With well over 100,000 members and growing rapidly, we needed to know more about our members. In particular, we wanted to know how you used the Gospels you ordered. Were people really sharing them? In what settings? How often? We wanted to know what your impressions were of the ministry. And we needed your input on a financial issue. A survey was the perfect approach to answers for these questions.

E-mail response

We sent a survey request August 25, 2005 to members with an E-mail address. Nearly 3,000 members completed the survey over the 4-day period it was open.

It was an anoymous survey so respondents could be completely open in their answers. Most respondents were between 35 and 55 years of age, but there were significant numbers of young people.

Order frequency

About 30% of survey respondents order Gospels monthly. A slightly higher percentage (36.1%) place orders quarterly. 27% of respondents order only a couple of times each year. We would like to see a higher percentage of members order Gospels every month so that they develop a lifestyle of sharing the Gospel daily. Most order 30 Gospels at a time, and 94.3% prefer to place their orders online.

How are Gospels used?

34% of respondents share a Gospel booklet about once a week on average. Only 18.2% share one or more per day. We would really like to see more members make it a daily habit. A number of respondents indicated that sharing frequency might change from week to week:

"It varies, I could give out 10 in one week and then not give out any for a month, or I could give 2 or 3 a week for several weeks, and then not give out any for a month."

When asked how you used the Gospels, 85% of respondents said they frequently gave them to non-Christians wherever they happened to meet them, and a significant 70% said they actively went out of their way to seek out non-Christians to give away a Gospel. This was very encouraging. Over 50% said they often leave the Gospels unattended somewhere without actually talking to a person. This is not ideal and we'd certainly like to see this number drop. We know that many members leave Gospels in doctor's office waiting rooms and places like that, but generally this isn't nearly as effective as handing someone a Gospel one-to-one. We would like to see more active involvement because it has a better chance of leading someone to Christ.

What motivates our members?

Most respondents (68%) shared the same motivation for giving away the Gospels: a sense of duty to Christ and the Great Commission. Very few felt obligated as a Christian. We also learned that sharing Gospels is a very individual action: only 3% indicated that they shared as part of a church or small group initiative. We appreciate that this is a ministry you have taken to heart as a personal activity.

Financial support

Those who responded to our survey are more involved in helping the League financially than members in general. Yet even among survey respondents, 63% did not give financially to the work of the League.

We understand and appreciate that there are many ministry choices and they are all valid. We believe that the first priority of our members should be the regular tithe to their church. But understanding more about donation behavior of our most dedicated members highlighted a very real challenge for a ministry that gives everything away for free.

Of those who did support this ministry, 23% had only given once. 6.3% gave monthly and 19% donated quarterly.

One of the more interesting things we found was how age directly impacted donor involvement. In general, the older our members, the more likely they were to support the ministry.

Questions about shipping fees

We have been struggling to find a financial model that can help to sustain this ministry as it grows. We simply don't have enough donors to support the printing of millions of Gospels as well as the shipping costs we have to pay to process and fulfill orders. In fact, we were facing a deficit for the year equal to the annual shipping and fulfillment costs. So we wondered how our members would respond to the concept of having us pass along the third-party shipping and fulfillment fees that we have to pay.

We were heartened to discover that a significant 81.2% of respondents were willing to pay the shipping fee if it was passed along to them. We saw views like these:

This is a fantastic ministry. I think asking for some payment is a good idea. We in America have at least some cash. It’s hard for me to donate sometimes but I want to. And I also spend $50 -$75 every few months buying tracts [from other ministries]. Please charge for shipping to help this very important ministry survive!

Wonderful ministry! I tell all my friends they can have 30 gospels to give away free. I spend as much as $100 at a time on tracts with other ministries.

People don't mind paying the shipping fee because our products are free. We offer complete Gospels of John, not simple tracts. Yet even with the fee the overall ordering cost would still be lower than ordering typical tract booklets elsewhere!

When asked how much they felt was a reasonable amount to pay for shipping and fulfillment, the answers generally ranged from $5 to $25 (our actual costs range between $5.95 and $10.95, depending on order size).

Many respondents told us that they were high school students or in a position of financial distress, with no credit card or financial means to pay such a fee. Our heart has always been to provide a way for anyone, in any financial position, to have quality tools they can use to share their faith. We were very interested in the thoughts of those without the financial means to pay a fee, no matter how small. We were moved by responses like these:

This ministry gives me an opportunity to share the gospel. Since I am only 14 and don't have a job I can't afford to buy Bibles so I am able to share the gospel because they offer them free.

I love being able to do this ministry, but I have no job, I can't find work due to a back injury. This ministry makes me feel like I can do something for God, do His work, even though I can't get any other job.

As a result of these answers, we wanted to ensure that we always have an option for those in difficult financial circumstances to be able to order Gospels with no cost barrier in the way.

Impressions of the ministry

We asked respondents to share a few words or phrases to describe their impressions of The Pocket Testament League. We were greatly blessed by the thoughts expressed. More than half the survey respondents shared their views, and the vast majority were extremely positive. We heard things like:

Outstanding, needed, generous, I'm so thankful... I couldn't afford to give out as many Gospels as I do with out TPTL

Creative, well thought out cover concepts, great cover photography

This is by far my best weapon I have to help in the spiritual battles going on my streets and pathways, thank you, thank you, thank you Pocket Testament League

A work God blesses. An organization that cares more about getting the word out than collecting money. Trusting God to take care of financial matters.

