Liberate People from Religion
Your support helps over 250,000 people each month discover the love of God
and find freedom from the shackles of religion.
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In the last decade, I have published over 2 million words on this blog, and I am glad that you have found some of these words to be helpful and encouraging in your own relationship with Jesus.
It is a privilege to write about something I am passionate about, which is helping people see that they caFn have a personal relationship with God without the manipulation, control, guilt, fear, and shame that is central to all religious systems.
But I have recently encountered a big problem on this blog: Blogging starts to get expensive. Very expensive.
Running this blog is expensive
Blogging, like anything else in the world, costs money to do it right.
As my blog has grown, it has also become more expensive to run. When I first started blogging, it cost me about $100 a year to run this blog. That expense was worth it for me.
But within the last year or two, as my blog readership has exploded, so have my expenses. This month, people will read about 250,000 articles on my blog. I am thrilled with the impact this blog is making in the world!
But it is also costing me over $400 a month (about $5000 annually) to keep the blog up and running.
Why does blogging cost so much?
There are “free” or “low cost” ways of blogging (for less than $100 per year). While I used to use these methods, they often crashed under the weight of my readership, and so I have had to steadily upgrade to better web hosting, email service (for my email newsletter), and podcast hosting (for my podcast) so that my site doesn’t crash.
This is a good problem to have because it shows that this blog is helping millions of people around the world each and every year.
I get emails every day from people in various countries who have been helped by the content of this blog. Many of them struggle under the bondage of religion, have questions about the character of God, and desperately need help about how to understand Scripture in light of Jesus Christ. They write to me from all over the world telling me how thankful they are to have found my blog. This blog and my writings are helping liberate thousands of people every month from the shackles of religion so they can enter into the genuine relationship with God they have always desired.
I know that you might have been encouraged by this blog as well.
So I want to do whatever I can to keep my blog up and running.
The problem, however, is that the costs are becoming unsustainable.
While I love blogging and writing to encourage others, the costs are getting to the point where I simply cannot afford it, and I am not sure what to do.
To help defray the cost of blogging, I have tried various things.
I have tried using affiliate links, writing books, and selling advertising.
While each one of these activities brings in a little bit of money each month, they do not even come close to covering the total cost of running this blog.
| Monthly Costs: | Monthly Income |
| $150 – Domain and Hosting | $15 – Book Sales |
| $40 – Podcast Hosting | $60 – Advertising |
| $100 – Membership Area | $90 – Membership Income |
| $70 – Email Newsletter | |
| $80 – Miscellaneous | |
| Total: $440 | Total: $165 |
As you can see, the domain name registration and hosting fees are the largest expense. I have numerous blogs, and (as explained above) I have too many readers to go with entry-level hosting (a good problem to have). Also, I cannot host my podcast files on my site, because the number of downloads I receive would crash my blog. The Membership area expenses include the software and shopping cart features I use to create a secure members-only area on my website. I use an email service to send out my email newsletter and keep track of all the thousands of subscribers. The miscellaneous item includes one-time fees for things like book design and publishing expenses, and software or equipment upgrades.
So altogether, I have about $440 in monthly expenses and $165 in monthly income.
So, I need your help.
I have already cut costs everywhere I can without causing this website to crash, which means I have to find new ways to cover the costs of blogging. Here are my only options:
- Accept Donations
- Put new blog content in a members-only area and charge a small monthly fee for access.
- Make weekly or monthly pleas for people to buy my books so that the blog content can remain free.
- Close down this site and cancel the podcast.
Obviously, option 4 is out of the question. I am going with Option 1 and Option 2. Let me tell you about Option 2 first.
Option 2: Membership Area
I recently started a Members-Only area of the website. There is a Free Member’s area (the “Faith” Membership level) which grants you access to all sorts of free eBooks, online theology lessons, and audio downloads.
But the real benefit comes in the Paid Membership levels, which is the “Hope” and “Love” Membership levels. These levels help support the work I am doing here at RedeemingGod.com, but also provide you with numerous benefits as well. I want to thank those who support my work, and so these membership levels provide a way for me to do this.
Among these benefits are more free eBooks and free online theology courses. More benefits and courses are coming soon. Go here to become a Member of RedeemingGod.com.
