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I spent 14 of the best years of my life at Cherokee and Central and I’ve sent this e-mail because I wanted you to know about the new ministry of your former pastor. Those 14 years were significant in the lives of our family. While at Cherokee, Brandon and Melody made it through middle school and high school, and Mallory made it through elementary school. During our time at Central, Brandon and Melody both became college graduates, and Mallory made it through middle school and high school to a college freshman. Wanda even became a mother-in-law while we were at Central through Brandon’s marriage to Megan, who has been a wonderful addition to our family. We’ve made lifelong friends at both churches. So, each of you has made a lasting impression on our family. I know well now, as I begin a new phase of ministry, what the apostle Paul meant when he said, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold for me. . . I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORWARD TO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE AHEAD, I PRESS TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. Thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 15:57). Several times a year I receive solicitations from non-profit organizations, even political candidates, asking if I would donate to their cause. I do support several of those causes per year, such as UT, Mid-America Seminary, Choices Resource Center, maybe one or two political candidates, etc., in addition to giving regularly to my local church. I began tithing (giving 10%) my income when I first started receiving income from working, which was mowing the yards of two neighbors each week during the mowing season when I was 10 years old. Wanda and I have tithed since we were married in 1980. We have not been able to give large single gifts of money at one time, but in 2004, our 24th year of marriage, we reached the $100,000 mark in lifetime charitable/church giving. It’s amazing how giving a little per week or so can add up over the years, from the modest beginning of our first year of marriage when we made less than $15,000 and averaged giving about $30 a week to our church and a few other causes. The last year my mom and dad worked before retiring and then began living mainly on the fixed income of social security, I earned more that year than their combined income. Yet, throughout their lives they were faithful to give their tithe to their local church and help a few other causes, too. I know hundreds of others like my parents whose small, but steady giving over time through tithing would have earned them a spot in the UT President’s Club annual giving listing or higher, as well as in the top giving levels of other organizations, if they had given their tithes to one organization other than their church. Yet, they did not give for recognition or for favoritism. They gave out of obedience to the Word of God but also because they knew their giving, when combined with that of others, would make a difference for Christ in ways they could never make by themselves or did not have the ability or means to do themselves. I have shared the preceding personal information with you because I am not going to ask you to do something that I have not also done throughout my life and given priority to, following the example my parents set for me. At 8:32 a.m. on July 10, 2009, a new ministry I have started, A FRESH START MINISTRIES, was chartered by the state of Tennessee. I resigned my full-time pastorate several months ago because I desired to expand the range of my ministry for Christ beyond the pulpit of a local church and pastoring personally, for the most part, the members of that church. My desire is to minister to people of all ages and all backgrounds, helping everyone I can to live life to its fullest at a time when many people are dealing with difficulties they never imagined they would face. I formed A Fresh Start Ministries because “at sometime we all need a fresh start.” Everyone who is not saved needs the fresh start of being born again, but, after getting saved, there are countless "fresh starts" that may be needed in life when you take into account the life issues and situations of millions of people individually. All of us have experienced times when we had to make a fresh start, such as going through a divorce, losing a job, the death of a mate or loved one, alcohol or drug addiction, personal health problems, maybe even being convicted of a crime and serving jail/prison time, even joining another church, for various reasons, after leaving a church where you were a member for many years, and the list goes on. I want to provide examples and principles from a Christian point of view, but in an upbeat, motivational, non-condemning manner that will help someone face whatever fresh start they need to make. MY DESIRE FOR THE INITIAL FOCUS OF A FRESH START MINISTRIES IS THE WEEKLY AIRING OF A TELEVISION PROGRAM TO BE TITLED, "A FRESH START." It will give a face to the ministry, and will help us promote other avenues of ministry under the umbrella of A Fresh Start Ministries. Each program will have special music, for the most part, provided by Melody, Mallory, and/or me, then a message addressing from a biblical perspective the fresh starts people face in life. Sometimes, the messages will be taped in the TV station studio, but I will also use sermon video tapes from my days as senior pastor of Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, as well as from other churches and places where I speak. Occasionally, I will do an interview format with someone, maybe one of you, who had to make a fresh start at sometime in life, and their/your testimony will help others facing what you have experienced and overcome. WVLR is the station that will air “A Fresh Start” TV program, whose broadcast range not only covers the Greater Knoxville area, but most of East Tennessee, including the Tri-Cities and Chattanooga. But, what excites me is that a program can be viewed in the hundreds of hotel and motel rooms, chalets, cabins, condos, etc. in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Townsend corridor, where people come to vacation from all over the United States and even the world. That expands the opportunity of reaching people far beyond WVLR’s broadcast range. One benefit of the TV program being on WVLR is that they give a bonus airing of the program each week. The “In Times Like These” TV program, which was sponsored