People For Christ Ministry Has Selfless Motives, Partners Say
People for Christ aims to spread God’s word through music, not make money, its partners say.
“Most promoters are in it to make money. We’re in it as a ministry,” said Bill Fisher, who co-founded the organization in the fall of 1993 with Dick Acker.
Robert Morris, a former youth pastor, joined People for Christ in the spring of 1994.
Fisher and Acker invested about $6,000 each into the ministry, Fisher said.
After losing money on the first 10 concerts, the ministry finally turned a profit late last year, he said.
As president, Acker said he volunteers 50 to 60 hours a week with the corporation. He handles the money and books the performers.
He takes no salary. His wife supports him with her teaching job, he said.
Morris and Fisher volunteer their time when needed.
Acker said he oversees a $210,000 annual budget. He couldn’t provide copies of 1994 tax returns because they have not been filed, he said.
The money comes primarily from ticket sales and is invested into future concerts, Acker said.
“(Acker’s) definitely not getting money out of this, because I know how much money every show makes,” Fisher said. “There’s nothing he gains through the ministry, although we’d like to change that some day.”
People for Christ has put on dozens of shows at venues as large as the Opera House and as small as local high school gymnasiums.
Scores of volunteers serve as stage hands, publicists and counselors for those who come forward seeking God during the “altar calls” at each of the shows.
The ministry has brought several well-known artists to the Northwest, including David Meece, Michael English and the Ashton, Becker, Dente Trio.
A number of tickets from each show are donated to such organizations as the Union Gospel Mission, Morning Star Boys Ranch and Ogden Hall for women and children.
The Rev. David Beseler, chaplain at Pine Lodge prerelease center, had nothing but praise for the ministry.
“Music plays such an important part in the lives of inmates,” he wrote in a thank-you letter. “It has the ability to reach down to the very soul.”
, DataTimes