As previously reported, Shane and Robby are developing a collaborative effort to generate funds for pioneering mission efforts through Solavei’s profit-sharing model. Monthly referral benefits start at $20/mo for three referrals and can grow beyond $1,000/mo as those referrals refer others. So this doesn’t have to become a second career. And one doesn’t have to subscribe to the service to earn such referral benefits, making it possible for a missionary to benefit substantially by finding just a few stateside friends who will subscribe and refer a few others. Through the end of October Solavei is offering a free SIM card for your own unlocked GSM phone ($30 value) and your first month’s service ($50 value). And those who subscribe three others by 10/31 get a second month free on top of the normal $20/mo plus $50 bonus. Those who respond to RobbyQButler@gmail.com from this Brigada entry will also generate support for one of our Team Expansion missionaries. And Robby can guide you in how you can ALSO generate support for your own favorite missionary. (And thanks to Robby for his support of Brigada!!!)
Link here to a slightly expanded overview of our effort to introduce a now model of “collaborative, bi-vocational tentmaking.”
Enough about Solavei. Keep the publication focused on what is central, not on advertising.
Blake, thanks for speaking up. We do face a tension — because, like it or not, some of our partners keep the lights on here. We grew the publication from “about 12” items to “about 15” items, just to make sure everybody got their money’s worth. Another options though: If every Brigada reader pitched in $10 Having said all that though, we’ll try to be more careful. Thanks for the input.
Dear Blake,
Thank you for your comment.
Early invitations to collaborate in this tentmaking experiment drew enough interest (and generated enough benefit for Brigada and others) that we feel it is a continuing service to the Brigada community to share periodic updates, particularly when related discounts become available that may be of interest to readers.
You are the first I know of to respond to these updates as “advertising” rather than a service to Brigada’s readers (as we have perceived it), and your reaction is helpful as there are no doubt others who share your perception but haven’t said anything.
For my first 30 years in ministry, I held tightly to the “support only” model through which God continues to provide faithfully for our family. And prior to my recent study of the role God has assigned business within His kingdom purposes, I would probably have shared your reaction.
However funding is a central issue in pioneering mission efforts, as well as in the continued publication of Brigada. And a number of factors are pressing missionaries and others to recognize the value and legitimacy of bi-vocational ministry models.
If our experiment continues to prove successful, it will continue to be of interest to some number of Brigada readers.
In consideration of others who may share your reaction, I suggest that Doug lead each issue of Brigada with items that are clearly “ministry only,” and place items that generate potential revenue for Brigada–or seem to, as this one doesn’t–later in the line-up.