BEGINNING WITH HIM (with minutes left in the
December, 2001 Edition day, I send this out!)
As is the continued tradition, the first E-Mail Ministry (EMM) message
of the month is my chance to talk to all of you about EMM and other
related items.
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR TODAY’S MESSAGE:
[E-MAIL MINISTRY TURNS 3 YEARS OLD] [SOME NUMBERS & EMM TRIVIA]
[A LETTER FROM A SUBSCRIBER] [SUPPORT E-MAIL MINISTRY]
[FUTURE OF E-MAIL MINISTRY] [eCARDS]
[DECEMBER 4th TO BE “NATIONAL DAY OF RECONCILIATION”]
[NYC RELIEF EFFORT ] [8 GIFTS THAT DO NOT COST A CENT]
[TOUGH AND TENDER] [AUTHOR KNOWN]
[WHERE ARE YOU FROM?] [POLL QUESTIONS]
[USAGE OF E-MAIL MINISTRY MESSAGES] [LINKS PAGE]
* * *
E-MAIL MINISTRY TURNS THREE YEARS OLD!!
A story about Mother Theresa goes as follow:
Mother Theresa said to a reporter, “Give me 3 pennies and God’s help,
and I’ll build a school.”
The reporter replied, “You can’t build a school with 3 pennies.”
Mother Theresa said, “Of course not, but with God’s help and 3
pennies I can build a school.”
Well, that is how it has been with E-Mail Ministry. It started in late
November, 1998 with an inspiration from God. He combined my call to
evangelism with my fascination of the power of e-mail. On Dec. 3, 1998,
the first E-Mail Ministry message was sent to 15 “volunteer”
subscribers. They were encouraged to send the messages on to others.
Very little advertising has been done to promote EMM. EMM’s substantial
growth is due to God using these messages to bless people’s lives and
those people answering God’s call to forward the messages onto others.
* * *
SOME NUMBERS & EMM TRIVIA
Now, three years later, EMM stretches around the world. Here are some
numbers concerning EMM:
– 464: Messages sent out
– 15: Number of initial subscribers (3-Dec-98)
– 100: Number of subscribers on 28-Feb-99
– 1,000: : Number of subscribers on 28-Nov-99
– 10,000: Number of subscribers on 25-Sep-00
– 20,000: Number of subscribers on 22-Sep-01
– 21,475: Number of current subscribers (3-Dec-01)
– 22%: Month over month percent increase in number of subscribers
– 50: Number of American states with subscriber (last state added was
Vermont on 13-May-00)
– 74: Number of countries with subscribers (Austria, Egypt & Taiwan
added this month – EMM is still not in some countries in Africa,
the middle east and Europe. See map for details:
https://www.emailministry.org/subscribe/index.htm#SubscriberMap)
– 227: Total number of countries in the world (EMM is in almost 38%)
– 204,573: Total number of page hits on the EMM web site
– 3,677,868: Total number of e-mails sent (# messages per month times
avg. # subscribers per month)
– 42,658: Total # of e-mails received and sent (avg. 1,172 per month)
– 1: Number of EMM staff members
– 2-Jan-99: Initial web site started as a part of my company’s web site
– 2-Feb-00: Dedicated EMM web site launched
– Nov-00: EMM incorporates as a Michigan non-profit organization
* * *
A LETTER FROM A SUBSCRIBER
Dear Email ministry, I am emailing you because I wanted you to know just
how thankful I am for this subscription. I have enjoyed it for 1 year. I
have printed out many items you have sent me and I have shared them with
many people on my journey through life. I just wanted to ask you to
keep up the good work. I wanted to thank-you and tell you that all your
efforts are appreciated. I gave several people copies of The 66 Books of
the Bible and the Emergency numbers. One lady took it to her church and
is using it in their Youth Ministry. You help so many people learn The
Word of God and I just wanted to tell you that. I pray that you have a
wonderful holiday season full of God’s love! Sincerely, Debra S.
A NOTE FROM doug:
I would like to thank everyone who has sent me e-mails telling me how
God has used this ministry to bless and minister to you. I would also
like to thank all of you who have forwarded these messages onto others
so that more may know of God’s love for them. I wish that I could reply
to each of your e-mails, but time does not allow. Please accept this
note of thanks. Your e-mails sustain me and provide me with God’s
strength to continue this ministry.
I would also like to thank those of you who have expressed your concerns
about various messages. I appreciate your feedback. Again, I may not
respond directly to you, but your e-mail is read and appreciated.
I have learned several lessons doing this ministry, one of which is that
you cannot please all the people all the time. With over 21,000
subscribers I am sure that not every message is 100% universally
accepted. I have had many messages where the I receive an e-mail of
thanks and appreciation for the message followed by an e-mail of
concern. It just goes to show that different people read the same
message differently.
