Article on MSNBC.com 4/21/08;
CLICK HEREPeople NEED the Lord!
Think about it. Poor people are hungry. And middle class individuals are struggling to buy gasoline and feed families.
We need a solution, but none is in sight.
Now I am not about to say BuyFromAChristian.com is "the answer" to this problem. But I will say this: we can help!
Our site is committed to helping Christians support Christians AND their local churches and Christian organizations. When the Lord placed this idea on the hearts of the Buy From A Christian, LLC founders, He made clear this site was meant to serve a purpose on a grand scale across the U.S. (and the world).
Our base principle is simple. We honor the Biblical command to give 10% of His blessing back to His work. We DO NOT take 10% of your sale price, or any other fees that affect you, but rather we give 10% of all the fees you pay DIRECTLY TO US BACK to your chosen church or Christian organization. The concept is simple. By using our site to find Christian businesses- you support a Christian business. By Christian businesses listing on our site (at unbelievably low prices-
Click Here to see our business listing prices), we give back 10% to your church!
What do we do with the money we make? Mostly advertise. It is unbelievably expensive to purchase TV, radio, and internet advertising. But we trust God will provide as we seek to reach new markets across the nation (and world) in His name. How do you benefit? As we invest in making our "Christ-Centered Commerce Community" larger, there is more benefit to the users of our site. And to the churches and organizations they support.
The whole thing acts like a snowball. As more and more people use our site, more and more fees return to churches. And in times like these, that is more money to for ministry budgets, etc.
One question we get often: "What if non-Christians visit the site?" Well our answer is "Hallelujah!" Our site makes no secret our love for Christ and His sacrifice for us (See Free Gift).
Click Here to see our disclaimer for more details. But, just as a church (should) hope to bring in all people, so does our site. And as more and more people use our site, the site becomes more powerful and able to do and offer more. Again, let me be clear- if this site is of men, I feel it will not succeed. But if God continues to bless us as He has from the beginning, you can see how He could use the wonderful technology of the internet to help a sick and hungry (and lost) world!
Christians (and Americans and even PEOPLE) need to stick together and help each other out! Well, that is our goal. If you help out the Christian sellers by supporting them with your purchases, they are blessed, and then their church is blessed through our system. When you book travel, download digital music, sell your home, car, boat, old golf clubs, china, furniture, etc. you are helping your church! And imagine, as more and more churches use the site, that is more and more fees they will collect from us.
So what can these organizations do? Simple! Sign up a FREE garage sale on BuyFromAChristian.com!
Click here to learn more about our free garage sale feature!First, we allow organizations to use our site because they must acknowledge Christ by listing on a site named "BuyFromACHRISTian.com!" We even allow people to profess their faith with a simple "I'm a Christian" graphic if they profess faith in Jesus Christ.
But to be clear, we cannot ensure a person professing to be a Christian IS actually a believer, just like you cannot know for sure a person sitting next to you in church is a Christian either! And also, we DO NOT require people to profess their faith. We simply allow them the opportunity if they wish to do so. Christ does not discriminate in His love for all people, and neither will BuyFromAChristian.com!
And as people come to the site, they will see our principles, verse of the day, Christian resources, and
Free Gift! And as they make money through our site, what a picture. A site professing the name of Christ helping feed the hungry, help the homeless, and shelter the lost! Sound like something Christ would have wanted to do 2000 years ago?
We have already gotten hate mail for what we are doing. How could you do something like this-- it is disgusting?! What is? Starting a company who competes in the global economy, represents Jesus Christ, and realizes NO earthly man or woman could possibly lead a company bearing His name? We may have officers, but God is our owner, president, and CEO. Just as He could make this venture successful, He could easily take it away!
So how do these garage sales work? Well, as the above article states, money is TIGHT, and people just do not have the resources to write a check to their local food shelter. But, if that food shelter sponsors a FREE garage sale on our site, well the process is simple. While people may not have money to give at this time, we all have old "stuff" in our garages, attics, closets that we do not need and would not mind donating to sell in these garage sales. So, say you put up your old exercise machine and sell it for $30. We collect NO FEES WHATSOEVER in garage sales so organizations can receive 100% of the money from the sale. You would simply mail the check to the sponsoring organization once all of your products sell! And that is much needed money these organizations are looking for at this time!
What is the catch? Why would we do this for free? Again, our mission is helping Christians support Christians AND their local churches. We feel we can make enough money off individual services (while still giving 10% to their chosen church or organization) to offer our technology to help these organizations take part in this novel new way to raise money in the 21st century! Simply, God has blessed us to build this site, and we can offer this technology to others needing help!
And organizations do not have to LIFT A FINGER! Just organize a FREE garage sale, and pass the word to supporters of the organization. Individuals then simply list items with the aid of a digital camera (or just text if they do not have one) and wait for items to sell.
And the best part is these items "blend" into our growing categories so people can look directly at a particular garage sale (
Click Here to see our list of current garage sales) OR see these items mixed with other items for sale by individuals. How would you know if a product is in a BuyFromAChristian garage sale? Simple-- you would see the following logo by these product listings!
Everyone loves looking at stuff in a garage sale! You know the old saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure." And now the excitement of garage sale shopping is as easy as sitting in front of your computer!
Now we clearly understand people will question us and our motives. But we pray God will bless us if we are sincere to Him, and protect us if we obey. And we honestly believe if we ever lose site of Him, we will fail.
And as we grow in numbers of users on our site, we become a powerful force in the online commerce community that continues to grow as the economy struggles. We are excited to think about helping you sell your home for just $10, or to list your business for Christians all across your chosen area to see for less than $21 a year. And our prices are significantly lower than most major sites simply because we want to give you an affordable and powerful selling tool!
You may wonder why you have not heard about us until now, as you read this blog.
We intentionally have not taken money from powerful investors to keep this idea pure to God's plan. He will bless us to go as far as He wants us to go! We will not be forced to "change the plan" to make more money or to please nervous investors; we will listen to Him as He continues to guide us in this project. But that being said, we know His plans are great for our future, and we await His blessing as we seek to become a powerful company in His name...
I was motivated to write this after I realized just how much people could benefit from our site. And I want people to realize our purpose as God allows our site to grow. Beyond financial benefits, imagine the potential benefit as people are exposed to the Lord!
We do not shy away from our goals as a Christian company.
We want everyone willing to use our product to understand our principles. And we grow excited thinking about a company named after Christ making national and international headlines as we grow in His name.
So welcome to BuyFromAChristian.com! Help spread the word about this God-inspired concept. And pray for us to always ignore business principles of man, and seek the guidance of the Master.
For more information about our fundraiser/ garage sale options,
CLICK HERE!
TO BE CLEAR: We allow non-profit organizations to use our site and receive money from garage sales (which they will have to market). However, we give 10% (from individual users) back to Christian churches or Christian organizations only (again ONLY from the money WE receive from listing and sales fees). If none is selected by an individual, we choose whether to give it to a select Christian organization of other non-profit organization we feel follows Christian principles. Individuals may choose whom they support, but we must allow only support of those churches and organizations we feel meet Christian principles.
Feel free to comment on this blog! And feel free to post questions as well.
God bless and have a great day!
