{"id":12678,"date":"2021-12-15T15:48:06","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T23:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evangelismmarketing.com\/?p=12678"},"modified":"2021-12-15T17:09:23","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T01:09:23","slug":"a-christmas-letter-from-our-founder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evangelismmarketing.com\/2021\/12\/15\/a-christmas-letter-from-our-founder\/","title":{"rendered":"A Christmas Letter from Our Founder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"\"

Larry Witzel, Founder & President<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

This year really took a toll on my soul.<\/p>\n

Before I get to that, a couple things. First, thank you for your continued support of SermonView. It means more than you\u2019ll ever know.<\/p>\n

Second, I\u2019m amazed at how the SermonView crew has worked with each of our churches this year, and I\u2019m incredibly optimistic about the future of SermonView.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know during this season many are feeling the pain of loss, the strain of change. We\u2019ve lost too many, too soon, during this pandemic. I feel for the pastors who have had a particularly rough go of it, trying to minister in a world filled with divisiveness, anger and pain.<\/p>\n

SermonView has been feeling it, too. Many of my staff have been grieving this year: one lost his dad, another lost her sister, two lost brothers. None were from Covid-19, but all were unexpected losses. Our team is hurting.<\/p>\n

The last seven months have been tough for me, too, as I\u2019ve personally suffered compounding loss.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Larry at his dad’s 85th birthday<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

In April, my dad died, losing a decade-long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. <\/p>\n

 In May, one of my closest friends lost his battle with glioblastoma, a frightfully aggressive brain cancer. Paul left behind a wife and young son.<\/p>\n

 In July, I broke my ankle. (Expert tip: hold the rail when you walk down stairs in the dark.) For someone who values effectiveness and productivity, missing over two months of work took a crippling emotional toll, <\/strong>and combined with my other loss the darkness was often overwhelming.<\/p>\n

Then in September, SermonView\u2019s cofounder Vince Williams told me he needed to move on from our work together. We\u2019ve been friends for two decades, starting SermonView together 16 years ago. I can\u2019t imagine doing this without him\u2014he was the Lewis to my Clark, the Lennon to my McCartney.<\/p>\n

But he feels God leading him to pursue other entrepreneurial interests, and I support that. It\u2019s the right thing for him, and the right thing for SermonView. We parted as friends, and I\u2019m cheering him on.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Still, there’s a hole in my heart. I miss Vince. I miss Paul. I miss my dad.<\/p>\n

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT) says:<\/p>\n

Though the fig tree does not bud
   and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
   and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
   and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
   I will be joyful in God my Savior.<\/p>\n

I choked up as a business colleague sat in my office last week, reading this passage to me. My <\/i>fig tree feels bare. There are no grapes on the vines, no sheep in the pen or cattle in the stalls. Yet I choose <\/i>to rejoice in the Lord. I am <\/i>joyful in God my Savior.<\/p>\n

\"\"

The SermonView crew before Covid-19<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Frankly, Covid-19 should have broken SermonView. <\/strong>When you do event marketing for churches, and church events are shut down, it\u2019s going to impact business. Revenue collapsed\u2014fourth quarter last year was down 84%. Our work is labor-intensive, with high payroll and thin margins, and I had no idea how we could make it.<\/p>\n

But God sustained us. The team came together, we kept innovating, and we somehow managed to thrive through it all. There were no layoffs. Everyone who wanted to keep working full time was able to, And today we\u2019re positioned to serve you better than ever, as we solve even more marketing challenges churches face: church websites, interest tracking, Bible study interest generation, technology for online and hybrid events, and yes, evangelistic event marketing.<\/p>\n

SermonView\u2019s future is brighter than ever. But even if it wasn\u2019t, I would still rejoice in the Lord.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe you had a great year overall, and if so, we celebrate with you! But if this year was hard for you, too, we weep with you. And if you can find the strength in your heart, I invite you to join me in rejoicing in the Lord. Be joyful in God our Savior.<\/p>\n

Thank you for your support of the SermonView crew over the years.<\/strong> I\u2019m incredibly blessed to lead this team, and I\u2019m honored to serve you. I love pastors, and I believe the local church is the heartbeat of ministry. So please pray for us, as we also pray for you. I\u2019m grateful to work with you, and look forward to seeing God do big things in your church and community next year and beyond.<\/p>\n

Merry Christmas!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larry Witzel
Founder & President<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P.S. What are your big dreams for 2022? <\/strong>I\u2019d love to hear what God is doing in your church!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year really took a toll on my soul. Before I get to that, a couple things. First, thank you for your continued support of SermonView. It means more than … <\/p>\n

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