A Definite Opportunity!

Here’s your free book: A Definite Opportunity for Churches and Ministries. If you prefer, you can also get the book at Amazon for just $0.99.

Introduction

Without question, those who are active in ministry, whether in a church setting or a parachurch setting, can attest to the following: we can always reach and help more people, whether they have spiritual, physical, emotional, or social needs.

In other words: the pervasive need throughout our communities, countries, and the continents far outweighs the available resources. Thankfully, much need has been met and is being met by churches and ministries. We can always do more, though.

Since the pervasive need outweighs the available resources, we must make the best use of each dollar and explore additional opportunities and resources that will enable us to do more than what we’re currently doing. This book is about such an opportunity and resource.

For example, from 2013 – 2023, AmazonSmile generated over four hundred million dollars for U.S. nonprofits, including numerous churches and ministries. That was 100% free money, enabling one to do more than what one was doing.

The only thing a church or ministry had to do was to register and request one’s audience to select their nonprofit as the recipient of the 0.5% for each qualifying purchase. Only God knows how many were reached with the gospel and how much need was met through Amazon’s affiliate program.

This book is about a similar program. Instead of only receiving 0.5% for each qualifying purchase, you’ll receive 50% for each purchase. Obviously, the number of products is far less than the giant retailer, to say the least. The percentage you’ll receive, though, is one hundred times more.

Here’s the bottom line: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you?

Your Mission

When it comes to ministry, whether in a church setting or a parachurch setting, the Bible is crystal clear. First, we have the great commission: “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16). The proclamation of God’s gospel is first and foremost. Often, that requires financial resources.

Secondly, we have the apostolic mandate to “remember the poor,” which was stressed during the Jerusalem council. Throughout his ministry, Paul was eager to do so (Gal. 2:10). Jesus said: “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them” (Mark 14:7). Obviously, doing “good for them” requires money.

Thirdly, the author of Hebrews exhorts us to “remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Heb. 13:3). He wrote that in reference to those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. We are to remember our persecuted brothers and sisters.

Obviously, that’s much more than just having a few thoughts about them. One of the ways we can “remember” them is by providing Bibles to those who live in one of the fifty-two countries where God’s word is banned and don’t have their own Bible.

These three biblical mandates can be summed up as follows: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39), and “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12). Or as Paul wrote: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).

When Paul wrote these “opportunity words,” little did he know that we would have unprecedented opportunities through our social media, to share that which is good and that which will “do good.” Such sharing is without any cost.

While we can consider additional verses along the same lines, this book isn’t about a theological treatise of biblical ministry. Rather, it’s about an opportunity to reach and help more people, which shouldn’t require much writing or persuasion, right?

The Main Question

While the following question has already been stated three times in two different ways, the pervasive need throughout our communities, countries, and the continents requires such a confronting question. One that must be answered by you.

This book will do everything possible to make you answer this question: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you?

In Ezekiel, God charged His people with “prosperous ease.” We read: “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy” (Ezek. 16:49). While this was written to Jews, the Old Testament was written “for our instruction,” urging us to “take heed” lest we do the same things (1 Cor. 10:11-12).

What is “prosperous ease”? It’s when we have a certain measure of prosperity that keeps us from helping the poor and needy, including when we have a free, simple, and easy opportunity to do more than what we’re currently doing. It includes elevating our policies, procedures, and practices over helping more people.

We must recognize that such “prosperous ease” is also possible when we are in ministry and do “aid the poor and needy.” We can easily be satisfied with what we’ve done and are doing, while rejecting an opportunity to easily and freely help more people (more about that in The Hypothetical Firefighter).

In the end, it’s rather simple, without trying to be redundant: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you? This is a serious question.

A Free Resource

If your church or ministry could receive free money, enabling you to reach and help more people, would you be interested? That’s a dumb question, right? Biblical ministry is all about reaching and helping more people, whether they have spiritual, physical, emotional, or social needs.

As mentioned in the Introduction, from 2013 – 2023, AmazonSmile generated over four hundred million dollars for U.S. nonprofits, including numerous churches and ministries. That was 100% free money, enabling one to do more than what one was doing.

Amazon’s former program is known as an affiliate program, which is a legitimate opportunity for any nonprofit. Or as Charity Navigator points out: affiliate programs will give nonprofits “additional, unrestricted revenue.”

