| | | PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE END OF MY LETTER! I have a very exciting update about the progress of the 7-Fold Vision! But first, let me say a big THANK YOU to everybody that has been emailing, calling, and writing to express your excitement and commitment toward seeing SkyWatch TV move forward and expand (very soon) to even more channels. Television time is extraordinarily expensive and it has truly been heartwarming to read the kind words of support, receive your gifts, and to hear how you are sharing the news abou this innovative and original television ministry and mobile-ready web service (and coming retreat center) with your friends and family. As I explained in the previous weeks, Nita and I moved to Missouri eight years ago to retire. People laugh now—as do we—but we really did set out to vacate all public ministry and quietly vanish from conferences, media, church appearances, and any other "visible" works. We intended to continue supporting ministries from the background, of course, but no longer involved on location. That was the plan. But, as they say, God had different ideas. Not only has everything turned topsy-turvy with our private retirement arrangements, but over the last thirty-six months we have reinvested our life savings back into ministry—from purchasing land and building facilities to setting up television and studio equipment, as well as budgeting for salaries that those dear people who are helping bring the "7-Fold SkyWatch TV Vision" to fruition require. Our number one goal now is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with millions of people around the world through a fresh and unique paradigm in Christian broadcasting. In addition to television, radio, and print publishing operations, we've also launched construction of a healing retreat center on 150 acres (of land we own) where children and adults can come AT NO COST, and where all amenities—from food services and lodging to expert recreational and counseling staff—will be available for free. (To those of you that may think this retreat concept sounds like an impossible pipe dream, I want you to know we did this once before when I was the executive director of the Board for Camp and Conference Ministries for the world's largest evangelical organization. I learned from experience it can be done, but in this current case it will truly be a non-profit in the purest sense of the term—a safe and inspirational environment where people can be restored or just relax for a few days and get refreshed, and again, all at no cost. Groups will be able to use the facility as well [for instance marriage retreats, writer's breakaways, girls and boys clubs, and so on], but the heart of the vision for this facility is to focus mainly on those who have somehow been hurt, abandoned, disabled, or abused.) We are so serious about this retreat that we've already taken a giant step of faith and hired some of the qualified staff. We're even seeing to the certification of specially trained animals ("therapy certified") for used in this type ministry. Below, you can watch a 30-minute broadcast show exclusively dedicated to updating you, our supports, on the progress we have made and are continuing to make. I, myself, have personally been working to make our publishing house (Defender Publishing) as successful as it can be so that I can pull from those resources to help pay for these worthy ministries, buildings, and equipment. We are praying that others will catch this vision for the retreat center and the scale of the Gospel broadcasting media outlet (television, book and magazine print and e-publications, retreat and conference ministries, etc.) as they see things really start to take off (and observe how we, ourselves, are also putting what money we had and the funds we now generate into these efforts) and come forward to lend support to the remaining equipment, building, and additional staff needs. As for the purpose of this letter to you: I would like to share some of the most recent developments at SkyWatch TV, Defender Publishing, and Whispering Ponies Ranch Retreat Center, to make you aware of what you are already helping build and can expect to see in the weeks just ahead.
* DAILY NEWS DESK: Hosts Derek and Sharon Gilbert have settled into their new "digs" and are now providing daily news (video) analysis from a biblical worldview. These updates are in addition to the weekly broadcast shows and are posted daily at SkyWatchTV.com as well as on ROKU, YouTube, and our Facebook channels. * PREPARING TO EXPAND TO MORE CHANNELS!: As you know, our flagship broadcasts are already available every Tuesday night, 9:30 EST/8:30 central on DirectTV (channel 376), the DISH Network (channel 267), and Glory Star Satellite (channel 117). Soon we hope to be on hundreds more cable TV channels via the Church Channel, Cornerstone, and eventually Daystar. Again, these shows are also available on our website each week as well as on ROKU, YouTube, and social media channels such as Facebook. * OUR NEXT MULTI-WEEK SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT is coming in October-November and is the culmination of five years of undercover research into very powerful, secrecy-laden agencies and monster corporations that involve the Genetics Revolution in ways you can hardly imagine—from the foods you and your pets eat, to laboratory-created, freakish chimeras, to the current plan by the most powerful government agencies regarding human genetic manipulation. A trailer for this explosive exposé is coming soon, so be on the watch for it! * THE ALL-WOMEN'S PROGRAM: Currently under development is an all-female program (and studio) waiting additional funding. This cast of women will operate from their own studio (think of it as a Christian version of The View), and they will cover a variety of issues important to women, from a Christ-centered approach. It will be hosted by Sharon Gilbert and several other of the ladies on the SkyWatch TV team. * OUR FIRST BIG-BUDGET DOCUMENTARY FILM: As some of you may know, we have been working for over two years on a documentary film titled INHUMAN (watch the trailer at http://www.inhumanthemovie.com). We had gathered all the footage and the first ten minutes of the film had been edited when my limited staff had to stop and focus on building SkyWatch TV. However, just a few weeks ago, we hired a film editor and now it appears we will be ready to begin distribution of this groundbreaking film by mid-October! * A BIGGER STUDIO AND SET IS NOW COMPLETE!: You may recall that our first studio was very modest and did not meet the specifics I had imagined from the start. So, I dug out the last of my savings, ordered the news desk, columns, and additional cameras and lights, and we now have a wonderful multi-seat newsroom that accommodates our many uses. We still have image generators being made for the small TVs on the left and right, and some of the colors (the reds especially) need to be toned down and darkened, but we're using the set as-is while we await these small finishing touches. Check it out below! | | |
