***News Release***
Just a Few Days Remain to Sign Up for The Tide® Radio Ministry’s Unique ‘Year Beard’ Challenge
Men Who Commit to Growing Their Beards for a Full Year Will Help Even More People Worldwide Hear About Jesus and His Love for Them
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.—Men who want to do their part to help people around the world hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ are getting ready to grow their beards for all of 2019.
Leading up to Jan. 4, The Tide® (www.thetide.org)global radio ministry’s unique “Year Beard” challenge will gather guys who are willing to stop shaving and grow a beard for the entire year to raise awareness and funds for the ministry. Through the “Year Beard” campaign, the bearded men will each have a fundraising goal that will help purchase more airtime for The Tide ministry’s Gospel radio broadcasts in Asia, Africa and Europe.
“I’ve been considering a beard fundraiser for a couple years and it took awhile for me to have the courage to share it and for my wife to be in agreement,” said Mark Story, Director of Development for The Tide Ministry, who envisioned the idea. “I like unique things, and as I step out courageously and grow my own beard, I’m looking for men to step up confidently with me. The beards themselves will be the attraction to provide an opportunity for men to explain that they are raising awareness and funds for The Tide Ministry. I like that I’m not asking men to do something—I’m asking them not to do something for a season. The component of commitment is important, too. I refer to this as a covenant between the Year Beard men that we will not shave, will raise funds for the Kingdom, and that we will honor our commitment. Beards are free and fun, and we’re going to grow them because we can. What a great combination to support a life-changing cause.”
The Tide ministry records and broadcasts Gospel programming in eight countries on three continents in 25 languages. With more than 7,000 languages spoken worldwide and more than 2,000 people groups that have been unreached by the Good News of Jesus, the opportunities are tremendous and the need is great.
Participants in the Year Beard challenge can sign up to grow out their beards for one, three, six or all 12 months with the goal to raise money each month for The Tide ministry. A motivating factor is the knowledge that for every dollar given, 20 more people worldwide can hear about Jesus.
Depending on the time they commit to growing their beards, participants will receive t-shirts, beard combs, beard oil and a devotional book called “Bearded Gospel Men,” along with conversation starters such as country fact sheets, a testimony sheet and a pocket info card so they can speak to potential donors about The Tide mission. Those who raise the most money for The Tide ministry throughout the year will be eligible to win sporting event tickets and gift cards.
Sponsors of the Year Beard challenge include Del Martin Inc. Screen Printed & Embroidered Sportswear and Thrivent Financial. The Tide ministry is a Thrivent Choice® Charity. For more information or to sign up by Jan. 4, visit www.YearBeard.org.
The Tide ministry currently offers audio programming in 25 heart languages spoken by millions of people in multiple regions of Albania, Bhutan, India, Kosovo, Nepal, Nigeria, Thailand and Zimbabwe, making it possible for multiple people groups to hear the Gospel in the languages they were born to speak.
For more information about The Tide broadcast projects, history, radio programs around the world, the “Every Knee, Every Tongue” campaign, the “Have You Heard?” initiative, the weekly Global Update radio features or other news, visit its web site at www.thetide.org or its Facebook page. Read more about The Tide ministry and Don Shenk here.
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