Dear Readers:
2020 has been quite a year for all of us. The global impact of the pandemic has affected us all collectively like nothing else in our lifetime. And though hope is on the horizon to get things back to normal, we still can't deny the fact that it's not over yet.
Where we are at this point in world history sort of reminds me of the first Christmas. The world was enveloped in an internal darkness as it anticipated the coming of the Savior, the Light and Hope of the world. The Christmas season especially reminds us to not despair, but rather to prepare with joy to receive the Lord who was born in the flesh to free us all from the three enemies of mankind and the most deadly viruses - sin, death and the devil.
The last time I wrote this kind of a letter was a little over a year ago. Twice a year I have a little fundraising campaign to keep the ministry of the Mystagogy Resource Center going and growing - usually right before Christmas and right after Easter. Last Christmas was probably my least successful campaign ever, then when the coronavirus hit and I saw how it was affecting so many, I decided to skip the post-Easter campaign altogether. It didn't seem like the right time to be asking for money with unemployment being so high. Despite these setbacks, on top of my own increasingly busy schedule, I tried to keep this ministry going on a daily basis without interruption. Some people seem to have appreciated it, and even without my asking they continued to generously give as they always had. Unfortunately however there has been more loss and cancellations of monthly subscriptions than gains, which is not surprising.
I was going to skip the fundraising campaign this Christmas as well, but this would have also had me announcing this coming January that I would be taking at least 3 to 6 months off to concentrate on some more pressing things. However, as I was about to make this announcement, I've noticed three things that made me change my mind. First, the economy is doing a lot better in certain parts of the world. Second, everywhere I go the Christmas spirit seems to be at an all time high. Third, people really want to get things back to normal. So I figured, let's try and get things back to normal around here too. In fact, I can't afford not to.
As I said, my 2020 has been extremely busy. I never really experienced a quarantine nor have I spent even one 24 hour period without leaving my house. Things have been pretty normal for me throughout this pandemic. And even though for me personally 2020 has been an average if not pretty positive year, one thing it did impact is where I wanted the Mystagogy Resource Center to be in 2020. It seems like I'm a year behind in everything. The failure of the campaign last Christmas severely impacted everything, on top of the fact there was no post-Easter campaign. A few weeks ago I took some time to reflect on where I needed to bring things in 2021, and I came up with some big and exciting plans, but there is no way to do it without finding the time and funding to do it.
In early January I will be making some big announcements, but only if you play your part and help to support this ministry. My financial goal this year is reasonable and very small, in light of the times we are living. But your contribution will determine whether there will be a positive big announcement in January or a negative big announcement.
You may be debating as to whether or not you should make any contribution? One person may think they will leave it all up to another person, and they in turn will think that they will leave it all up to another person also, and so on and so forth, until we come to a point where no one gives anything except the few most generous and kind among us to pick up the slack. So here is a way to determine whether or not you should make a contribution. Just ask yourself one question. The question is:
If the Mystagogy Resource Center suddenly disappeared and never returned again, will you regret that you never contributed a few bucks to prevent this?
I figure most people will probably say they will just move on to other things. The internet is a big place, after all. What use is all the information anyway.
Good enough. But the few people who actually like some of the things I do here, maybe you actually would regret it if you never gave anything. Well, you are the one that can actually do something about it, and you are the one I'm talking to. If you are able today to make a contribution and save this ministry, then please do so. If you need every last cent in your pocket for more important things, then don't. I have always left the existence of this ministry up to the people who like what I do, and we would not have arrived at the tenth anniversary of this ministry without you. This is not a ministry that applies for grants or large donations or scholarships, nor will I ever do so. If people don't see any value in what I do by now, nor in the future possibilities, they probably never will. This is a ministry that lives or dies by the will of the people. If the people want this ministry to just survive and run on fumes, that's fine with me. If they want it to die and go away, that's fine with me too. If they want it to expand and grow, well I think that would great. I am ready and willing to give whatever I am given.
I think I made my point. If you are new here and don't know what to give, usually I ask for at least a $60 yearly contribution or at least a $5 monthly subscription. Everything I do I offer for free, so this is not a set amount, but whatever you can give is appreciated. If things go well, next month there will be expanded offerings exclusively for those who have been contributing, but we will talk about that later.
I pray that all of you remain healthy and safe and may 2021 be a better year for us all.
Merry Christmas to all!
