Complimentary Story
It was in December of 1999 that Marshfield’s Rob Pue sold the photography studio he had founded more than a decade earlier in his hometown, and answered God’s call to start a Christian newspaper. There were 120 Christian newspapers published in the United States and Canada when the first issue of Wisconsin Christian News hit the streets in April of 2000. Today, Wisconsin Christian News (WCN) is one of only 14 still in print.Despite the many challenges and competition facing today’s newspaper industry, WCN continues to have a strong following. “Our print edition readership is greater than ever,” Rob said. “But we are also adapting to the times, with our website, which people make use of from desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones.”
Reflecting on his 15 years of bringing the gospel message to the streets of America, Rob is quick to credit God for the success of the paper. “This has definitely been the toughest job I’ve ever loved, and it hasn’t been easy, but no matter how desperate our situations became, God always managed to raise up individuals, ministries or businesses to join our team and help keep us going,” said Rob.
Rob is quick to point out that Wisconsin Christian News could not survive if it weren’t for dedicated and faithful Christians throughout the state. “Our newspaper is a combined effort of ministry partners working together to publish this newspaper,” he explained. “None of us alone could make this happen. WCN is a testimony of what is possible when Christians unite to do God’s work.”
At first, the paper was available primarily in Wisconsin. Today, the printed version of WCN not only reaches readers in Wisconsin and throughout the U S., visitors to the paper’s website come from all over the world. Except for fees received from monthly mail subscriptions, the paper is free to readers who pick them up at various outlets throughout the Badger State. The primary revenue source for WCN is from ministries and businesses who advertise in the paper, and from donations.
Rob’s biggest challenge is meeting monthly expenses. “God always provides the finances we need each month, much like manna,” he said. “We seldom have enough to store up for later, but always just enough for today.”
Although he does have some delivery help, Rob still drives about 4,000 miles on the road each month, delivering newspapers and calling on existing or potential advertising partners to the paper. One of his volunteer distributors is 78-year-old Zaida Thompson who delivers 500 - 600 copies of WCN a month, every month, even though she is in a wheelchair.
Time away from home and family, car maintenance and repair costs, inclement weather, missing or stolen newspaper racks (averaging $40 - $60 each), printing, postage, and lost revenue from unexpected advertising cancellations, all provide an on-going reminder of the challenges and sacrifices that are part of publishing a Christian newspaper. Another dilemma facing Rob this summer is the need to replace his van (now with over 200,000 miles) and his more-than-10-year-old Mac computer and associated newspaper software, which is in deserparate need of updating.
“There have been times I wonder if I can continue,” Rob admitted. “But then I receive an encouraging phone call, an e-mail or letter from someone who has been touched by this work, and I see how God is reaching people through this ministry -- that never would have happened if we were not here.” Like the the man who called Rob to tell him that a story in WCN about Wausau’s Hope Pregnancy Center had saved a baby’s life. A young woman, planning to have an abortion changed her mind at almost the last minute, because of the WCN story and turned to the Hope Center instead.
Or the traveling businessman from Ohio who came across a copy of WCN at his motel in Appleton. Having had another argument with his wife, the man admitted he was depressed and contemplating divorce. Instead of seeking solace at an adult bookstore, the man stayed in his motel room and read the WCN “from cover to cover.” He told Rob that after he spent the evening reading WCN, he felt like he had “a reason to live.” Testimonies like these have a way of recharging one’s spiritual batteries. “It is amazing how God sends me encouragement like this from our readers, at just the time I need it the most,” said Rob.
In addition to his heavy workload with the paper, Rob also does a popular radio commentary program that is heard on the VCY America Radio Network, Tuesdays at 3:15 PM and Saturdays at 2:15 PM. The program is aired on 100 radio stations coast to coast.
In 2003, Rob began sponsoring and coordinating the WCN Ministry Expo, an annual spring event calling churches, and ministries to share in a unified celebration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Cedar Creek Mall in Rothschild has been the host site of the event since 2009.
Rob is quick to point out, though, that help is seriously needed if WCN is going to continue long into the future. “The economy has had a major impact in the past five or six years. Most of our Ministry Partners renew their support every year, but I can see how it is becoming more and more difficult for them, as well as for us. We literally survive day by day, one day at a time.” As a result, for the first time, last year it became necessary for Rob to seek donations from readers to keep the newspaper in print.
