Fairly well know for being longwinded in these parts so with a deep breath will make this short...I am asking us all to consider what we might be able to do in supporting SermonIndex by doing away with the advertising ad's by Google on the left. The reason being that as a 'searching' function it draws on keywords and does a search, pulling up links that show up in the field. It is a random search not unlike what one would do on our own.The problem is it can lead to problematic sites and give off an apperance of endorsement. The only reason they are there is due to the fact that it generates funds towards keeping all this that we receive from freely, afloat. There is nothing more that would like to be done than to eliminate this from this site, but the facts are, the support is just not there to do so.So it is a challenge to us all to decide what to do about it. Forget the pleas for money, the cleverness, the mincing of words all the cliche' ridden rubbish we all are weary of. Pray.And then do whatever He tells you.
An advertisement Free SermonIndex
Edit ~ Post was to move it back on to the main page
Just so everyone is on the same page of what Mike is talking about he is referring to the google ads that are found on every page of the site. They bring in a certain amount of monies that helps considerably in running this site and all the costs that it incumbers including taking care of some of my needs. I would also like to see as Mike proposed a doing away of the ads and that would require more support from God's people. One individual emailed me and gave them the name of "devil adverts" and so they might be. At this time I know God is calling me to bible school and I have it in my heart as Gods will to finish the 2 years of study. I have been very close to getting other work to help subsidize this ministry and as I come back from school that might be a definite possibility. All I would also ask is as Mike said: Pray.And then do whatever He tells you.
Any prayer towards this?
Have we looked towards other ministries for support? I guess, it would be great to get more sponsors, as well as if all of us gave faithfully to this ministry specifically. Didn't you say (Greg) that if each member gave $5 a month you would have all the support you need?Grace and Peace...
if each member gave $5That would amount to $75,000 :-P which is very much above what is needed. I could definetly begin to use a larger amount like that for outreaches and material reproduction and new website features. If every member gave .10cents each that would amount to just over $1000 which would be good for the running of the ministry and supporting of myself monthly.I have definite goals and vision for this minsistry that the Lord is giving me but I am waiting on his timing. I believe where God guides he will provide. It would be great to see many more faithful supporters of this ministry. As everyone knows here that this ministry is not flashy and doesn't have slick features and gimmicks. There are no false advertisments, what you see is what you get. Apostolic. I am definetly open to hear what people think about these things and as mike did say pray for this ministry.
Definitely praying.
This would require a very serious commitment from all of us, a few months ago I had a knee operation and went to an excellent sport clinic. On the wall, they had a wall of honor for those who were able and chose to support this fine clinic. The increments were 20.00, 50.00, 100.00, 250.00, 500.00, 1,000.00, 2500.00, 5,000.00, 10,000.00, 25,0000, and 50,000.00 USD. They were then given the title of bronze, silver, gold, platinum, diamond, etc. This is just a thought for consideration. I would like to add that I have been on the net since the early 1990’s I have seen many sites come and go. A few of them were mind. This is truly a worthy effort; I wish I would of thought of it first. I refuse to be a copy-cater but I do support this site, it is a lot better than ebay, and I am sure the Lord feels the same way.
I am happy to announce that SermonIndex is now offically advertising free. I believe God has led me to do this and not run SermonIndex with any business aspects to it. I thank God for his faithfulness and surely God will provide. Do pray brothers and sisters to uphold this ministry in support. Let everyman give as they are compelled and moved by the Holy Spirit.So as of right now there are no google ads on SermonIndex and I would love to hear ideas of what features to use in that space for the website."God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies."-Hudson TaylorI love you brothers and sisters for your prayers and comments, God surely using many of you to direct and guide steps and additions to this ministry.
Praise be to God brother for your faith and obedience! This really took me by pleasant surprise and thought maybe a flood of support came in... I do hope that people will continue to pray regardless, for all that goes on and through this ministry. I honestly believe we do not know the smallest part of how all this is impacting the brethren and in turn what the Lord will do through us all.Thank God for raising up his servant Greg to feed His sheep with this grand buffet. May we keep him always before the Lord and may the Lord send revival once again into our midst.
May we keep him always before the Lord and may the Lord send revival once again into our midst.Amen brother. I am praying for a sensitivity to God's Spirit that I have never known before. God keep sermonindex simple, effective, useful as a tool in your hands. We serve a "living God" brothers and sisters!
