Two times to consider making a donation to CCAS:
*When you've got a little $ overage, gotten that bonus for a project well done, or had a large bill that turned out to be a small bill...and you want to give a praise offering: hit the donate button on the left hand side of the CCAS page.
*When you've got no extra dollars, but giving to a site that is maintained for your benefit; and giving to the work of Jesus is putting bucks on your belief: hit the donate button on the left hand side of the CCAS page.
**Of course if you read all this and the Holy Spirit says that you need to give in other areas, then work with enthusiasm where the spirit directs you.**
Comments
Kevin- You can contribute via Paypal or you could send a check/money order made out to the Christian Comic Arts Society and put in the memo where you want your donation to go; convention table, Alpha Omega Con, purchase of tracts, etc. As far as future plans for the site, you could contact Geoff Strout or Scott Shuford.
Ralph, thanks for the info. You are the one I heard being interviewed on the Faithful Creative podcast.
It is good to know about the con expenses. I do think that if you had a detailed list of the costs that are needed, members of the site could make some targeted donations.
What future plans do you have for this site? How can the members contribute?
As to impacting the kingdom. I'm afraid I don't know that one. We have given out thousands of evangelistic tracts at these conventions and hundreds of Bibles donated by local churches. We've had opportunities to pray for people and share the gospel at these comic cons. We've had people of different beliefs attend our Spiritual Themes in comics panels, where Christian panelists have shared their faith. As far as any impact, we are planting and watering.
I am not the treasurer of the CCAS, but I can give you some idea of some of the expenses we incur. The CCAS has had tables at the San Diego Comic Con (20 years) and Wonder Con (8 years). The prices for table range from $300-$500 dollars. Other expenses include purchasing books like the Action Bible to be sold at these conventions. At these conventions we give away evangelistic tracts, Bibles, and promotional material from local churches and ministries. We host 3 panels at San Diego that include a Spiritual Themes in Comics panel and Sunday morning church service. For the past 3 years, we have hosted the Alpha Omega Con that is a Christian themed/family friendly comic book convention. Those cost include facility rental, printing, and advertising. That covers most of our expenses. Most of our money comes from product sold at these cons and sponsorship from publishing companies to spotlight their products at Comic Con.
Brien,
Good answer and good things to know. I heard the founder of the site being interviewed on the Faithful Creative podcast and having a presence at cons is certainly a big deal.
I do have the same questions as Sven. People seem more willing to give when they have a stronger connection to where there money is going. Perhaps CCAS can post a list of expenses and their costs, as well as dreams for future endeavors which need funding. CCAS could also ask for specific donations or levels, like Kickstarter or Heifer International does. Perhaps an annual fundraiser push would help.
Honestly, your post is their first time I have noticed the Donate button. That is a shame, I know, but if people are unaware of the financial needs of this site, how will they ever know to give?
This site is the only non-commercial, non-denominational Christian Comics forum on the internet (please, anyone, correct me on this if I am not right. The internet is a big place). It is a refereed site, that means it both has a code of conduct for members and continually monitors contacts to make sure that member posts hold to the code; and that requires accountable people on duty. I contribute to maintain the physical hardware where this site lives, and the living web admin who watches over and keeps the site clean and working. Secondly, I'm putting money toward the CCAS presence at Comic Cons, where they make a lot of connections for God's glory. Ralph and others can speak more authoritatively on the ministry of CCAS off-line.
The result is a safe working and learning space for believing creators to explore and develop their passions to create art for the Kingdom of God. Christian comics are a tiny niche in a big Kingdom, and it can be hard for comic creators to find kindred artist except on-line. Seeing others struggle and create Christian Comics is vital encouragement. Some members have also found it a safe place to share personal needs, and get prayer-direction-encouragement from others on this site.
Brien, can you speak to what that money would go towards, and how the CCAS' efforts have impacted the kingdom?