God Moments (18): Investing in the New England Church World
If you asked most any pastor or ministry leader in 1996 about the state of Christianity in New England he or she would parrot a popular perception—the church is dead in New England.
God Moments (17): Transition Provides New Opportunities
Despite the seeming tragedy of losing an exciting opportunity as president of Here’s Life Publishers in 1992, the Lord kept dropping opportunities my way. In addition to the two books described in the previous installment, I was approached about helping a marriage counselor upgrade his book, Discovering the Mind of a Woman.
God Moments (16): When Writing Replaces Leading
Does God have a plan for us when we are set adrift when our company is sold? I had seen the Lord provide a position at Here’s Life Publishers when I was released at Christian Herald in a cost-saving move. But now I was 62 and as former president considered not an acceptable editorial hire by book publishers I approached. I did have severance pay to tide me over for some months, but what then?
God Moments (15): Does Age Really Matter?
Before I wrap up my 11 years with Here’s Life Publishers of Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as CRU), let me reflect on a God Moment with long term impact.
God Moments (14): The High Cost of Success
The last installment introduced the God Moments that transformed Here’s Life Publishers from a money-losing struggle into a profitable publishing house, however, as I will reveal later, the cost was higher than anyone anticipated. But before I reveal the details leading to the sale of Here’s Life Publishers I’ll introduce tools for evangelism and discipleship we published to enhance the ministry of our parent, Campus Crusade for Christ.
God Moments (13): Tackling a Financial Crisis
How can God turn an overwhelming debt load at a publishing house into a series of God Moments? At Here’s Life Publishers we were a for profit subsidiary of Campus Crusade for Christ, with the chairman of the Board the executive vice-president of Crusade. What I did not realize when I arrived as editorial director was that Here’s Life Publishers was being kept afloat by regular draws on a “slush fund” at Crusade, that our losses would be half a million on sales of just over two million the year I arrived.