Finances

Why we have to charge for literature

For 13 years this ministry has offered its literature free as the Lord provides, and it was postpaid. In May of 2007 the ministry began to charge for the actual postage incurred for sending orders. Typically, the customer was not invoiced for postage less than $2. Of the customers that were invoiced for postage, less than 2% chose to honor the invoice with their payment. In order to maintain this ministry and to be a good steward of what the Lord has given us, the ministry must make some changes. As much as Pilgrim Fundamental Baptist Press, Inc. did not want to, it became necessary to change how it does business. Even though PFBP is a ministry and it functions as such, it must also operate with the efficiency of a business.

When a literature order is placed the print shop will receive an e-mail notice. The postage for the literature will be calculated from the USPS. The postage will be added to the order total and the customer will be notified by return e-mail of the total cost and how it may be paid using Pay Pal. Once payment has been received the order will be processed and mailed.

This ministry does not seek to make a profit; it seeks only to remain solvent. Any profit that may be realized goes back into the ministry to cover its overhead and for missionary projects. The printer does not take a paycheck from the ministry; he is a missionary and raises his own personal support just like any other missionary. From time to time someone may send a gift to the printer; in turn this forwarded to the mission board that processes his personal support. This is done for proper accountability.

On December 7, 2010 the ministry was informed by the local post office that the US postal department has tightened the guidelines for what packages can be sent as “media mail.” In short, the booklets that this ministry produces qualifies for mailing as “media mail” at a reduced rate. The Gospel tracts must be mailed as first class, parcel post, or as priority mail using the flat rate priority mail box.

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Our average prices are very reasonable:

• Booklets for a contribution of $0.25 each plus postage.
• Small tracts for a contribution of $2.00 per 100 plus postage.
• Large tracts for a contribution of $3.00 per 100 plus postage.
• Bookmarks for a contribution of $2.00 per 100 plus postage.

Prices are subject to change to remain current with operating costs.