I have learned that you do your best and leave the rest to God. That is
all God asks of you, your best and He will do the rest. But if you
don’t do your best, don’t expect God to do His best either!
I have learned to not apologize for what you believe in. If you believe
it, if it is your faith, then stand by it. Others may have different
opinions and that is OK. There is but one God, but there as many faiths
as there are people who He created! It is one way God has made each of
us unique!
I have learned that through God anything is possible – and this ministry
is proof of that!
Thank you for being a part of the E-Mail Ministry family!
God Loves You And So Do I
— doug
* * *
SUPPORT E-MAIL MINISTRY
I would like to thank all of you who have sent in donations. If you have
been blessed by this ministry, please ask God what He would have you
do. You may make donations by credit card at:
https://www.emailministry.org/ccbill/index.htm Credit card donations can
be made as a one-time donation or as a monthly recurring donation.
You can also make a donation by check. Checks can be sent to:
E-Mail Ministry, Inc.
P.O. Box 944
Garden City, MI 48136-0944
E-Mail Ministry is exclusively supported by its subscribers. I do not
accept any compensation for my efforts with this ministry. Donations
are solely used to offset the growing costs of this ministry. It is my
prayer that, like God’s grace, EMM always remains free.
Since September 11th donations have been substantially down. Many small
and local charities have experienced the same problem as people have
shifted their donations to support the victims of the 9-11 attacks.
Whereas I support such donations, and have made them personally and on
behalf of E-Mail Ministry, I ask that you continue to support small and
local charities. The needs of such charities have not diminished since
9-11. As a matter of fact, they probably have increased. In this
Christmas season I ask that you bless those who have blessed you and
those who need your support.
* * *
FUTURE OF E-MAIL MINISTRY
After three years of E-Mail Ministry I believe the future is as bright
as ever. With the revival that is occurring in the United States and
around the world as a result of the 9-11 tragedy, ministries like E-Mail
Ministry provide Christians with an needed way to introduce God and
Jesus to their friends and families.
E-Mail Ministry has become a ministry source for pastors and Bible study
leaders who are searching for ways to apply Bible teachings to everyday
life. With the improvements planned, EMM will become an even easier
source for you to use.
Here are some of the plans I have:
– COMING SOON TO YOUR COMPUTER will be an enhanced EMM website. The
new message archive database I talked about several months ago is almost
up and running and will become the centerpiece of the site. Each
message will be given a category which will enable you to easily find a
message which apply to your needs. Please be patient as it will take
some time to load the 460+ messages! The new web site will allow you to
easily forward messages to your friends and family as well. You will
also be able to introduce them to EMM via the “Tell A Friend” feature.
There are other surprises as well so stay tuned. An official
announcement will be sent out when the new web design is launched!
– HELP WANTED: Currently, donations made to E-Mail Ministry are NOT
tax deductible. I would like to file the paperwork required by the U.S.
Government to achieve tax-deductible status. However, funds are
insufficient to hire a lawyer to do this (I have investigated it and it
would cost several thousands of dollars). I am looking for a lawyer
among you who would be willing do this work pro-bono. If you are
interested, please contact me at: emailministry@emailministry.org
Thanks!
– SURPRISES: Stay tuned for other surprises! 🙂
* * *
eCARDS
Instead of spending the time sending traditional Christmas cards through
the mail, why not send an E-Mail Ministry Christmas eCard. Its easy to
do, its free and its fast! Simply go to:
https://www.emailministry.org/ecards.htm and click on the Christmas link.
While you are at it, plan on sending these cards for all your holiday
needs!
* * *
DECEMBER 4th TO BE “NATIONAL DAY OF RECONCILIATION”
On November 14, the House of Representatives and the United States
Senate passed an unprecedented concurrent resolution establishing a
“National Day of Reconciliation,” to take place Tuesday, December 4,
2001. On that day, our nation and elected representatives will pause to
seek God’s blessings in prayers for unity, forgiveness, reconciliation
and charity.
To read more, go to: http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/special.htm
* * *
NYC RELIEF EFFORT
A small church in Oakwood, IL is assembling much needed supplies to help
the workers at “Ground Zero” in New York City. Due to the working
conditions, clothing wears out swiftly. Dust causes irritated eyes and
soar throats. Also, special safety boots are required as well as hard
hats for all the workers. The church is small, but there calling is
great. This is another fine example of “Give me 3 pennies and God’s
help, and I’ll build a school.” If you can, send a financial
contribution to the address below, they will do the rest.
