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(Revised 04/15/08)
For
our family, many friends and regular Daily Encouragement readers interested in our ministry let us take this
opportunity to share a bit about our current personal ministry up through mid April 2008. Weber family (click to enlarge) We continue to give a heavy focus to this online ministry which we consider our main ministry. Through our internet writings and podcast we believe we are in various ways touching many people all over the world and we are so grateful for the continual feedback we receive indicating this to be true. The entire daily project normally takes all morning to complete as we both work on it together in our home office on two separate computers. I generally start studying and writing either the night before or very early in the morning. When I have the message essentially ready Brooksyne edits, adds her thoughts and comments as well as the daily prayer. While she is doing this I work on the graphics, search for suitable audio supplements and possible supplemental resource links or materials. Then we record it for the podcast which often gives us occasion for additional sharpening and edits. Then I convert the text to html and format the message as you will see it in the email, website and various blog feeds. After this is done Brooksyne again proofreads it (mistakes are still looming, in part because we often seek to improve the message on the fly just before it's sent out!!!). It takes another hour or so to complete all the technical work in the various means of distribution; website, email list, three separate blogs and the podcast (audio edition). Our newest additions are: "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. "Clear Minded" - New this month. I plan to write and post longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. "A Little Foolishness" - A humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) "Hymn Story" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns and telling their background story. We are distributing this CD without charge in our ministry. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. If any reader in this series would like a CD merely write us and request one. Additional resources - We are increasing the preparation of special resource helps for the family and church available for direct free download. Our analysis of web site statisticss indicate that these special pages get a lot of traffic, perhaps due to search engines as well as a direct link from the daily messages. Examples include information on writing tributes and samples (over 1,500 pageviews per month), a sample prayer for pastor (over 600 pageviews per month). This month we placed up some special Thanksgiving resources which prompted feedback messages expressing that they were used and expressing appreciation and over 500 pageviews. An interesting example is also the page of sympathy messages that people sent in for Stephen's mom when she passed away in November 2005 which regularly gets over 500 page views per month apparently due to searches for help in writing sympathies. We plan to revise this page to include these helps as well as keeping all the sympathy messages up as examples. Although we can't respond to each comment message we try to do so when a specific need is addressed and this is often done by Brooksyne. It's an extension of the many years we pastored when she regularly listened and prayed with others who came with need. Also she's a little quicker since she's a real typist; Stephen's just a very fast pick and click pecker! Finances: We want to thank those who have supported our ministry; either by praying for us, telling others about our internet ministry, or for your financial gifts to our ministry. In 2007 we have received $12,607 in offerings to Daily Encouragement Net from 66 separate sources. For current YTD see the daily email post or the main website. Some gifts are larger and some small, but each gift, no matter the size, reminds us of your faith in us and God's faithfulness in providing for our needs. We get note pad writings and lengthy typed letters. One heartfelt message written on a bright pink sticky note we taped to the shelf that sits on top of Brooksyne's desk. It brings a smile each time we see it. It reads, "A dollar (what I can afford) for each week of the year that I am blessed by your ministry." Included with the note was a $52.00 check from a couple who reside in Florida. For some even this amount is just not possible with your limited income, so we thank those who can and do give to make it available for all who have a heart for this type of daily ministry. Asking for financial support is not something we have ever felt comfortable in doing. We choose never to whine. God has always been good to us!! We trust God to lay on the hearts of His people the desire to support our ministry according to the difference we've made in their lives along with a shared burden to reach others with this internet ministry. We seek to be a blessing to all and never want financial giving be guilt driven, but rather a response of affirmation and support toward our ministry as the Lord directs. If you would like to donate to Daily Encouragement Net please see this page. This page also has some foundational fundraising principles we have. Other income sources: We now have several local chaplain ministry opportunities in our role as corporate chaplains and are seeking out additional companies who may welcome us to serve as chaplains in their company (we serve as a team). We are not presently serving in an interim pastoral role and we don't know when the door for that type of ministry will open again. We certainly have been blessed by these opportunities over the past three years and would be open to this type of service in an area church. We do have periodic speaking opportunities which often includes an offering. We receive a small commission as an affiliate for Christian Book Distributors. If you order materials from Christian Book Distributors using our affiliate link or a link to any specific resource we recommend this helps as well. Whenever you order materials from Christian Book Distributors please consider using this link (Perhaps consider bookmarking this specific link.). You won't pay any more and we will get a small supplement to our income! This link is included in the footers of each daily message. Current ministry stats: Average daily pageviews to Daily Encouragement website: 2,500 Average daily unique visitors to Daily Encouragement website: 1,250 Average daily "hits" to the website: 15,000 Subscribers to to Daily Encouragement mailing list: 2,500 Average daily downloads of Daily Encouragement podcast shows: 1,000 Average daily visits to Daily Encouragement blog pages: 500 Be encouraged today! Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Should
you have a leading to support this ministry financially you can give
online through my mission agency with a credit card or send a check.
Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my
chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Here is a
separate page with more information.Practical ways to use this ministry. Click
here for a template to make business-sized cards that can be
distributed promoting this ministry. All you need is business card
stock available at any office supply. You can distribute these cards out as a witnessing and encouragement aid
Click here for a poster that can be placed on a bulletin board promoting this ministry.
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