Simple. non-threatening, easy

Amazing, kind, generous, godly, encouraging, simple way for ministry, effective, Christ-like.

Impressive, eye catching, beautiful covers, easy way to share Jesus, people love recieving something free... I think it is a wonderful ministry.

It's one of the greatest ministries I've been blessed with and love to introduce the league to other christians and ministries.

I think this is the most effective way of sharing my faith,daily, with the most People I could ever reach by myself. Further, sharing my faith with other Christians by placing a Gospel with them, allows me to replicate my message to them and increase the effectiveness of my Ministry!

It is one of the best ministries around. The reason I use the books are because I am impressed by the way you present them.

A very easy, handy way to spread God's word without being to pushy.

I smile when I think of the Pocket Testament because it has been such an example of obedience to fulfill God's Plan.

A wonderful ministry that offers even people that are usually shy a way to witness to God's love for us and the love of Jesus Christ.

Different covers and translations help the sharing, Easy way to dialog with people that cross our path.

A wonderful and easy way to share the gospel message with others that don't have the time to talk with you about it. also makes it easy to share the gospel message when they are ready to hear it. finally, it gives them something to read of the Bible without having to invest in a Bible.

A small package filled with truth.

A wonderful minsitry that knows the power of the Word of God to convert souls. A gift from God.

Valuable tool provided for witnessing (the best I've ever had... and I'm now 73 yrs old)

I think the Pocket Testament League is a great way for believers to reach the lost. Sometimes its a little awkward for me talking to people about Christ, anticipating some rejection. But handing them this booklet makes it a lot easier.I think its a great tool. I thank GOD for this ministry. Keep up the good work.

It is just so wonderful to know that the pure Word of God is being put into the hands of lost people, that the spirit of the living God can then speak to hearts as He will, I love it!

I've dealt with many online Christian organizations and in my opinion you guys are the very best.

I feel priviledged to be able to be a part of a ministry that is doing such great things. I count it an honor and a blessing to be able to contribute financially towards the furtherance of "GOD'S" Kingdom. I pray for your continued success in doing the work of "GOD" and will continue to support your ministry as often as I can. May the "LORD" continue to bless your ministry until "HIS" Return!

Incredibly generous and valuable ministry. Nothing is more important than the word of God and then sharing it. Beautifully designed and attractive materials.

This has opened the many hearts to the Non-Christian and we have actually brought several to the Lord by sharing our faith by these booklets, I can never say Thank You enough!

Amazing, Your ministry is so awesome and the history behind it is great.

The Bible allows the lost to receive in a very simple manner. The Book of John is very simple, but right to the point. I really enjoy handing them out.

The ministry care that is in your hearts to make sharing the Gopel a little easier and the importance you have placed upon that. Thank you for your dedication to Christ. God bless!

The ministry is honest, caring, and God must be tugging at their heart strings since they've been continuing this ministry. I'm gathering from this survey that keeping the ministry operating is becoming a struggle. I hope that it continues to operate, and it will be in my prayers. The PTL has been a blessing to many people. I think the ministry is also annointed and an awesome idea.

It is a terrific way to share Christ. It enables one to let people read for themselves the greatest love story of all time.

An easy way to evangelize, I usually don't know the people that I give one to but I always pray for that person afterwards and pray that they will pass it along.

An excellent support vehicle for churches to fulfill the Great Commission; a unique way to allow our teenagers to reach out to their friends without carrying a full text Bible; as our church knocks on doors, the testaments are a wonderful witness tool to leave with the numerous people we encounter.

Excellent way to share the Gospel, especially if you are not used to verbally expressing yourself. Although we are supposed to be BOLD witnesses for Christ, some people are still not comfortable in doing that, so the pocket testament helps!

These are only a few of nearly 1,000 encouraging messages expressed by our members in the survey. We were greatly blessed to see such an outpouring of positive thoughts about the ministry.

Our response

It is a distinct honor to work with such dedicated, godly folks. We are so encouraged that this ministry helps you be faithful to our God, and tremendously thankful that you are so committed to sharing your faith! It is our prayer that we can continue to help you develop a lifestyle of personal evangelism using the precious Word of God.

With such a strong affirmation that members are willing to cover the shipping costs for Gospels, we have initiated a small shipping and fulfillment fee with an option to have the fee waived by those in genuine financial distress. In those cases it will be covered by donations from other members, enabling young students with no credit card, the homeless, unemployed and disabled to continue sharing their faith using the Word of God. Our hope is that members do not abuse this gracious effort to allow those few who really can't pay to avoid the fee. The fee ranges from $5.95 for 10 Gospels to $7.95 for an order of 30.

We have also provided a way to make a donation at the time of your order, so that giving is as easy as possible. Donations receive a receipt that may be used for income tax purposes.

Our online donation engine has been signficantly upgraded, with the ability to make a tribute or honor gift to commemorate a person or event. We also allow you to see a history of your giving to the League. In the next few weeks, online giving will be further expanded to also enable you to make a recurring gift so that you can give a larger amount automatically spread out over a period of time.

More details about our shipping and fulfillment fee

Visit the Pocketpower Emporium

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