First Quarter Update: January — March 2017
There have been a lot of changes in 2017 so far that have been unanticipated. Overall, 2017 is proving to be a year of development.
Writing Projects
There will not be any published material this year in book format, although writing and research always continues toward the project goals set forth.
Book on Abortion
God has issued a difficult assignment at the beginning of this year, commissioning me to write a book on abortion. No doubt, this is a hot topic, and the book is one of the most difficult I’ve ever had to write. There is a lot to pray about, and a lot to consider. God has instructed to reach out for numerous endorsements. The support I’ve garnered so far has been astounding, but the writing and assembling of information has been difficult — and that is where the progress is slow. I’m taking my time with this assignment, carefully following the Lord’s lead, and I will keep you posted on the progress accordingly. There is no doubt that once it’s published, it will affect many. The goal is to save the lives of the unborn, and to minister hope and healing to the mothers and fathers who have experienced abortion in all its forms.
Projected date of completion: Spring 2019
The Gospel Diaries
As for The Wordsmith Blog, there is a new project that I’m very excited about, which God has assigned. The Lord issued this invitation/assignment in 2013. I’ve prayerfully sat upon it for four years, and this year He revealed precisely what He wanted. This April 30th we launched “The Gospel Diaries”. This is an exciting and beautiful discipleship journey through the Gospels over a three year period — which mirrors that of the twelve and their three-year journey with Jesus which ended once the Passover week was completed (at His resurrection). Every week we will cover new content, following Jesus chronologically through each book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. We will revisit history, explore Judaic content, study the Greek and Hebrew, and investigate the Hebraic roots of each passage. All of this will be done in a Berean approach that remains true to the whole Word of God. This is an attempt to gain an authentic discipleship experience with Jesus Christ, achieving genuine biblical literacy that will bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. The outcome should be personal transformation — one that makes you a true disciple of Jesus Christ, bringing you intimately into His presence and His Word. This study, unlike my published bible studies, will be available online via the blog. We launched April 30th, 2017 just after Passover at the beginning of the Jewish new year, and we will commence at the end of Passover on April 16, 2020 at Christ’s resurrection. The timing parallel’s the twelve disciple’s actual journey with Christ. Subscribe to follow!
Projected date of completion: April 16, 2020
Guest Blog Posts
We are eagerly looking for guests on our blog who have a testimony or story to share with the Body of Christ. We have begun to ask several individuals, and invitations will continue to be extended to those of interest who have content to share. Guest posts can also come by request. If you have a story or testimony please contact us. We’d love to give you the opportunity to share it, glorifying the Lord, and edifying His Body.
Professional Interviews
We are continuing to do select interviews with key individuals and entities who are contributing to the Body of Christ with their gifts. We have some ideas lined up this year, and invitations will be sent out one month in advance. We have compiled a list of key people who have something exemplary to share with the Body of Christ either through their work or their writing. We are excited to introduce them to you!
Ministry
Native America
This year we are continuing to do ministry with and among the Native people. Our affiliate United Tribes for Christ Fellowship is hard at work in putting together several key events this year, and we want to make those known so anyone who wants to participate can do so. Unfortunately, we will not be present for those events this year. Instead, we will serve to advocate for them through this ministry.
Israel
We are continuing to reach out to key Native people and leadership regarding the covenant with Israel, of which we are a part. This is a slow process and one that deserves enormous patience, for which proper protocol in necessary. This is not an endeavor we are rushing through or acting upon in haste, as it is very serious and very delicate. We will not be discussing details or sharing openly about this project until our goals are fully achieved. Please pray for us accordingly.
Projected date of completion: Unknown (TBD)
Priority Projects for 2017
Aside from our writing and ministry projects, the obligations of ministry require internal projects which allow for its optimal function:
#1.) SECURITY:
Top priority: We are both expanding and strengthening our security, which was already well-fortified. Our national blacklist continues to grow due to ever-increasing attacks and internet crimes. We receive upward of 5,000 hack-attempts per month (both automated and manual) from countries all over the world, which steadily increases as we grow. Most of these are from Russia, Europe and the Middle East. The threat is real, and we are taking appropriate action.