Sorry guys, but I never see the advertissments, I am so engrossed with the forums that they don't exist. LS
Hi LoveSlave...Sorry guys, but I never see the advertissments, I am so engrossed with the forums that they don't exist.I agree. The advertisements have never bothered me one bit. Their location on the website made them easy to ignore. And I understood that it was a source of revenue for Greg (sermonindex) to keep the site at the current quality. But this desire to be advertisement has reaffirmed the truth that Greg really needs our help for this website to continue. I have been blessed by this website for years now -- and I haven't contributed much money to keep the ministry going. While "walking with God" the other day, I felt the Lord remind me that I need to contribute funds. I am still a student finishing Graduate School, and I don't have much money all that often. However, every little bit helps! Remember the fish and loaves? I have been enormously blessed through this ministry. The sermons, songs, fellowship, and even the forums have contributed greatly to my faith in Christ over the past years. And then I wondered, "What would life be like without SermonIndex?" What a terrible thought! But without support, Greg cannot keep up with the responsibility of this ministry. I don't know Greg very well. But I know that Greg seldom mentions the financial needs for this website. He doesn't bombard us with requests for money. Hopefully, he will never have to. But for it to stay this way, he will need our help. The Lord has laid upon my heart that I need to contribute a certain amount of money each month. This payday, I am going to do my best to either meet or exceed that amount. Perhaps there are others out there who feel the same way? :-)
Now that SI is ad-free and change is still fresh in the air, are you still accepting new sponsors?Grace and Peace...
Now that SI is ad-free and change is still fresh in the air, are you still accepting new sponsors?Yes if there are any ministries that want to be added as sponsors that would be great. I would utimately like to see just private donations of Gods people run the ministry but right now this is a great way to get support from larger organisations.. and its great to be able to promote good ministires. I would like to see the list also possible become sort of an "friends" of sermonindex or "recommended" ministry list.
sermonindex wrote:
Just wanted to say that that's awesome. The more networking we have between us brothers and sisters, and respective ministries, the better!Now that SI is ad-free and change is still fresh in the air, are you still accepting new sponsors?Yes if there are any ministries that want to be added as sponsors that would be great. I would utimately like to see just private donations of Gods people run the ministry but right now this is a great way to get support from larger organisations.. and its great to be able to promote good ministires. I would like to see the list also possible become sort of an "friends" of sermonindex or "recommended" ministry list.
Praise the Lord, brother! I love the step out in faith. May God richly bless you, Greg, and this website far beyond what you now see.Blessings!-Eli
I am happy to announce that SermonIndex is now offically advertising free. I believe God has led me to do this and not run SermonIndex with any business aspects to it. I thank God for his faithfulness and surely God will provide. Do pray brothers and sisters to uphold this ministry in support. Let everyman give as they are compelled and moved by the Holy Spirit.I heard from a friend, just the other day, that God spoke to your heart about this. I was so blessed to hear it! I am continually blessed to see how the Holy Spirit is sensitizing you. God is doing such a blessed work in you! Keep your heart open and close to God. I will continue to pray for this ministry and see how God would lead me to support it. God bless brother.
sermonindex wrote:So as of right now there are no google ads on SermonIndex and I would love to hear ideas of what features to use in that space for the website."God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies."-Hudson TaylorThat is wonderful news Greg!I have the sugestion of putting a list of recomended sermons that are not on the top 20 list.
hredii wrote:That is wonderful news Greg!I have the sugestion of putting a list of recomended sermons that are not on the top 20 list.That's a good idea! Maybe top 10 videos and then top 10 audios!
Thank you brothers and sisters for your comments and recommendations. I am excited that this ministry is becoming more and more into the Lord's hands and into His direction and will. I am resigning everything as best as I can over to Christ and for the cause of His gospel. May everything that happens on SermonIndex happen for the glory of God.Your personal gifts are really what is going to help this ministry continue to run and expand.
Your personal gifts are really what is going to help this ministry continue to run and expand.Some people have asked about this and right now the gifts to be given to this ministry must be given personally to myself "GREG GORDON". I did have SermonIndex a business for a small duration to be able to run the google ads and accept cheques with the name sermonindex forawhile. The process to become non-profit is going to take awhile and I want to ensure it is Gods will. So right now I am depending fully on the gifts of people to this ministry. Thank you for all the encouragements. I will be getting the content into the "google ad" section once I get to bible school.thanks for your support, prayer and patience dear saints.
I am working on getting an "recent commented sermons" block so it will display the sermons that were recently commented on. Therefore if you are wanting to recommend sermons to others this is a great way to achieve that. I am open to other ideas on how to make this site more accessible and better for use. Without the ad space there is more space to add features like the aforementioned.Please pray about supporting this ministry as the Lord leads you.