In the case of AmazonSmile, a church or ministry had to register and then request one’s audience to select their nonprofit as the recipient of the 0.5% for each qualifying purchase. Amazon even encouraged people to do so. When you visited their website, you would be prompted to select one of the registered nonprofits.

While Amazon discontinued their Smile in 2023, there are numerous affiliate programs that are available to churches and ministries, including those that are specifically geared toward a Christian audience. A Definite Opportunity for Churches and Ministries is about such an affiliate program.

The Cause of Christ publishes classic Christian ebooks and offers these books as part of an affiliate program. Instead of only receiving 0.5% for each qualifying purchase, churches or ministries will receive 50% for each purchase. These classic Christian books are available at Christ-Centered Books, the online bookstore of The Cause of Christ. This affiliate program is freely available to any church or ministry.

That brings us back to the main question: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you?

Helping Your Audience

Not only will this affiliate program give churches and ministries free money—just for registering and requesting one’s audience to participate—it will also help their audience grow in their faith and walk with Jesus. Without question, these classic Christian books have been a tremendous blessing to Christians throughout the years, decades, and even centuries.

When it comes to these classic authors, we can consider what the author or Hebrews wrote: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7). Undoubtedly, we can learn much from these former pastors, evangelists, Bible commentators, and Christians leaders, including being inspired by the way they lived their lives.

Even though we may not always agree when it comes to secondary matters, these authors held to the essentials of the Christian faith. As such, we can learn from and be inspired by them.

To the Roman believers, Paul wrote: “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another” (Rom. 15:14).

As Christians, we are to “instruct one another.” Throughout the history of the church, many have done so through the writing of books. These classic books provide a wealth of instruction.

Since you may not be willing to endorse every single classic author, even though each author held to essentials of the Christian faith, you can have your own “bookstore page.” You’ll have your own personal link that you can share with others.

That way, you can list the authors of your choice, encouraging your audience in their faith and walk with Jesus through their books. And, your church or ministry will receive 50% for each purchase, enabling you to reach and help more people. A win-win!

The Hypothetical Firefighter

What would you say about a firefighter who had an easy and simple opportunity to rescue a fifth child from a home that’s about to collapse; yet he refused to do so. Instead, he continues to share how he rescued the other four children.

Undoubtedly, the mayor, his department, the child’s family, and the media would be all over him, to say the least. Most likely, he would be severely reprimanded, put on leave, or even fired. Obviously, he violated his oath, which includes that he will “uphold the standards of my profession, continually searching for new and improved methods of serving the people.”

While The Hypothetical Firefighter will probably never happen, what about churches and ministries that have a free, simple, and easy opportunity to reach and help more people but refuse to do so?

When Nathan shared a simple story with David, David exclaimed moral outrage and rightly so: “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die.” Yet, as Nathan stated: “You are the man!” (2 Sam. 12:5-7).

Undoubtedly, you would express moral outrage over the hypothetical firefighter. What about your church or ministry, though? What if your church or ministry had an easy and simple opportunity to reach and help more people but refused to do so?

Most likely, no one will be all over your church or ministry for refusing to do so. That doesn’t mean that a moral outrage for not doing so isn’t appropriate or applicable. When it comes to reaching and helping more people, it isn’t only about what you’ve done and are currently doing, it’s also about what you could’ve done but didn’t do. Should a firefighter be held to a higher moral code than a pastor or Christian leader?

Here’s the bottom line when it comes to all ministry, whether in a church setting or a parachurch setting: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you?

Seeing the Bigger Picture

To some extent, we all have blinders on. Obviously, we’re greatly restricted by what we’re able to see, while there’s far more when it comes to what we don’t see. For example, the need in this fallen world is far greater than we can even begin to imagine, whether in our communities, countries, or throughout the continents.

There’s simply no way to relieve everyone who’s in need, whether it’s a spiritual, physical, emotional, or social need. While we may not be able to relieve everyone who’s in need, what if we could relieve one extra person, though?

A Definite Opportunity for Churches and Ministries doesn’t want to minimize all the good churches and ministries have done, are doing, and will do. Not at all! Instead, it wants to encourage them to make use of a free, simple, and easy opportunity to do more, even if that means one extra person or one extra Bible. That’s why the subtitle states: How Much Do You Value One Extra Person or One Extra Bible?

It seems that some churches and ministries are more concerned about their mission and their impact, even though cooperation would produce far greater results. Unfortunately, ministry can be done with self-centered ambition, including elevating one’s policies, procedures, and practices over helping more people.