Nevertheless, some people just want to give and do not care too much about receiving the extra benefits of membership. If so, you can make a donation below…
Option 1: Accepting Donations
While I am not a non-profit organization (I am not a 501c3), I have decided to accept financial gifts from those who appreciate how my writing has helped them gain a clearer picture of God and a deeper understanding of how to follow Jesus outside of religion, and who want this same message to continue to be freely offered to others.
I am not asking for donations to cover the time I spend on this blog. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this blog because I am passionate about showing people a way to break free from the shackles of religion and see God in a whole new light.
Yet I am happy to accept your help in covering the growing expenses of this work.
So if you believe in the impact my blog and podcast are having on others around the world and you would like to partner with me to keep it going, I would greatly appreciate any support you can provide below.
A monthly gift of $10 or $20 would be of great help, or a one-time gift of $50 or $100. Please note that since I do not have 501(c)(3) non-profit status, these gifts are not tax deductible. (I looked into becoming a 501(c)(3), but it would cost even more money I do not have…)
If you benefit from this blog, know that it also benefits thousands of others around the world every single day. But since it is not free to run this blog, would you please consider how you can support this site?
Thanks for reading, and for partnering with me in any way you can. You can make a one-time or a monthly gift through the form below.
Liberate People from Religion
Your support helps over 250,000 people each month discover the love of God
and find freedom from the shackles of religion.
Make a Monthly Gift
One-Time Gift
*All donations are processed through the secure Redeeming Press credit card processing company.
Might I suggest using Patreon.com? I do know they take a cut of the contributions, however.
I didn’t know about this site … thanks for the suggestion. I now have a page there: https://www.patreon.com/redeeminggod
I’d go with 1 and 3. Wish I could help.
Jeremy, I second the Patreon suggestion. They do take a 5% fee, but you will probably get a lot more response if you go that route. With the large readership you have, it would not be unlikely for you to raise more than the $300/month you need in a matter of days.
Thanks, Tony. I had not heard of Patreon before you and Joel mentioned it. So I went and created a page… if you have suggestions for things I can change/update/add to the page, please let me know. It is at https://www.patreon.com/redeeminggod
Hi Jeremy, I want to share a word of encouragement and of criticism. I do this from my critical European perspective. Encouragement: You reach hundred thousands of people with just 300 EUR per month. This is MORE than efficient. I do some translation work for an American ministry that easily spends 1.000 times more that that. Criticism: Never ask for donations for the work of the ministry. That’s the way religion always does. Paul only asked for money in order to help people in need. There was never money collected for the ministry. People always misuse 2.Corinthians chapter 9 because they do not read chapter 8! You have so much to share. Do not give it all away for free. Let God show you a way to live from it. Or from some other work that you love to do. I can see from Jesus how he despised money. He used it here and there but entrusted it to the person from which he knew that he was a thief. He never got overwhelmed by pressure but created “money” from nothing by breaking bread or catching a fish. I am still in the process to learn from that. But I managed to give up my job, work from at home and cut my living expenses to less than half of what I needed before. Never been so free and peaceful and healthy (because of the simple home made food). Just “repent”, I mean “metanoia”, start some new way of thinking. There is so much abundance that God has made.
Sven,
Forgive me for the following long comment…
Thank you for the encouragement and the input. Please know that I have struggled long with the decision to accept donations, have talked with numerous people I respect about it, and have tried to listen to what God wanted me to do in this.
Ironically, when I first started this website, I talked with some wise Christian friends who told me the exact opposite of what you are saying. They told me to give away everything for free because we must not “peddle the Word of God for profit.” They quoted Jesus and Paul to make their point (e.g., Matt 9:18, 1 Cor 9:18, 2 Cor 2:15-17). They said that if I did this, people would just start supporting the work I am doing. They gave the example of Paul and Jesus, both of whom were supported financially by others (Luke 8:2-3; Php 4:15-16).
So this post is not really me “asking for money” but is simply “making the need known” and letting people know that if they want to partner with me, there is a way they can do it. As I tried to point out, there is no guilt or shame on those who do not want to give.
Oh, and I do have a full-time job that is not related to this site. I am a “tentmaker.” It pays for my living expenses, and (up till now) was able to cover the costs associated with running this website. In the past ten years or so, we have cut expenses out of our lives to help fund this ministry, but the costs have become too great to bear on my own.