* THE SKYWATCH TV ROKU CHANNEL is now available, and in only four weeks since it became a public channel we are already experiencing over 500,000 program plays per month…and it's growing like wildfire! Our long-term goal is to grow the ROKU channel into 24/7 broadcasting wherein we partner with a select group of ministries and teachers (those who often speak at our conferences) and broadcast their latest teachings as well. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ROKU CHANNEL HERE! * SKYWATCH MAGAZINE: As you know, we have been publishing an online magazine but the decision has been made to incorporate a print version! Keep watch for more information about this as you will want to receive the SkyWatch Magazine each month in your mailbox, chock-full of cutting edge and timely features from world leaders in prophecy, discovery, and the supernatural! * CONFERENCE: If the Lord tarries, we hope to meet many of you face to face for the first time at our First Annual Rocky Mountain International Prophecy Conference, which is to be held July 15-17, 2016. In an attempt to get the word out to EVERYONE, and to give EVERYONE a fair chance to hear about the conference via TV, email blasts, Facebook and our SkyWatchTV.com website, we won't be taking registrations until OCTOBER 13, 2015. Mark that day on your calendar, and keep in mind that the conference will sell out quickly, so clear your schedule now and plan your vacation for mid-July. There's not a prettier place to be in the summer than humidity-free, colorful Colorado. Sleep on the best available hotel beds anywhere at the Marriott, right in the shadow of Pike's Peak and minutes from the Garden of the Gods—a spectacular place to explore with the family. Tour Focus on the Family, the Shroud of Turin Museum, the US Air Force Academy, and US Olympic Training Center (right before the Olympics), and more. Great food, great weather, and great company! Our collection of speakers is unparalleled—literally every major name in prophecy circles today will be there (and we will begin announcing those names soon). * THE RETREAT CENTER: As mentioned above, we've already purchased the 150 acres upon which Whispering Ponies Ranch (WPR) is being assembled. (Besides serving as a general retreat facility, WPR will specialize in training and using therapy animals such as horses and dogs, both at this facility and by extension across the nation, through a donation program that will benefit other facilities, ministries, and veterans.) Nita and I have already paid for the raising of the main WPR lodge, which is a beautiful building constructed in a private setting that can house groups of about 50 people. We also financed the main arena (a large commercial training facility) that can substitute as a multipurpose building and auditorium when necessary. And right now, a 2500-square-foot equipment building is under production as well as public bathrooms and an RV park. Industrial paddocks are also under construction now, as well as horse-driving and riding paths, prayer-walking trails, a large pond where kids and adults can fish, and more. We hope, by this fall, to present a special report on SkyWatch TV showing everything that is already built and available for use, as well as current construction. Of course, SkyWatch TV's Gospel outreach and Whispering Ponies Ranch Retreat Center's hands-on healing ministry are being developed as funds (including personal) become available. The retreat and media outlet will provide a place of recovery, love, rest, healing, learning, and fellowship.
HOW CAN YOU PARTNER WITH SKYWATCH TV AND WPR RETREAT CENTER? 1) PRAY FOR THIS MINISTRY!: Ask the Lord to keep us on track and to maximize His will through what we know He has called us to do in these late hours. Without His calling, hand of guidance, and blessings, I might as well go back to my retirement plans…right? PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR DAILY PRAYERS! 2) PURCHASE BOOKS, EMERGENCY SUPPLIES, AND OTHER MEDIA FROM OUR ONLINE STORE!: This is currently our main income source paying for operations, equipment, and construction. Every time you buy something from our website store, you are investing directly into real ministry. 3) MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION!: Please consider making a monthly donation or a one-time gift to SkyWatchTV (primarily to help pay for television air time each month, but you can stipulate how the monies are to be used; i.e., for equipment such as new cameras, buildings, or other particular needs). We have the opportunity to go on more stations as soon as we can budget the costs. In return, each month we will mail a special gift to you as our way of saying thank you. By donating in this way, you are directly helping to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to millions of people around the world. Learn more about donating here: http://skywatchtv.com/donate/ 4) IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP SKYWATCH TV SPECIFICALLY: Our main facilities and buildings are finished now and in use. Unfortunately, we used almost all the financial resources we had on-hand to get to this point (thank you for your help!), and now we need to finish the secondary studio and to expand to additional television stations. I could list many small office equipment essentials, but the things we really need are HD cameras for the women's program, studio lighting, and several pieces of commercial set furniture. 5) TO HELP WHISPERING PONIES RANCH (WPR) SPECIFICALLY: This retreat facility is about 70 percent ready, and once built will be able to provide food services, lodging, ground and ropes course programs, and therapy and hospice animals interacting with and tailored to each group's specific needs. WPR has building, financial, and equipment needs, including farm tractors for yard and field maintenance, all-terrain, and other vehicles. We also need to build a multi-vehicle garage with apartments for guest leaders, a second lodge, a pool and pool house, and the main barn. Will you help us build this caring place that will be available at no cost to those who need it most? (Please pray about it.)
I trust you can see from this personal letter what busy little beavers we are and have been, as well as our personal level of commitment. We are putting every resource we have into: 1) reaching the world with the Gospel while possible; and 2) building a place where people can be restored and healed in a beautiful retreat setting. Please let me know if you have any questions. I promise to answer as soon as I can. I'll try to write a personal letter like this several times per year to keep you updated as things unfold. And God bless you for everything you are doing—and have already done—to partner with us! Together we are doing our part in spreading the Gospel, healing the wounded, and ministering to Jesus, Himself, in this way: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, "Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25: 35–40) Your friend and brother in Christ, Tom | | | WATCH THIS SPECIAL BROADCAST SHOW WITH UPDATES ON THE WHISPERING PONIES RANCH AND RETREAT CENTER!! | | |
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