As you peruse the pages that follow, I think you will agree that they demand a great deal of time to manage. Although I endeavored to maintain the page as a free resource for preachers with the support of sales from the Homiletic Resource Center for as long as possible, this has just not been enough. I have discounted everything on that page in an attempt to compete with my internet competitors, which, of course, reduces the amount of income I can derive from each sale. Also, I am attempting to make my resources available to preachers who obviously have a limited amount of resources to devote to purchases.
Therefore, I considered three possible options for raising funds which you also will encounter as you view other sites on the internet: 1) soliciting contributions, 2) accepting advertising or 3) charging an access fee. I was not comfortable with either of the first two options and believed that the last option would spread the cost equitably among all users. The amount I have chosen is $39.95 annually, which works out to about 77 cents a week. I hope that you will feel that such an investment in your preaching is worth the price.
Believe it or not, there may be some benefits to going commercial. Those who submit homilies or sermons (whichever you prefer to call them) or links to sermons on the web on a regular basis will be offered either a reduced rate (for less than 12 submissions annually) or continued free access (for 12 or more per year). Hopefully, this will draw better quality and quantity of new material here. In addition, I have been able to financially support other web sites which are free to the public but which seek donations to support their ministry.
ONE IMPORTANT FINAL NOTE: If this fee presents a financial hardship, please contact me at deaconsil@comcast.net so that we can discuss the matter and hopefully come to some agreement. It is my hope that no one who might find this page useful in their ministry will be turned away.