Complimentary Story
Editor, Wisconsin Christian News:April 2025
Last month you told me a person called you to complain that there were no “free” newspapers at our local “Christian” family restaurant which serves free vanilla pudding.
Last week, a Christian acquaintance of mine called me at home because he couldn’t find a “free” copy of Wisconsin Christian News at his local grocery store.
Last year, grocery store customers 120 miles from my home called you complaining there were no “free” Wisconsin Christian Newspapers left in the store rack.
With so many “Christians” reading Wisconsin Christian News, why do “Christians” expect a newspaper that costs $3.50 per copy to produce and distribute every month to be “free” for them?
It seems people do no realize that Wisconsin Christian News is not just for Christians, but an OUTREACH to the unsaved. The copies we place in news racks for free distribution are an outreach to the general public — and because WCN is in newspaper format, with something to catch the eye on every front page, unbelievers eagerly pick it up and read it, and it’s a very effective outreach tool. Whereas a Bible tract or book handed to someone is usually quickly discarded without thought, unsaved people actually pick Wisconsin Christian News up and READ IT all on their own!
It’s a wonderful way to witness to the lost and perishing, skeptics, leftists, agnostics and atheists — and we don’t expect those who are lost to pay for a Christian newspaper. This is our outreach to them, and I know you receive many wonderful testimonies whose lives have been deeply touched and changed for the glory of God, because copies were made available for them to freely pick up in public settings.
Yet, despite the fact that you run multiple notices in the newspaper each month, informing readers that Wisconsin Christian News is READER SUPPORTED, very few “Christians” ever consider donating anything — or even spending a mere $35 a YEAR for a subscription of their own. They just continue to EXPECT it to always be there, and to always be there “free” for them!
Yes, the Gospel is free, but MINISTRY is very costly. It’s expensive. I know, from our personal conversations, that you put thousands of miles on your delivery van every month, just getting the newspapers out to news racks. All the other distribution volunteers do the same — investing and spending their time AND their own money to distribute Wisconsin Christian News.
For us, and for you, this is ministry work. We do it for the Lord. But it is immensely frustrating to me that professing Christians never give a thought to the thousands of dollars that must be raised every month to produce and distribute such a powerful ministry tool as Wisconsin Christian News — and then they, who could easily afford to not only subscribe, but donate monthly to the work of the ministry, continue (after 26 years) to expect to get it for “free” — and they’re then angry when we aren’t able to make enough copies available for “free!”
In April, I am dropping ten of my distribution points on my delivery route and 600 fewer copies will be available. This will also save me driving 200 miles every month.
I know it is very expensive to operate and maintain our vehicles and know what YOU have had to put into maintaining your own delivery van. Well, tomorrow, my car goes to the shop for repairs, and the mechanic is NOT FREE! (Nor is the gas).
The gospel is free, but ministry work is not. Why is it that there are so few Christians willing to support this work, prayerfully and financially...work that is reaching and touching hearts, souls and minds all across the state and well beyond? As you’ve stated to me before, and which I fully believe, Wisconsin Christian News has a MUCH greater impact in saving souls, out there in the public — in a single month — than the average “church” will have in its entire existence. Yet Christians are happy to write a check to send to a missionary overseas, but neglect, without even a single thought, the lost and perishing in their own backyards — and the faithful ministers who provide solid Biblical teaching and vital news and information every month through the work of Wisconsin Christian News.
Wake up Christians! They say you won’t miss the water ‘til the well runs dry. Well, that “well” is now dry! The very LEAST you could do is order your own subscription, and I KNOW most of you are able to donate something each month toward the costs of this ministry. What are you thinking?
-Jim Frisch, Cadott, Wis.