With love in Christ,
John Sanidopoulos
2020 has been quite a year for all of us. The global impact of the pandemic has affected us all collectively like nothing else in our lifetime. And though hope is on the horizon to get things back to normal, we still can't deny the fact that it's not over yet.
Where we are at this point in world history sort of reminds me of the first Christmas. The world was enveloped in an internal darkness as it anticipated the coming of the Savior, the Light and Hope of the world. The Christmas season especially reminds us to not despair, but rather to prepare with joy to receive the Lord who was born in the flesh to free us all from the three enemies of mankind and the most deadly viruses - sin, death and the devil.
The last time I wrote this kind of a letter was a little over a year ago. Twice a year I have a little fundraising campaign to keep the ministry of the Mystagogy Resource Center going and growing - usually right before Christmas and right after Easter. Last Christmas was probably my least successful campaign ever, then when the coronavirus hit and I saw how it was affecting so many, I decided to skip the post-Easter campaign altogether. It didn't seem like the right time to be asking for money with unemployment being so high. Despite these setbacks, on top of my own increasingly busy schedule, I tried to keep this ministry going on a daily basis without interruption. Some people seem to have appreciated it, and even without my asking they continued to generously give as they always had. Unfortunately however there has been more loss and cancellations of monthly subscriptions than gains, which is not surprising.
I was going to skip the fundraising campaign this Christmas as well, but this would have also had me announcing this coming January that I would be taking at least 3 to 6 months off to concentrate on some more pressing things. However, as I was about to make this announcement, I've noticed three things that made me change my mind. First, the economy is doing a lot better in certain parts of the world. Second, everywhere I go the Christmas spirit seems to be at an all time high. Third, people really want to get things back to normal. So I figured, let's try and get things back to normal around here too. In fact, I can't afford not to.
As I said, my 2020 has been extremely busy. I never really experienced a quarantine nor have I spent even one 24 hour period without leaving my house. Things have been pretty normal for me throughout this pandemic. And even though for me personally 2020 has been an average if not pretty positive year, one thing it did impact is where I wanted the Mystagogy Resource Center to be in 2020. It seems like I'm a year behind in everything. The failure of the campaign last Christmas severely impacted everything, on top of the fact there was no post-Easter campaign. A few weeks ago I took some time to reflect on where I needed to bring things in 2021, and I came up with some big and exciting plans, but there is no way to do it without finding the time and funding to do it.
In early January I will be making some big announcements, but only if you play your part and help to support this ministry. My financial goal this year is reasonable and very small, in light of the times we are living. But your contribution will determine whether there will be a positive big announcement in January or a negative big announcement.
You may be debating as to whether or not you should make any contribution? One person may think they will leave it all up to another person, and they in turn will think that they will leave it all up to another person also, and so on and so forth, until we come to a point where no one gives anything except the few most generous and kind among us to pick up the slack. So here is a way to determine whether or not you should make a contribution. Just ask yourself one question. The question is:
If the Mystagogy Resource Center suddenly disappeared and never returned again, will you regret that you never contributed a few bucks to prevent this?
I figure most people will probably say they will just move on to other things. The internet is a big place, after all. What use is all the information anyway.
Good enough. But the few people who actually like some of the things I do here, maybe you actually would regret it if you never gave anything. Well, you are the one that can actually do something about it, and you are the one I'm talking to. If you are able today to make a contribution and save this ministry, then please do so. If you need every last cent in your pocket for more important things, then don't. I have always left the existence of this ministry up to the people who like what I do, and we would not have arrived at the tenth anniversary of this ministry without you. This is not a ministry that applies for grants or large donations or scholarships, nor will I ever do so. If people don't see any value in what I do by now, nor in the future possibilities, they probably never will. This is a ministry that lives or dies by the will of the people. If the people want this ministry to just survive and run on fumes, that's fine with me. If they want it to die and go away, that's fine with me too. If they want it to expand and grow, well I think that would great. I am ready and willing to give whatever I am given.
I think I made my point. If you are new here and don't know what to give, usually I ask for at least a $60 yearly contribution or at least a $5 monthly subscription. Everything I do I offer for free, so this is not a set amount, but whatever you can give is appreciated. If things go well, next month there will be expanded offerings exclusively for those who have been contributing, but we will talk about that later.
I pray that all of you remain healthy and safe and may 2021 be a better year for us all.
Merry Christmas to all!
With love in Christ,
John Sanidopoulos
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John Sanidopoulos
PO Box 320284
West Roxbury, MA 02132