Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1789, “… nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” While obviously biased, I would like to add The Pathway to such a category. Since January 2003 (for the print edition), The Pathway has been faithfully delivered to its subscribers every two weeks. That will not change in 2013, but what will change with the new budget year on Jan. 1, is that The Pathway will no longer charge for a subscription.
In a historic decision concerning a recommendation by Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Director John Yeats and enthusiastically endorsed by me, the MBC Executive Board voted at its April 10 meeting with their budget allocations to no longer charge for Pathway subscriptions effective Jan. 1. At that point, based on a developing data base, free (sort of) Pathway’s will be mailed directly to the homes of at least 30,000 Missouri Southern Baptists, essentially doubling our circulation overnight. I say “free, sort of,” because The Pathway has always – and will continue to be – a ministry funded by your Cooperative Program gifts. While The Pathway generates some revenue through advertising and subscriptions, it only covers about 30 percent of the newspaper’s production expenses. The rest of our operating budget comes from your generosity through the Cooperative Program.
There will be no interruption in the delivery of The Pathway for the rest of 2012 as we prepare to make this switch. If you receive a subscription renewal notice between now and Jan. 1, we will pro-rate your subscription rate based on the date you renew. Then on Jan. 1, all paid subscriptions will cease as we attempt to get The Pathway in as many hands as possible. We hope this will also help our churches with their budgets as they deal with tough economic conditions.
“The Pathway is our No. 1 direct mail piece that goes to our households,” Yeats told the Executive Board, which unanimously approved the recommendation. Consequently, The Pathway’s printing and mailing budget will more than double in 2013 to nearly $300,000. This marks the most aggressive attempt ever by the MBC to distribute as widely as possible the stories of what Missouri Southern Baptists are doing for the cause of Christ.
It is our prayer that even more Missouri Southern Baptists will feel a sense of unity and be encouraged in their walk with God by The Pathway’s content. We are grateful to God for the provision He has made and we place our trust in Him. We are humbled by the confidence Dr. Yeats and the Executive Board have placed in The Pathway and thank them for their significant contributions to this ministry.
There are plans for expanding The Pathway’s reach, including an app for smart phones (coming soon), podcasts, videos and website enhancements. Some new features will be added, such as brief obituaries of pastors, Bible trivia and columns by experts in the area of parenting and stewardship. Of course The Pathway will always strive to provide the best coverage of convention happenings. Our main focus is to tell the story of MBC-affiliated churches as they accomplish their God-called missions work and ministries. We will also continue to promote a biblical worldview in an effort to help every believer walk faithfully with God in every facet of life.
The Pathway will celebrate its 10th anniversary on June 8. God continues to bless The Pathway staff, who work hard to bring you the best print newspaper possible every two weeks without interruption, while also providing breaking news on our website – often within minutes of it happening.
In the meantime, we pray The Pathway is a blessing to your home and church. Jeremiah 6:16 is The Pathway’s founding verse: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.” We pray The Pathway is a blessing to your home and church. We have – and will always – stand on the inerrant, infallible Word of God. We ask for your continued support and prayers as The Pathway is launched into this new endeavor and may we always be found faithful to our one and only king, King Jesus – to the glory of God the Father.