Changes are immediate.
#2.) SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
We are expanding our SEO capabilities in accordance with our growth. SEO is essentially what enables our global reach, allowing our site to be indexed and searched appropriately. This is a huge project which is launching this Spring. The details of proper SEO coding and integration are enormous, involving key strategies. There are three major companies we’re working with at present, all of them being leaders in the industry.
Projected date of completion: March 1, 2018
#3.) WEBSITE DESIGN & FUNCTION
Our presence online is continuing to grow, and with that comes necessary upgrades and changes to the website. You will notice some changes in design and format, which we hope are advantageous to each user. These are front-end changes that have immediate impact. Other changes are done on the back-end, which you will not readily see. However, you will notice them, as they improve function.
These changes are driven by site interaction. The majority of the public interact online via their mobile devices, and therefore some of our designs and functions are being modified accordingly. Layout, design, and function must all integrate appropriately for mobile as well as desktop users. Both must be accommodated. We are endeavoring to make that happen as quickly as possible. Each page on our website will undergo a careful checklist until completed.
Our blog home page now presents a monthly schedule, which any visitor can view. If you want to know what’s coming up, this is where you’ll find it. The navigation bar also presents a monthly menu as well as easy access to all categories. Each blog post still sports its sidebar with all the necessary information needed to subscribe or search.
Projected date of completion: July 1, 2017.
Project Cuts
Annual Giveaway
Last year we launched an annual giveaway in February, endeavoring to give away more than 30 free books to 30 winners in an effort to give back to the Body of Christ. We allotted most of the year for this project, endeavoring to give as many people as possible an opportunity. There were a total of five ways you could become a contestant: By following us on Amazon, subscribing to the blog, or following us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Last year the response was so extraordinarily poor that once posted, only one of the thirty winners responded. Also, contacting the winners via social media so they could claim their winnings proved to fail, as those accounts perceived this attempt to be a threat or type of “internet bait”. We did post the winners on the blog as promised — and none responded accordingly. Therefore, we are eliminating the annual giveaway.
Annual Campaign
Last year we did a “Stop Texting While Driving” campaign that we pushed hard via social media. It also failed. We carefully logged the views and shares for our weekly posts, and there was such a poor response that it did not warrant continuing. It ceased within the first quarter.
This year we considered an annual campaign on human trafficking awareness with the intent of reaching out to Christine Caine of A21. Based upon our campaign response last year, we have decided not to launch. Our annual campaigns, which have endeavored to address key issues, require time and strategy. Unfortunately, they have had an exceptionally poor response. Therefore, they are not something we are going to invest toward at this time.
We will revisit the possibility of running campaigns in the future.
Policies & Procedures
As we move forward in becoming incorporated, which is a lengthy process, our need to carefully outline our Policies & Procedures has become paramount. These are now listed under “Terms of Use” as a reference for those with whom we conduct ministry relations. Our Terms & Conditions as well as our Privacy Policy are complete, being fully compliant with state and federal laws. These documents are intended to be viewed in correlation with the Policies & Procedures, and have been updated accordingly. All of these are living documents, and are subject to change. They will be periodically modified as the ministry grows.
Projected date of completion for Incorporation: Spring 2020
Moving Ahead
We endeavor to do all things with excellence. We are continually going forward and moving ahead and making timely progress in the areas outlined. We are not in a rush, as we value quality first. Doing things right and well takes time. To those whom much is given, much is required. We are humbled by all that God has given, as well as all He’s called and enabled us to do for Him.
We want to be excellent stewards of all God has entrusted to us, hence this quarterly report. Please continue to pray for us in all of these endeavors. If you would like to give, we offer that opportunity through PayPal, and your donations are tax-deductible. We thank you for your generous donations and continued support! God bless you!
Cheers & Shalom,
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