My Dear Friends:

Recently President Carter gave his State of the Union message and I feel it is time I gave a “State of the Ministry” message. Every one of you who has ever written to us will receive a copy of this letter because I sincerely need the advice and counsel of our entire audience at this time.

As most of you know, I am not backed by a church or evangelical association and I went on television by buying the time with my own money. Looking back, it was a foolhardy thing to do from a worldly point of view, but God has His ways of bringing blessings and ZOLA LEVITT LIVE continues to survive. I don’t know if you are aware of the odds against a one-man operation undertaking a national television show, but I have experienced the victories of my ancestor David facing Goliath and my kinsman Joshua estimating the walls of Jericho. Through, your kindness and giving spirit, we have consistently been able to make the shows and purchase the air time to bring you our teaching.

You have also been seeing “commercials” on the show — not for laundry soap, beer and tires, but for more Godly endeavors, like trips to the Holy Land and solid Christian books and materials. These short spots in the show have helped pay our expenses, although I would rather be rid of them and devote the time to opening God’s Word. I would rather the people watch a full 30 minutes of teaching and learn from it and contribute to its entire support, so we don’t have to waste even a moment talking to a few who might be interested in an Israel trip, or a flag, or a painting or a plaque.

Let me tell you how things really are with ZOLA LEVITT LIVE. You are the owners of the show — in a very real sense, the stockholders. I was not paid through the entire year of 1979 and in fact, I was the largest cash contributor to the show. The people who work with me all take modicum wages and work long hard hours. The stories going around lately about television evangelists driving fancy cars and having lavish amounts of money to spend, surely don’t apply to ZOLA LEVITT LIVE [my car has 96,000 miles, but the strength of Methuselah).

You who are receiving this letter represent only a small percentage of those who watch the show. Several thousands of people have written to us and have made contributions, but the show is available to several millions! You are rather Like Gideon’s Army of three hundred that had to face the vast power of the Midianites and nevertheless, with God, won the battle. By rights this report should go out to all of those who are not responding to our constant appeals, but we don’t know who they are. We serve up our show on the airwaves to all who might care to tune it in, and we only pray that those who do will be moved to make it successful.

Now we are at a crossroads. I am sure you are conscious that you have been watching reruns for some weeks and that is because our production budget has been exhausted for the moment. We dare not commit all of our money to new Spring shows because we would have nothing with which to start up again in the Fall. Yet reruns bring us fewer contributions and prevent us from speaking out on the important current issues that confront the Christian community and the world. It’s a dire situation and one to which I have no solution. We are not ashamed of our reruns, which include the Passover shows and the Seven Feasts teachings, and so many other important topics which many people missed the first time around. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been “rerun” for some two thousand years and Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ…” (Romans 1:16). But there is danger that it will be reruns from here on out until our budget is exhausted and we are at the end of the road.

Frankly, I sometimes get a bit discouraged. We have wanted to help the poor and I have said on the show that we would send free books to the poor. But on some days 50% of the people who write in just want a free book. It is remarkable that so many poor people have television sets!

Where gifts are concerned they have varied wildly. I felt deeply ashamed of myself on a day that I received two dimes and a nickel taped to a torn piece of paper and I scoffed at such a miserly offering. But when I read the message on the paper I realized that the giver, an aged saint on social security, could give no more. I had committed the sin of the disciples in overlooking the generosity of the widow’s mite. Again, I opened a letter one day which asked for a book and contained a check for $3,000 to pay for that book! I just don’t know what to make of all of this.

I said above that I needed your advice, and believe me I intend to take it seriously. I need to know from you very simply whether ZOLA LEVITT LIVE should continue. And further, if you feel that it should, would you join me in really supporting it? There is no good reason why you and I have to pay for this enormous outreach on our own when so many never consider giving (or merely shop for a book they like on the show). But even though you are the ones responsible for our being able to continue up to now, are you willing to carry an even heavier cross?

I was never a beggar but at this point I am almost willing to beg. People have been taught through this television ministry and people have been saved. If we are to continue we need substantial gifts, and that is the long and short of it. We need $25.00, and $50.00, and $100.00 gifts. We desperately need that occasional soul who has been moved to give it all in a grand gesture of Christian kindness which will make a big difference in the Kingdom to come. I personally am not willing to go on and on working for nothing, nor to see my family’s support wiped out, but I am willing to stay on camera, to stay at the typewriter putting out my books and to come to this office every day to try to accomplish this nearly impossible task. All of your help is tax deductible, of course, just as when you tithe to your church.

In past months you have received individual letters from a fund raiser whom we can no longer afford. You’ll be hearing from me personally from now on because we have had to cut the staff. Our fund raiser was careful to identify those who pledged, those who promised special gifts, etc. He reminded people to keep up with their promises and he urged them to do still more. He did a good job, all things considered, and he took quite a burden from my shoulders.

I am not as clever as that fund raiser and this letter is probably not as well done as those you have received in the past. But I am your brother — your Jewish brother in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Please help me if, you can, as the God of Israel Leads you.

Yours in His Love,