What exactly is this website? On the one hand this is clearly a business that is struggling to succeed. On the other hand this website is clearly seeking to be a ministry that has already had a positive influence on quite a few people and in that regard has been very successful. Whatever this is it’s not a church because I’m selling CD’s on iTunes and CD Baby, and it’s not really a business yet because it is not currently profitable (which as we discussed in January I can’t be doing for very much longer).
I try to make what I do here an overflow from my worship of Christ. It mostly turns into music, but sometimes it winds up on this blog too. Then again, as we saw in January, I sometimes fail at this. But overall, most people seem to agree that this website represents Christ and is a very relevant and potentially a powerful ministry. So why isn’t this thing exploding with people wanting to hear my work?
I’ve been struggling with this question for over a year, and there are several explanations. One is that most people I’m close to seem to think of this as something I do for fun that I use to pass the time in a constructive manner. It’s not. For over a year I’ve been hoping and praying that God would grow this into something that would supplement an income for me. I haven’t really made this as clear as I could have, but I hope that I’m making it clear now. This doesn’t mean, by any stretch of the imagination, that I’m upset with anyone for misunderstanding.
I was hoping what would happen is that the people closest to me would help by inviting their Facebook friends to my group which is associated with this website (the group most of you probably linked to this post from). But most people didn’t help me in this way and I’ve discovered that there are several very good reasons for this to happen:
- People didn’t understand what I was asking them to do. They either did something that wasn’t what I meant or they became frustrated not being able to figure out how to invite people to a group.
- People intended to help me out by inviting people to the group but they just kept forgetting. When I reminded them, they did what I do and put it off until I gave up reminding people. Then they forgot for good.
- A few people left the group because they were sick of getting reminder emails. Try to compare this problem with the last one and find a solution to that one!
- Many felt that inviting people that they didn’t think were interested would be annoying and intrusive. I understand this perspective, but I want to emphasize that I’ve sought to make this website a place for people to not only hear good music, but to hear the gospel. If the gospel is being proclaimed and the music is of a high enough quality to be worth most people’s time to at least check out once, I see no reason to not tell them about the website unless my theology is completely off the wall. So invite them anyway and let them decide whether or not they’re interested. If it’s the worst thing that happens to them today then they have a very blessed life.
So if you don’t mind, I’d like to try this again. Only this time I want to communicate very clearly:
- You don’t owe me anything. I’m asking you to do this because I need your help and no other reason. I very much need and appreciate your support. Please help me.
- I want this website to be my career and my ministry. I’m very serious about this and I want to make sure you realize that if God wills it I would like to devote my life to this ministry. Please partner with me and help me do this.
- I would appreciate it if you all to kept a close eye on me and let me know the moment I do something that I shouldn’t (Clearly bad theology, arrogance, a stupid piece of music, etc.).
- Facebook is an explosively powerful tool in the hands of 50 people (I think that’s about how many people are going to read this post). If everyone that reads this helps me make this happen, you will see this thing take off.
- If there are certain people you’d rather not invite, then don’t invite them.
- Please do this right away so that you don’t forget. I would really appreciate it.
The only problem left unaddressed now is the problem of not understanding Facebook well enough to do this for me. Here’s how you do it:
- To invite people to my website’s group, start by clicking this link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69646739022
- If you are not a member of the group yet (you get the emails just by being invited), click the join button (or respond to invitation).
- Once you’re a member, just below my picture (upper left) you’ll see a link that says “Invite people to join”. Click this and you’ll see every person that you are friends with.
- Click on every person so that they are all highlighted. Once this is done, click “send invitations” towards the bottom of the page.
Thank you all so much for doing this. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.