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Last week was the first time I sent you, and several others, a personal email about my new endeavor, the Jerusalem Journal. If you missed it, you are welcome to read it here. In response to what I wrote, several questions have come up. Here are nine of them...
1. What are you trying to do?
The Jerusalem Journal's mission is...
...to provide Israeli-centered news from Israel and specifically for believers around the world. The idea is to educate, enlighten and inform so that believers better understand Israel's perspectives and intercede for it accordingly. Anyone is welcome to read our news, but it is produced with non-Jewish believers in mind.
...to provide a news platform for "righteous Palestinians." Unknown to almost everyone, a large number of Palestinians do not support the anti-Israel narrative of their leaders. They are unknown and unheard because it is dangerous for them to take a public stand. But there are a few who are willing to speak out and write the truth. They have the potential to be a healing force with their people's Jewish neighbors. What they need a platform and some tutoring. The Jerusalem Journal can give them these things.
...to combat the resurgence of "Christian anti-semitism," an ideological and spiritual virus that is returning in force among all "brands" of Christians, including evangelicals. Today that ideology usually calls itself anti-Zionism. But its malice and objectives are just as vicious, just as devious and infectious as European anti-semitism in the 1930s. The idea is to report the conduct and arguments of those who promote this re-branded ideology in order to inform, and hopefully inoculate, believers around the world. News is a good vehicle for doing this.
To support these objectives, click here.
2. Brian, how much money do you need?
For personal living expenses, I need a regular income stream of $3,000.00 a month. Right now, I am receiving 10 percent of this. To help with this need, click here.
3. What are incomes and costs-of-living in Israel?
Compared with the US and the UK, the rule of thumb is that prevailing incomes are about half the level of wages in these countries. At the same time, the cost of living is about double. To assist with day-to-day living costs, click here.
4. For what else do you need money?
The main financial needs are for operation and growth of The Jerusalem Journal.
✡ Thanks be to God, I have a full-time administrator volunteer or, officially, Managing Editor. His name is James Worthington. A New Zealander, James and his family, including 3 children age four and under, live in Jerusalem. Like me, James is raising the support he needs to provide for himself and his family. Even so, like other volunteer organizations in Israel, the Jerusalem Journal should pay volunteers a stipend.
That amount is $500.00 to $1,000.00 per month. As more volunteers come on board, this will need to increase by at least $500.00 a month for each full-time volunteer. To help with this need, click here.
✡ The Jerusalem Journal needs money to pay journalists. I have a lot of excellent talent that is willing to write news on a freelance basis, including two "righteous Palestinians." But in order to get quality material, I need to pay them, at the very least, $100.00 per article. To do the kind of quality news I know we can provide, I need a starting budget of $2,000.00 per month to pay freelance journalists. To underwrite this, click here.
✡ We need an editor who can cover for me on days when, like today, I am unable to do news. A Weekend Editor is also needed to identify and post stories on Saturday and Sunday. Again, getting the right person means we need to pay her or him. I think we could get what is needed, at least for now, with $500.00 to $1,000.00 per month. To sponsor this, click here.
✡ Right now, the offices of the Jerusalem Journal are my flat. This is doable for the near term, but in the not-too-distant future we will need dedicated office space. At the start, we should be able to get something for $500.00 to $1,000.00 per month. To help pay for this, click here.
✡ The Jerusalem Journal has an immediate need for four new computers, a printer, and a budget for office needs. The computers that we need are MacBook Air models. Far and away, these are the computers-of-choice for journalists. They are portable, powerful, and these days almost weightless. With a full keyboard and high-res screen, they are easy to use for writing while on the go.
These computers should be available for about $2,500.00 each. Yes, I am happy to receive donated machines! A printer can be had for $200.00. Give to this important need by clicking here.
✡ We really need a car. Public transportation is acceptable in Jerusalem. Still, it is not ideal. In order to obtain stories elsewhere in the country, public transport is simply not doable. The kind of vehicle we need should comfortably seat six to eight people and their luggage.
Our vehicle should be fuel efficient but have enough power to maneuver Israel's hilly terrain while carrying a full load of passengers and their luggage. It should require minimal maintenance. All in all, I think this points to a hybrid. Kia's are popular here. Perhaps one of their models will work for us.
We do not need to own a vehicle. If it is more cost effective, we could lease one.
Because, generally, vehicles here cost twice as much as in the US, we need $50,000.00 to buy, insure and provide maintenance. If we lease, we will need a total of $1,000.00 per month. Help us get to stories throughout Israel; click here.
5. What else do you need?
We need volunteers. Some of them need to live here, in Israel. Others can help wherever they live. Top-level positions we need are:
✡ An executive personal assistant
✡ Someone to head up all marketing
✡ Executives for... Website management, classified ads, blog development, event bookings for JJ journalists, email management, website advertising, estate Planning, and grant writing.
✡ Other roles include proof-readers and story promoters. The latter are people willing to spread JJ stories using social media, especially Facebook Groups. A team of people to do this would be a huge help.
To volunteer with the Jerusalem Journal, click here.
6. That's all you need?
No, it isn't! We need your referrals! Do you know someone who is perfect fit for partnering with the Jerusalem Journal? Someone who is likely to share our vision? Someone about whom God himself is prompting you? Please, send referrals! If you would like us to make contact, send your referrals names and email addresses to James Worthington at ManagingEditor@JerusalemJournal.netWe also need a board of qualified, godly advisors. And a global team of intercessors. To suggest an board member or to volunteer as an intercessor, send me a text, would you?
7. Can I designate my preference for how the Jerusalem Journal will use my financial gift?
Yes, you can. Add this, or anything else you want to say, in the Comment box on the Jerusalem Journal's donation page.
8. What is the best way to get in touch with you, Brian?
The best way is by text, using SMS, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. How to do this? See below.
You are also welcome to call, but please, text me first so that I know who is ringing.
Email is the least effective way to reach me - at least until I have a personal assistant to help with it. I get so many emails every day, they quickly "sink" below the computer screen.
9. How often will you send these personal emails?
The plan is to send one every Wednesday. If there is a subject you would like me to address, let me know. :-)
Do you have more questions you would like me to answer? Send them on. I look forward to hearing from you about any one of these things.
For your encouragement, support, response and prayers, toda raba.
~Brian
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