointments.
· It is doubtful that there will be enough donations to pay the rents immediately. But I am committed to follow this course of action and eventually there will be enough to make up the back wages that the ministry owes me. That is far more than I owe everybody to get current.
· So now I am seeking a bridge loan to get me over this hump. The Holy Spirit prompted me that there is a way for a true friend to just contact their banker and take out a personal loan against one of their assets like a Certificate of Deposit or saving account. Then loan to me the funds for a short term while I get things going. I will repay them when the donations arrive. I will pay any interest they were charged. Their asset remains untouched. That person is a financial partner during my season of greatest need. Please pray for this or something like it to unfold right away. Otherwise I am still facing the real risk of eviction
· God has been leading me back to meditating on the promises and standing on them. This brings peace and eternal perspective amidst the storms.
UPCOMING
· Appointments have been set for this week and next. I need to go on those and set more.
· I need to Keep It Simple in person and over the web. Graphics and minds maps helps with that.
· Need to stay of top of the clutter that tends to get all over me desk.
· Soon I will segment the distribution list. The tentative choices will be 7 Sentence Saturday Summary, Tuesday Briefing and all the Launch Team updates.
· After this financial emergency is past I will set up a Yahoo Group for the Launch Team of intercessors, advisors and donors. They can go there to track the developments.
RESOURCES
This site is for those that receive donations> Pray for me as I plan to use this service www.givengain.com . God used the radio program of World Missionary Evangelism what I was a new believer to begin to give me a heart for missions www.wme.org Take a look at what they are doing.
Songs about science http://www.science-groove.org/
free Christian eBooks http://prayerforallpeople.com/free.shtml zillions of helpful links http://psalm121.ca/links.html
Here is an archive of previous Tuesday Briefings and updates between Tuesdays http://tuesdaybriefings.blogspot.com/
If you wish to unsubscribe then just let me know by reply email.
John 1:26 PM
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