Lifting up a Standard for the People:
The Gospel & How to Live
A Standard Donation "Box"
Why donate to A Standard Ministry?
The only valid reason to donate is that you are moved by the Holy Spirit to support the work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We hope that God does move you to do this. However, we wish to show in the rest of this page below why and where your money will go. If you are already moved to support our work, please donate here. If you wish to see how your money will be used, please read below.
Where does the donation money go?
We break down our use of money into two categories:
1. That which is used by A Standard Ministry directly.
2. That which is used to help fund other ministries.
Why do you fund other ministries with donations you receive?
Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. Numbers 18:26
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 16:1, 3
From these texts, it is clear to us that even in ministry, we have a biblical guideline to continue paying tithes and offerings to God. To ensure our actions are truly selfless, we do not use all the money for our own ministry. Instead, we offer up 30% of everything donated to support other Gospel ministries.
10% of the donations will go to fund overseas missions in foreign and often hostile lands.
10% of the donations will go to fund special projects with ministries in need of assistance.
10% of the donations will go to fund the publication and distribution of the Holy Scriptures.
How does the remaining donation money get used?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1 Corinthians 9:9-10
4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:
5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,
7 Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
2 Kings 22:4-5, 7
From these texts, it is clear that ministry work is worth funding, as long as the work is genuine and the money is used faithfully for the work of God.
How do we use the money given to us?
Well, we are in the startup phase, so things are not as clear as they should be. However, while we keep operational costs low, there are costs of living ($750/month per person) and maintenance costs for physical and digital equipment (costs to be released once properly tallied). Beyond the bare minimum, the remaining money will be used to create, publish, and distribute: the Holy Scriptures, select Christian books, and pamphlets, as well as needed resources for content creation used for the blog, podcast, and pamphlets. In time, additional resources may be used in innovative new ways to further the spreading of the Gospel as providence provides. These methods will be made public as we start on them, ensuring transparency in our efforts as our scope of ministry grows.
Our intended objectives are:
1. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
Isaiah 62:10
This is, to us, a call to create content that clearly sets before the people a plain, "Thus saith the Lord." Showing them, "What does the Lord require of thee?" However, as scripture is the final authority, we want to point all to God's words themselves.
2. 5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. Jeremiah 4:5, 6
We are to publish this content in spoken and written words at home. By blog and podcast; by Bibles, books, and pamphlets. To call people to seek God "while He may be found." (Isaiah 55:6)
3. Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
Jeremiah 50:2
Finally, we are to publish this warning abroad: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen!" (Revelation 18:2) That is, to spread this knowledge of The Way, The Truth, and The Life to all the world. To share the Everlasting Gospel, to every kindred, tongue, and people. To give the final warning to come out of confusion; into clarity that is only found in submission to God and His will as revealed in His words! Simply put, we are to support other ministries around the world in sharing the same messages, in ways that effectively reach those around them.
Are you tax deductible?
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
Luke 20:25
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
From these considerations and our understanding of what is required to be tax-exempt, we have decided not to seek governmental recognition as a non-profit.
We believe that we owe taxes to the government for things like roads that we use even in our ministry.
Additionally, when you sign an agreement to follow special laws in exchange for the right to not pay taxes, you are effectively indebted to them.
Furthermore, we believe we should be able to preach the Gospel freely without worrying about how our financial status might be affected. As long as we preach the truth, we trust that God Himself will provide.
Why don't you have listed financial goals?
We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Psalms 20:5
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Daniel 6:7, 10
This is a test of faith, but we believe that we can turn to God alone as our King for any need we have.
If it be His will, He will provide funds as needed for the projects we believe He wants us to carry out.
If they are not His will, we would not want money to be given just because we ask or give a convincing sales pitch.
As we stated at the top of this page, the only reason to fund us is because you feel impressed by the Holy Spirit to do so. However much or little you give, let it be God who guides you.
Likewise, pray for us that we may let Him guide our use of His gifts, to His glory and not our own.