“Those Christian newspapers that have survived the economic crash have had to become at least partially reader-supported,” he explained. Although donations to WCN are not currently tax deductible, many people have come forward to help with the work, but the monthly budget is still only about 30% funded, so monthly pledges are badly needed right now.
“I was very hesitant to go this route,” Rob said, “but clearly other Christian media needs this type of support, so it is not unreasonable that we would too. Christian radio stations do ‘share-a-thons’ several times a year to help meet their budgets, and it just became obvious that if we were to continue we would need to do the same.”
Wausau’s Larry Lombardo, an avid reader and supporter of WCN, is keenly aware of what’s at stake in the WCN ministry. “If Wisconsin Christian News stops publishing the word of God, then Satan wins,” said Larry. “As Christians, it’s our responsibility to make sure WCN doesn’t end up in Satan’s trophy case like other ministries that have had to end because of finances.”
Dr. James Bowman has been a Ministry Partner with WCN for most of the paper’s existence. He, too, understands that Christians need to come alongside the paper, lift it up and make sure it continues.
“Among the many things I am most grateful for is Rob Pue, our editor and creative genius behind Wisconsin Christian News. You know the saying, ‘You don’t miss your water until your well runs dry?’ Well, Rob is the wellspring of wisdom, compassion, honor, faith, humility - if you don’t think so, just go a month or two without reading the articles in his paper - when the well dries up, you will realize what you have lost.”
Rob explained that while some newspapers and magazines are going to an all-electronic format, and ending their printed versions, this would simply not work for WCN.
“Our printed version is the outreach part of our ministry,” he said. “People pick up the printed version of the paper in grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, truck stops, and place like that, places out in the public...because we are in a newspaper format, people pick it up and read it and this is how we are able to reach thousands of people who might never set foot in a church, or who would never give a second thought to a Bible tract or book. It has been an extremely good way to reach the unsaved.”
Printed copies of WCN are also available by paid subscription, and there are readers in nearly all fifty states now.
“But our online version is really meant to be a resource for Christians, as they need to go there intentionally to find it. The printed version finds them; the online version is a great resource for further information and study for growing Christians.”
Currently, there are thousands of articles archived on the website, along with audio messages, video segments, links to ministries from around the state, a Nationals and World news feed which is updated daily, an online Christian calendar of events, a monthly reader poll, and much more.
Regarding the printed papers in public places, nearly every news rack runs out of copies within about a week to ten days. “We are seeing nearly a 100% pickup rate at every location,” Rob said, “which is unheard of for just about any kind of publication. There is a real hunger and thirst for WCN out in the public.” He added that every one of his volunteer distributors ask for more copies every month, and he could easily use thousands more copies, if he could afford to have them printed.
In places where they are not allowed to place their own newspaper racks, they must rent rack space from third party rack companies that have contracts with the businesses.
But things have changed in this regard as well, over the years, as there are now some stores that will not allow WCN to be distributed at their locations at all, because it is a Christian newspaper. “Some store owners tell us they don’t want anything ‘controversial’ or ‘religious’ in their stores, and so we’re not allowed in.”
Ironically, many of these same stores do allow extremely liberal publications. In larger cities like Milwaukee, in some store locations, the two publications are side-by-side on the racks.
“I had been stocking papers in these places for several months when it suddenly dawned on me that here we are, side-by-side in the newspaper racks with this (other) paper. It reminded me of Deuteronomy 30:15: ‘Behold, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.’ People have a choice... what would happen if WCN were suddenly gone and the only choice was this other paper?”
Fifteen years ago this month Rob Pue introduced the first edition, 12-page issue of Wisconsin Christian News to Wisconsin readers. Today the printed paper is 48 pages, packed full of material with something for every member of the family.
So as WCN begins it’s 16th year of publication, we wonder: How many future issues of WCN will grace the streets of our state and the U. S.? “That’s entirely in God’s hands,” acknowledged Rob. No doubt the Lord will continue to call on His people to help answer that question.
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For further information about becoming a member of the WCN Ministry team; to become a financial contributor, volunteer distributor or help in other ways, please contact Rob at 715-486-8066 or send an email to: Rob@WisconsinChristianNews.com .
Website: www.WisconsinChristianNews.com
