We the Staff wanted to write you and express our thoughts about this ministry. This letter is not from Michael; at the time of this writing he and Judith are in Israel.
There comes a time in every ministry when it seems like that ministry has been tested to its limits. All of us at Michael Rood Ministries feel that we have faced these testings and trials for the past five months. Michael Rood doesn't complain; he just keeps working and moving ahead. We know, after working for Michael these past months, that he will not tell you of this burden.
No one on the present staff was a part of the old ministry, but we see every day what God is doing for people through this ministry. We answer the phones and read the mail from brand new people coming into this Messianic walk, expressing how much this ministry has opened their eyes.
When you, who are long time Michael Rood supporters, also express to us what this ministry means to you, we all appreciate it, especially Michael. In fact, one of our great joys is carrying back mail to Michael and watching him pour over it.
Though we are all new to this ministry, it has become family. It is hard to see your family attacked again and again. It hurts us to see the pain on Michael's and Judith's faces when some send harsh letters about the past or criticize them for doing what the law requires them to do.
We are not here to judge those who worked for Michael before, but we just don't understand the venom that has come from them toward this work. In December we could really tell that people had read the panel's report and must have believed it. What puzzles us is how any right thinking, fair-minded person could believe that the report was unbiased? We know the truth. We work here every day, six days a week. We know the truth, not the twisted half-truths people say - but the truth. We know where the money comes from and how it is spent.
Every time a company calls about a debt incurred by the previous group, Michael tells them he will arrange to pay it. Someone who really doesn't understand would say, "Well, he was part of that." Yes, he was. We here know that.
We also know that the previous group has collected and continues collecting funds and creating debt even today. However, they neither pay these debts nor send out the items people have requested and paid for. When the people end up calling us, we are instructed by Michael to send them whatever they ordered from the other group. There are still web sites up that are selling Michael's material without his permission. Since this is the only office reproducing that material, ask yourself how are they getting it.
We have seen Michael give away material every week so don't think this is about greed or that Michael wants everything purchased through this office and not copied. That's not it. We have a very tight budget and he has to determine how much can be given away to those who have ordered from others but not received their product. Michael also instructs us to give product to people going through financial difficulties.
When you work this close to the leadership of a ministry, you learn that they are human just as we are. They have trials and the flesh, even as we. The difference is we also see Yahweh's hand moving in their lives. We can feel the Spirit of Him who made each of us moving in this work. The spiritual enemy just doesn't want our message produced and shared with the world. We can feel the spiritual attack every day. We know "we wrestle not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers..."
Many have written about the quality of the product Michael produces. He wants God's people to have the best he can do and he demands that of us as well. We don't know if you are aware that Michael had to re-edit every teaching, both for the DVD series and for the TV series. This is not cheap. He is in the process of doing this right now and it takes a lot of money up front.
We had to purchase all new computers for the office, ten of them, as well as phones, copiers, DVD duplicators and new equipment for IMS to be able to re-edit the teachings. Michael's personal credit cards are maxed out. The Roods paid for the production of the three new teachings out of their own pocket. Most people just don't know the cost of producing an hour of teaching that is TV quality and also the quality Michael feels The Almighty's teachings deserve.
Can we be honest with you? Eight staff members, offices, long distance phone, maintenance of the web page, and outreach to Central and South America are about $48,000 per month. New equipment costs and re-editing of teachings runs around $121,000. Defending this ministry and keeping it in compliance with all state and federal laws comes to $43,000. This does not include special expenditures for producing Michael's new teachings and Glen McWilliams' Torah teaching and distributing them to you.
Even with the staff working for less than what they would be paid at secular jobs and the office expenses held to a minimum, it still takes a lot of money to meet the demands and needs of people looking to this ministry. Even when the TV time is free, there is the cost of producing episodes, duplicating them and shipping them out. Shipping alone is over $1,000 per week.
It was like a tornado or a Tsunami that hit this ministry last year wiping out the equipment and the old product. There wasn't any insurance or government program we could look to for help to overcome this type of disaster. Yah works through His people. It is the only way it is done.
This ministry needs a special shot in the arm at this time. It needs your help. Michael is doing all he can to produce new work and teaching for you who have been so faithful. He and Glen work until one would think they are going to drop from exhaustion to get out fresh weekly material. We hear them talk of the need to hear from The Almighty in order to furnish you with fresh manna.
Michael wants to start work on the Brit Chadashah in chronological order. Also, Michael and Judith have it on their hearts to be a working example of the Torah by helping the widows, the orphans, the poor and the Messianic community in Israel. Judith has agreed to take the lead in this project that has created so much excitement among supporters since it was announced. In fact, one man who helps with mailings, while doing the first "Lydia" World Outreach Project mailing, said, "I am truly moved by the Lydia Project and wish I was rich so I could fund this new work."
Michael is trying to build the studio to produce the new series. The husband of one of the ladies working here and some other men are donating their time to get the set built. The lumber company gave us a huge break in the cost of material but there was still a cost. One employee was a supervisor at her company making over $50,000 per year. She quit her position and came to work for the ministry at less than half that. Another works for a major Michigan corporation. She gets up at 3 or 4 am so she can get her work done and then come in to help the ministry.
There are sacrifices being made every day. As we said earlier, Michael isn't writing this letter, we the staff are. We are asking you to pray about what you can do to help this ministry at this time. One lady went far and beyond the usual in January at the very time when we wondered - Will we make it? - Can Michael keep up this pace? - Where will the needed extra funds come from? Yet the funds came in.
Research shows that the two most stressful things a person can go through are divorce and financial difficulties/loss of one's business (ministry). Well, we want to share with you that we can see the stress on Michael and Judith. Many mornings we come to work to find that Michael didn't go back to the apartment but worked through the night to the point of exhaustion and fell asleep on the couch in the office. Any medical professional would tell you that Michael needs to take a long rest. He does, but he won't because he knows you depend on him and on Glen to bring you a fresh word, to get the calendar out, and to complete other projects. That is no small job.
We need your support. In August and September you opened your wallets and your purses. You searched your hearts and you helped. We haven't heard from some of you for a while but we know you are praying for this ministry. Now we the staff, not Michael, are asking you to give a special gift to this ministry during the time of Passover, a freewill offering, n'dabah, (ned-aw-baw').
When Peter said to Yahshua, "Lord, we gave up everything for you..." The Messiah told Peter...well, you know what He told him.
We are told that in the past, when the Ministry had special needs, Michael went on a road tour and wore himself out to meet the need. We know you will not be a part of seeing this man of Yahweh come to a place of complete exhaustion and possible harm. Even Moses had those who came along side and held up his arms!
It is time for all of us to go the extra mile, to give a n'dabah - a freewill offering to bless the Levite and the ministry. We promise you that we, your staff, will go the extra mile here. We will work to get you Michael's and Glen's teachings, to take your calls, to write you, to do what is necessary to be a blessing to you. We are the ones who open the mail, read the e-mails and answer the phones. We know how many have already given, but if we are to get over this hump and keep up with all the demands, this ministry needs more sacrificial giving.
We are praying Yahweh will bless you in such a supernatural way for your faithfulness and generosity. We pray that many will be able to give as the Hebrews gave to build the House of Yahweh after they left Egypt. May your giving be to the point that we too can say, "No more. It is enough!"
As we said before, Michael will not share this burden with you. He trusts you like he trusts his best friend. He has told us over and over, "This is The Almighty's work and His people." We the Staff are sharing this with you and praying together for you. Thank you for all your past support.
We are looking forward to meeting everyone in June at the Shavuot conference!
Shalom,
Your staff