by Central Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, had its main airing at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night and a bonus airing at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night. For the price, with two prime time airings, it was a fraction of the cost of what some TV stations charge, but the broadcast range was the same. I NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THE TV PROGRAM A REALITY. For the past nine months, as I have sought the will of God and "tested the waters" regarding the direction to go in ministry, Wanda has been the chief breadwinner in our family. Her salary is about a third of what I was making when I resigned from my pastorate. Giving up the security of a full-time pastorate and a satisfactory salary with accompanying benefits was a sacrifice, but my life goal’s have never centered upon how much I make and what I attain. If I had the money, I would pay for “A Fresh Start” TV program and not solicit funds from others for support. But, “A Fresh Start” will, in essence, be the church I pastor. As you know so well, churches don’t earn money by selling a product or charging membership fees. Churches receive their support financially from those who are members of the church and give tithes and offerings. Likewise, “A Fresh Start” will be supported financially by the donations of its viewers and supporters. I have no doubt that the underlying purpose behind our TV program and ministry is what people need more than anything else in life to help them to be successful and to live a life of peace, joy and contentment. IF YOU COULD GIVE A FINANCIAL DONATION to A Fresh Start Ministries toward our television ministry and the expansion of the ministry in other ways, please send it to: A Fresh Start Ministries 1000 Oak Haven Road Knoxville, TN 37932 Your gift is tax-deductible. Your gift will make a difference, even an eternal difference, in the lives of some who may be reached through “A Fresh Start” TV program who would not attend a church service. Although, the cost of taping, airing, editing, and promoting A Fresh Start TV program is about $20,000 a year, I would eventually like to expand the program to be on one of the Christian networks that broadcast nationally and internationally, such as the Trinity Broadcasting Network. To really get the ministry off the ground, we need at least $100,000. But, I am taking it one step at a time and will build upon the television program to help us get to the next level. When I have two months TV program costs in hand, I will let WVLR know that it’s a go with “A Fresh Start” TV program, schedule an air time, and begin taping the program. Perhaps, you could sponsor the program for a week at $375.00 or for a month at $1500, or for several weeks or months through your donation to A Fresh Start. If we exceed the needed funds for airing regionally on WVLR, we would have the option of looking at expanding into other TV markets. MY DESIRE IS THAT A FRESH START MINISTRIES WILL BE MY LIFE'S WORK FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. I mentioned in the opening paragraph that Wanda and I have been tithers all our lives and give above the tithe for special offerings and to other organizations and causes. The greatest financial investment we have made has not been in a home, property, a retirement account, hobbies, and so on, but it has been in our giving to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the eternal, everyday difference only He can make it the life of an individual. You have heard the phrase "starting from scratch." Well, Wanda and I are basically starting from scratch again as I begin this new ministry. We have really not built up any treasures on earth of much value, but our financial giving to the Lord's work through a variety of spiritual outreaches, we believe, has built up treasures in heaven not only for us but in the lives of those who have been led to Christ through the result of our giving (Matt. 6:19-21). In having a few months away from a full-time pastorate and the manifold responsibilities it requires, it has been a time of deepening spiritually and personal invigoration. It has been a time to reflect back over 28 years full-time in ministry and how to build upon the vast experiences of ministry throughout those years to enhance the years of ministry still ahead of me, which I believe will be my best and most effective years of making a difference for Jesus. YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THIS MINISTRY WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN A POSITIVE WAY. Every person I can influence for the better, whether it’s to help them make a fresh start because of recent circumstances or just to encourage and motivate them to give life their best shot, you will be just as much a part of changing lives for the best in your financial gift making it possible for me to impact others in such a way. That was part of the motivation why my parents were such giving people. The song, "Thank You," says, "Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that's been changed." I believe my dad has met some in heaven who have thanked him that they are in heaven because his financial gift to a ministry or church was instrumental in making it possible for a missionary or a minister to be in a place where they could lead that individual to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Even if you do not live in the viewing range of WVLR TV, you can view the current program airing on their web site: www.wvlrtv48.com, which means you could view via computer the live broadcast of “A Fresh Start.” Also, when the program begins airing, we will load each program onto my web site. A letter of recommendation is attached from Mike Ragsdale, mayor of Knox County, and from some community leaders in Oak Ridge. If you would like to talk to me personally, please call me at 865-966-4150 or e-mail me at brobmullins@aol.com. Further information about A Fresh Start Ministries and the other goals of our ministry will soon be added to my web site. Sincerely In Jesus' Name, Bobby Mullins President, A Fresh Start Ministries www.drbobbymullins.com p.s. Some of you will be receiving this letter via regular mail, but because of the potential of e-mail to go far beyond the ones who initially receive it, I sent out this info via e-mail. Please feel free to forward it to anyone whom you feel may be able to support A Fresh Start Ministries. |
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