"Christian Voices" (1-22-04)

June 4, 2010

Editor's Open Letter

Every once in awhile we receive a message from a subscriber or reader criticizing - some tersely - our requests for email addresses. So, we're taking this opportunity to explain why we do request those addresses.

"Christian Voices" simply cannot afford advertising! We barely receive sufficient contributions to operate and make it through the year with just very basic requirements such as server, email, internet, and cable costs. So how do we broaden the range of "Christian Voices" to reach at least some of the millions of people around the world who need encouragement and inspiration to strengthen their Christian faith, and to reach those who have perhaps not yet accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? We must depend on you, the readers and subscribers of "Christian Voices".

The most effective advertising is "word of mouth". Whether you're buying a home or car, selecting a college or seeking or choosing to do any number of things, suggestions and advice from those who have already travelled those roads are important and often heavily relied upon. So we ask you to pass the word to anyone and everyone that you can about "Christian Voices". We also ask you to send us email addresses - many email addresses.

The question arises "Is sending us email addresses so we can send an "Invitation" to try "Christian Voices" "spamming"? Consider these facts. "Christian Voices" is totally "free" and one can unsubscribe at any time no questions asked. "Christian Voices" is not selling anything. "Christian Voices" is a non-profit religious organization - God's own Word directs us to teach all nations. I don't consider the process to be "spam". The question we raise is why do we receive throughout the year thousands of letters, brochures, advertisements and offers in the postal mail via third-class mail which are nearly all unsolicited. Wouldn't that then also be considered "spam"? "Christian Voices" sends only one (1) Invitation to any single email address, not multiple mailings as we receive in the postal mail.

"Christian Voices" does not sell, trade, or give away email addresses. The email addresses that you send to us never leave "Christian Voices". When people send us email addresses, the only email the owners of those email addresses will receive is one (1) Invitation to try "Christian Voices" - not multiple advertisements for many products and services from various companies and organization which is the case in postal mail advertising.

When people receive our "Invitation", they often ask "How did you receive our email address?" Our answer is always the same. "We don't know who sent it to us!" To maintain such detailed records is far more than we have staff, time and resources to accomplish. When we send the "Invitations", we simply really do not know who sent what address!

If you disagree with our position, that's certainly okay. We respect that everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, if you do disagree, we then request that you do not send us any addresses, nor copies of various law interpretations, negative terse messages, or criticism for our beliefs.

If you will help "Christian Voices" reach everyone that we possibly can, then "yes" please send us as many email addresses as possible - individual addresses, email listings from fraternal and similar organizations, lists from your church or work, email addresses from anywhere and everywhere, unless specifically prohibited to do so by those entities.

One of the best ways to find email addresses is on the email that you receive. Usually when we receive email messages, there are other addresses on the message, especially on those messages that have been forwarded to you, some forwarded many times - each forwarding containing another list of addresses. If you would accumulate those addresses and send them to us "throughout the year", it would be a super help to us. If you want to "cleanup" the addresses, that's fine, but there is no need because we have a program that retrieves only the email addresses. Don't worry about sending us duplicate addresses - especially when continuously sending them throughout the year because that same program we use also automatically deletes duplicates. If the text portion of the messages you receive are not of any personal, confidential or sensitive matter, you can simply just forward all those messages (as you receive them) to us. We don't read the text portion - the text portion is automatically deleted and we harvest the addresses.

So, will you please help? Will you send us email addresses?

"Additionally", there is one other way to help which several readers and subscribers have already offered and done for us. Place a copy of our flyer on "Face Book" and other similar means of communication. I'll be glad to send you a copy of the flyer. It's one side of one page; the size of letter-size paper folded in half, and it's printed in color.

Please help "Christian Voices" reach out to the world - the world truly needs it so very much!!!

Many thanks!

Blessings!

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The official web site for "Christian Voices" is

www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net

Please don't be confused by others

who have web sites of similar names.

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