United Church of God

Appreciating Volunteers: Mixing Business With "Pleasure" (the Pleasure of Spreading the Gospel)

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Appreciating Volunteers

Mixing Business With "Pleasure" (the Pleasure of Spreading the Gospel)

I own an Internet-based software company and have the freedom to advertise anything I want on my Web site. So, in March 2004, I uploaded the "Read Any Good News Lately?" URL to one of my Web site advertising slots. As my husband and I were just newly involved in the Church, I admit, I was a little worried about any backlash from customers who find mixing God with business unprofessional. But I prayed about it and finally uploaded the ad. To my surprise, the clicks on the URL started almost immediately and not one negative comment has resulted from it in two years.

Several months ago, my husband and I became aware of the brochures that the Church has made available to any of us who wish to pass them around. We thought it would be a great idea to insert them in my customer's software packages. But, when the initial 200 brochures arrived and it was time to start inserting them into my customer's orders, again, I had those little pangs of professional fear. My husband was much less shy about it and continually encouraged me to insert them.

Finally, I got my first response by way of this e-mail from one of my customers: "I purchased your software a few weeks or so ago. Opening [the box] I saw the instructions and a CD. I removed the instructions and found a brochure for a free booklet and The Good News. Being a Christian and placing scripture on all our company printed matter, I had to write and let you know that we are 100 percent behind what you are doing. I looked for about two weeks at different software before buying yours. I am glad that the Lord led me in your direction... thanks for sharing your faith."

Needless to say, I was emotionally affected with both joy that I played this little role in spreading the gospel and shame for my fear in sharing that same gospel. A few weeks later when a customer called for tech support on her software she said, "By the way, I got such a kick out of what you enclosed in my software." I wasn't quite sure what she meant until she said, "What a great way to spread the gospel, inserting your material about your faith is a very brave thing to do. That is so neat!" I was speechless!

Since uploading the "Read Any Good News Lately?" URL to my Web site two years ago, the UCG Web site has had 2,152 hits from my Web site. In January of this year, I uploaded the Beyond Today URL and the Church site has received 156 hits from it. I have enclosed approximately 500 brochures in my software packages on the subjects "Why Does God Allow Suffering?" and "Jesus Christ: The Real Story." Just recently, I received 100 more of each, plus 100 of "Are We Living in the Time of the End?"

I have long passed my vain fears of mixing business with pleasure. And I say "pleasure" because it is indeed a pleasure and honor, wondering if God is using my business in this small way. My delight is further enhanced as I consider that someday, in the not too distant future, I will meet some of the people who clicked on the UCG URLs from my Web site or received a brochure in their software package. It is my deepest hope at least one of them will tell me they were baptized into God's Church after responding to one of the brochures from a software package they received from my little company!