I knew I would get a little criticism for this decision … but the way Christianity works, it seems that no matter what people do, there are others who will criticize it. If I charge for books and products and services … people criticize me for peddling the gospel. If I accept donations, people criticize me of not trusting God to provide. If I put ads on my site to help cover expenses, people criticize me for selling out to commerm. And on and on it goes.
Anyway, my conscience is clear on this matter. I am trying not to guilt or shame anyone into giving, but want to let people know that they can partner with me in this work if it has been a benefit to them and if they want to help spread the message to others.
Jeremy, I didn’t take this as a money beg. You’re not asking for money for your living expenses. If we want to continue to enjoy your blog, podcasts, books and other things you write, it is only fair that we help you cover your costs so you do not have to try to cover the costs from your earnings from your day job. You have a family, your wife is a stay-at-home mom raising your daughters and your earnings from your employment can go only so far.
There are those of us who can help you cover the basic expenses of keeping the blog, podcast and so on covered. If not, it is only fair that you eliminate the parts that you are unable to cover financially.
Recently several people have talked to us about their churches that ARE trying to guilt and shame them into giving more money. Many churches have lost people and that means they’ve lost money. One large local church with an annual budget in the millions recently had to lay off a few employees. Horrors! Time to roll out the tithing sermons, money appeals and guilt trips. God needs money to keep their fountains running and the grounds well-groomed.
One friend told us what the pastor has been saying in his sermon series on tithing. Yes, “series”! Apparently one sermon isn’t adequate. Our friend asked “Is all of that in the Bible?” Most of it isn’t. Oh well. 🙂
Even though you explained the costs of running the blog and podcast, maybe some people think that blogging is very inexpensive, like the people I hear say that it costs only $15 or $20 a year to have blog.
Jeremy, I am with your line of thinking on this issue. My immediate thought after reading your problem was that I see a brother in need who is keeping a much needed ministry going and there are way too many people being blessed by it to allow it to die.
All it takes is 30 of us to donate 10 bucks a month to help cover your costs. And to be honest anything you receive over the amount will just be that much more a blessing to assist your needs. I have no problem with it and in fact I’m glad to be able to be a part of this ministry.
Thanks so much for your hard work and joy that you put into this as I am one of the many who are blessed and I really want all who can’t contribute to continue to be blessed as well as newcomers who have yet to discover your insight. Not that you have all the answers but you do challenge my thinking and mindset, something that needed to be done long ago.
I do encourage all who are capable and can reciprocate to please consider doing so. Find one of the many unworthy weekly causes you donate to and redirect! For me I am giving up my weekly Starbucks donation which is not 501c either.
Thanks Jeremy and keep up the faith and wonderful work!
– Nathan
Jeremy, thank you for your long comment. I know I was challenging with what I said and I really did not expect you to publish my comment on your blog. But you did! This shows that you are very honest and authentic and not just doing your “ministry” thing. I agree that tentmaking and partnering is the best for the moment to cover costs and keep things going. But the challenge is that it could work out a different way. You have 250 000 people reading your blog. Wow! I could imagine that are at least 0.1% of them (me included) that could be interested in taking part in something like a study group. I mean there are wonderful possibilities with webinars etc. Even people like me from the other side of the globe could participate. People who want to dig deeper into the word and become free from religious bondages. This has to start in your mind by a new understanding of scripture. There could be classroom discussions etc. You did not need to charge much as a monthly “tuition” in order to do this full time and be able to live from it. Now I am sharing what I plan to do myself. I have not started a blog yet!!! At the moment I am studying Greek to be able to get a better understanding of the text and of the way people thought in NT times. I feel that I need to do this first before I start blogging and teaching. But I can tell from experience that the “number 250 business” works. I am now living from serving 250 customers as a freelance insurance broker. I do not make a fortune from this small business but it is a very stable income source and it leaves me a lot of free time.
Hi Jeremy,
I was reading 3 John this week and it occurred to me that with your ministry you’re like one of the traveling teachers:
“5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord,[c] and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.[d] 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.”
So I’m happy to support you with a little gift monthly, and I pray for you and your family daily. God bless you.
Faith,
Thank you SO VERY MUCH!
I have not really considered myself a traveling teacher, but I suppose that in some ways, the internet is how many people travel around these days.
Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you.
You’re welcome. And yes, because you travel to us by way of the internet, and most of us will never meet you, sort of like a stranger, these verses made me think of your ministry.