In relation to Timothy, Paul wrote: “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 2:20-21). “They all seek their own interests” wasn’t written in relation to unbelievers; it was written in relation to those who are active in ministry.

It’s so easy for pastors and ministry leaders to be more concerned about their church, their ministry, and their social media platform than reaching and helping more people when they have a free, simple, and easy opportunity to do so.

That brings us back to the main question, which is in relation to the interests of Jesus Christ: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you?

Help the Persecuted Church

If your church or ministry could easily and freely distribute one Bible to one of your persecuted brothers or sisters, would you do so, or is that one Bible for that one extra brother or sister not worth it to you?

Besides publishing classic Christian ebooks and offer them as part of an affiliate program—enabling churches and ministries to reach and help more people—the goal of The Cause of Christ is to distribute 100,000 Bibles to our persecuted brothers and sisters, to those who live in one of the fifty-two countries where God’s word is banned and don’t have their own Bible.

In order to accomplish this goal, we need 300,000 Christians who are willing to buy THE ENTIRE BOOKSTORE for only $4.00. Since 50% of each purchase goes to the distribution of God’s word, 300,000 purchases will distribute 100,000 Bibles to our persecuted brothers and sisters.

To make this more “confronting,” I want to offer the following to every church and ministry: when you register as an affiliate with Christ-Centered Books, and you won’t receive at least $6.00 for your active participation, The Cause of Christ will provide one Bible on your behalf. That way, your participation will guarantee one extra Bible for one of your persecuted brothers or sisters.

In other words: if your church or ministry could provide one extra Bible to one of your persecuted brothers or sisters through this affiliate program, which is without any cost or effort on your part, would you do so? Or is that one extra Bible for one of your persecuted brothers and sisters not worth it to you?

No, I’m not trying to manipulate you into doing something. I’m simply asking this probing question, one that I’m begging you to honestly answer: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you? In essence, how sincere are you in reaching and helping more people?

YES or NO?

In the world of copywriting—writing that seeks to persuade the reader to action—both possible responses are often stated. This is done in order to confront the reader with his or her choice, making sure the reader knows what he or she is doing to the fullest extent.

For example, if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so? Just having one clickable option, “Yes, I would love to,” isn’t as confrontive when the reader doesn’t want to do so. On the other hand, when the “negative” option is also stated, things are more confronting, whereby the reader must make a definite choice between two explicitly stated options.

Let’s consider this again with both options: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so?

Here’s the first option: “Yes, I would love to, because God’s word calls me to help others when I see someone in need and have an opportunity to meet that need, as Jesus clearly taught in His parable of the good Samaritan: ‘You go, and do likewise’” (Luke 10:37).

Here’s the second option: “No, I really don’t want to reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible to one of my persecuted brothers and sisters, even though it’s without any cost or effort on my part, and even though Jesus exhorted His disciples to help others when they see someone in need and have an opportunity to meet that need. Actually, I prefer to elevate my policies, procedures, and practices over helping one extra person. Since this isn’t part of what my church or ministry is doing, I don’t want any part of it.”

These two options bring us back to the bottom of the bottom line: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you? Is it a “Yes, I would love to,” or is it a “No, I don’t want to do that at all”?

Ministry isn’t only about what you’ve done and are currently doing, it’s also about what you could’ve done but refused to do, including when it didn’t fit within your purpose or your vision of ministry, even though it perfectly fits within the interests of Jesus Christ. The need is simply too great to ignore additional opportunities and resources, right?

Conclusion

While the last chapter may come across as somewhat manipulative, that isn’t the case at all. Ultimately, it’s rather simple: if your church or ministry could reach and help one extra person or provide one extra Bible through this affiliate program, would you do so, or is that one extra person or one extra Bible not worth it to you? Hopefully, A Definite Opportunity for Churches and Ministries won’t give you any excuse to not answer that question.

Furthermore, with all the appeals—with all the copywriting that’s done—for donations by churches and ministries, urging you to help them reach and help more people, you would think that each of them would be eager to participate in this affiliate program, enabling their church or ministry to reach and help more people, right?

It’s one thing to write compelling copy about reaching and helping more people, it’s quite another thing to use a free, simple, and easy opportunity to do so. Or as the subtitle states: How Much Do You Value One Extra Person or One Extra Bible?