Hebron United Methodist Church
New York City Relief Effort
PO Box 133, Oakwood, IL 61858
Attn: Doug Dawson
* * *
EIGHT GIFTS THAT DO NOT COST A CENT:
-1. THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION:
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind cheery word to
someone. It’s really not so hard to say, “Hello” or “Thank you.”
-2. THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT:
You can really brighten someone’s day with a simple and sincere,
“You look great in red,” “That was a terrific dinner,” or “You did
a super job.”
-3. THE GIFT OF LISTENING:
To be a good listener you must REALLY listen. Let the other
person speak with no interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning
your response…just listening!
-4. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION:
Be generous with APPROPRIATE hugs, kisses, pats on the back, and
handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have
for family and friends.
-5. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER:
Share your laughter and humor by clipping cartoons, jokes,
articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh
with you!”
-6. THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE:
You can send someone a simple note that says, “Thanks for the
help,” or a poem, story, or any kind of upbeat message. The most
brief, handwritten note can be remembered for a lifetime, and even
change a life, you just never know.
-7. THE GIFT OF A FAVOR:
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind for someone
else. There are plenty of opportunities for you to do something
nice for a friend, relative, or co-worker on a daily basis. Show
the love of Christ with your acts of kindness to others. Let them
see Jesus in you.
-8. THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE:
There a times when we all want nothing better than to be left
alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude
to others.
* * *
TOUGH AND TENDER
Tough and tender. Sadly, this character combination is a rare mixture
these days. It’s often difficult to maintain the proper balance of
courage and compassion, strength and sensitivity. Although our human
scales may shift a bit from day to day, one thing is certain. Christians
are called to balance the right kind of toughness — strength of
character — in our daily lives…but not only that. Tenderness
—gentleness — is equally important.
To truly cultivate gentleness, we must sow humility and weed out pride.
We can’t be full of His Spirit and full of ourselves at the same time.
Exalting ourselves means trouble…it’s funny how height disturbs our
balance!
— Charles Swindoll
* * *
AUTHOR KNOWN
– The author of “The Best Day of My Life” is Gregory Lousig-Nont
– The message titled “The Choice” is from the book “In the Eye of the
Storm” by Max Lucado
– The author of “Seize the Moment” is Erma Bombeck
– Concerning the message “It’s in the Valley I Grow”, I received
multiple e-mails from subscribers listing several different
authors. So, the author is either Jane Eggleston as shown on the
web site at: http://www.grnco.net/~cbm/thought.htm or
Rev. Dr. P. L. Williams or Joanna D’Arc.
– The message titled “G-R-O-W-T-H” is from the Four Spiritual laws
pamphlet published for Campus Crusade for Christ by New Life
Publications of Orlando FL.
– The message titled “Prayer Wheel” is authored by Sherry Roberts
– The message titled “The Butterfly Story” is authored by Max Lucado
– The message titled “One” is incorrectly credited to Rev. Dr. Jim
Gill. The correct author is Dr. Cheryl Sawyer of the University of
Houston Clear Lake
* * *
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
If you are from a country other than the United States, please let me
know by sending an e-mail to: emailministry@emailministry.org
E-Mail Ministry has a mission to reach “all nations” and needs your help
to accomplish this calling! Currently, EMM is in 70 countries but there
are many more to reach! To see the list of countries and the world map,
go to: https://www.emailministry.org/subscribe/index.htm#SubscriberMap
Countries added this month: Hungary, Moldova, Ukraine.
* * *
POLL QUESTIONS
The results of the October poll question can viewed at
https://www.emailministry.org/pollresults.htm. Here is the December poll
question (Go the web site at: https://www.emailministry.org/#Polls
register your vote!! Please do NOT send me an e-mail with your vote!)
Q: Will you spending more, less or the same for Christmas this year?
* * *
USAGE OF E-MAIL MINISTRY MESSAGES
As always, feel free to send these messages on to others as the Lord
leads you. I respectfully request that when you forward the messages
on, please leave the ‘header’ and ‘footer’ information in place so that
others may know about this ministry and how to subscribe.
Also, feel free to use these messages in your church bulletins, sermons,
bible studies, etc. If you do use the messages, please put “Message
distributed by E-Mail Ministry (https://www.emailministry.org)” at the
bottom of any material you use. That way more people will become aware
of this ministry.
* * *
LINKS PAGE
Thanks to all of you who submitted a link to be added to the EMM Links
Page. To recommend a Christian site, please use the ‘Add a Link’ form
at: https://www.emailministry.org/links/index.htm#AddALink
You can add a link from your web site to EMM. Simply copy the following
html code into your web page using your html editor:
* * *
I pray this message finds you growing in the understanding of how much
God loves you.
— doug
Founder, Editor, Webmaster & ‘Chief Bottle Washer’ of E-Mail Ministry