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Why We Charge for Materials
In case you are wondering why we charge money for materials, this below should help communicate our position in this matter to date and according to our present understanding.
We received an email inquiry/accusation and responded. This is what you will read below.
EMAIL RECEIVED:
“If you were really concerned about people being deceived, you would give your book out for free, because God would make a way for you to do so.” MM
OUR RESPONSE:
Friend, thank you for your email.
Please allow me to restate your whole email message. You stated:
“If you were really concerned about people being deceived, you would give your book out for free, because God would make a way for you to do so.” MM
God is going to make a way for us to do this work – through others who give of their resources from a cheerful heart and as unto Jesus. By His grace and the simple decision to obey Him, we are doing our part. Are you doing your part?
Mike, please know that no one wishes we didn’t have to charge for these resources more than myself, but we live in this world and and it costs money to produce these things. Personally, I have not figured out how to make a lot of money yet (more than just covering living costs). And quite frankly, I am so busy trying to do this work that I don’t have time to try to bring in more finances (since I work every day and come home and do Gospel work at night). That's what others can do to participate in the work of disseminating His Gospel. If the opportunity presented itself to make a lot of money (morally, ethically, and legally), I would welcome it – so as to fund more Gospel work in this short life that has eternal consequences for every single soul. And yet, the LORD has seen fit to call and prepare some to serve Him full-time (myself included - 1 Cor. 9:16 - not entangling themselves in the things of this world so they can give themselves wholly to Him and the most important work in this world – the Gospel. 2 Tim. 2: 4).
Have you studied 1 Corinthians 9:1-14? Is the workman really worthy of his hire? If not, the LORD lied to us didn't He? Well, the Gospel worker is worthy to receive compensation for doing what is the most important work in existence - the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus and building up of His body. Personally, we aren't even concerned at this time about being funded to go into full-time service. We just pray for the provision to pay for what we are doing now - these materials costs money.
If you are truly concerned for us and those who need this message of warning from the Bible, please consider helping undertake the financial costs involved with writing, publishing, printing, and shipping these books and Gospel tracts, etc. The charge for each book is nearly what it cost the ministry account to do these things. In some cases, we have lost money and that's okay. So, if you are genuinely concerned with helping (hopefully you are), I have some suggestions you may wish to consider:
- Regularly pray for us as we seek to fully please the LORD and to accomplish His will perfectly.
- Pray today and over the next 3 days specifically that God will supply the finances needed to do this work He has commissioned us to do.
- Immediately mail in a generous lump sum of money to help underwrite (fund) this work, so that we can immediately cease having to charge for the materials. (No one wishes this to happen more than myself !!!)
- Or, like a handful of others who faithfully assist, determine in yourself to send us a check monthly to help with the costs to get these materials into print, and into the hands of disciples and hearts of all men, etc.
Didn't the LORD forewarn us in His Word that we are all going to give account for how we stewarded every penny He enabled us to bring in. Should Christian people be paying $40 or more to pipe antichrist filth into their homes via cable TV while neglecting to join forces with their resources to fund the Gospel?
Since you were bold to level a judgment on my motive for doing ministry, let me ask you some things:
- Are you helping fund the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the resources you have and earn?
- What ministries are you funding? (are they true? Or, are you funding a war against Christ and going to be partaker of the judgment coming for the evil deeds of false teachers? = 2 John 10-11). If we love the truth, let’s help get behind it with our money and not just our mouths, to see it furthered. If you are a true disciple of Jesus, I am your brother and cannot fight this war alone.
- What expenditures might you personally be able to live without so that you can find and then get behind servants who are declaring the full-counsel of the original Gospel? (Jude 3-4) (There is no insinuation in this question as to whom those servants would be. We all know some servants who are true to Jesus and they need financial help because unceasingly declaring the true Gospel always bring persecution - including lack of funding!)
Do you personally know what it feels like to be called to do Gospel work for and by the LORD and not have others helping (namely financially) to see it reach more people? From personal experience, I must tell you that the pain is deep and excruciating.
Were you in the military? If so, you know as I do that if you and I were on the front line, in a mud fox hole and others neglected to do their part by keeping the supplies flowing to us, we would be in trouble. Right? As a Marine I can relate and hope you can too Mike. Everyone of us has a part to play and each will be rewarded equally and eternally (1 Sam. 30:24 - a military example)
If you need further testimony of the financial costs involved in doing what we believe the LORD had placed in our hearts to accomplish, please feel free to contact us. She can give you all the detail you desire as to what things cost and how much we are getting paid from all the money that comes into the po box lol….ever heard the term “zilch”? (zero) We are joyful, willing volunteers in the LORD’s kingdom and as long as the LORD enables by granting us the breath of life on this earth, we will continually give ourselves to do His work with whatever funds we have. We want to do our part but that’s all my friend Becky and I can do – our part. We cannot do the part of any other except our individual selves.
If you wish to find out a little more about some of what we are given opportunity to do, please see the CONTACT US button which will also have the ABOUT US button within that page. www.SafeGuardYourSoul.com
Oh and by the way, if I were a rich man in this world, I would have more money to contribute to this Gospel work. Sometimes I wish I were more successful at earning money, and yet, I seriously do not believe God wants to hinder others from partaking in the eternal fruit as they help with finances (1 Sam. 30:24; John 4:36; 2 Cor. 9:6-10). The opportunity lies before us all – each must choose what he will or will not do. Paul said to the Philippians: “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” (Phil. 4:17)
We aren’t desiring any sympathy, yet we do desire people who care and will manifest that care by their charitable gifts. - by getting their checkbook out and writing a generous check to help in this work or going to the RESOURCES page on the ministry site and giving a love offering – one-time or recurring.
Blessings in Jesus,
todd tomasella
Brief Message from Todd (audio)
About Us
Cheerfully
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