MINISTRY REPORT: SPRING 09
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE FUTURE
 
Peace and Good in Christ!
 
We are on the tour bus on the way home after our Northeast leg of the Rebuilding Tour. It has been good, but it has been tough. Let me explain some specifics.
 
First the good news:
 
The ministry on these tour legs was most rewarding! After years of a concert of non stop music with only some speaking, I decided to give some deeper reflections, teachings, and meditations in the presentations. This was received very positively, and it was a most pleasant change for me as a presenter. In light of my upcoming book releases these seem most appropriate for the coming year.

 
We also offered a new approach to recording projects. We offered a download only project called "Concert Songs." For years people have asked for a project of songs and teachings just like they hear during a concert. It has been great to offer this, and it has been enthusiastically received. It was offered exclusively at concerts, but we will now offer it through the JMT website as well.

It was also great to visit the folks at Salt and Light Television in Toronto, Canada. They video recorded my complete concert at St. Paul's Basilica. The next day I did some short Advent reflections for them at their studio. I also did some other Catholic media in Toronto. They are striving to present a balanced picture of the Catholic Church according to magisterial teachings, and practices of the more mainstream Catholic in North America and around the world. They are a dedicated and most professional team, and I am pleased to participate in their ministry.

 
Now the bad news and the needs:
 
There is no doubt that the recession has seriously affected my touring ministry. Before we set out for the Oklahoma/Texas, and Northeast legs we were curious as to how the recession would affect the ministry, especially in light of the need to raise funds for rebuilding Little Portion Monastery after the terrible fire of April 28, 2008. In years past recessions have had little effect on itinerant ministries in America. Prosperity or recession, people need spiritual ministry. This time was different.
 
The recession is much deeper than anything we have experienced in our lifetime. Consequently, crowds were down 30-40%. Where normally churches are full of 500-800 people on average, this time some churches had as little as 300 people in the congregation. After consultation with other touring Christian artists, we were informed that this is the experience with most other artists of my category. Add the fact that Catholics are not accustomed to concerts in their church schedule, and it even more pronounced. Our experience is common during this recession, and comparatively, we were very blessed.
 
Likewise, offerings for the rebuilding of Little Portion Monastery were disappointing. We need to raise around $500,000 in the next year to completely pay for the new building. We had hoped that appeals at the 2009 concerts would meet this need. Based on our experience of the first tour legs, we will not meet that goal. This means that we will be appealing through our e-newsletter in the months ahead. We do not like doing this, but it is necessary under the current circumstances after the fire. The bottom line is that The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage need the help of our friends and supporters in order to have a Chapel and Common Center that will adequately meet our community's needs. WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!

 
For the future of this recession we are embarking on a limited number of "itinerant missions." This means going into a diocese or region, and spending an extended time doing one to three day events consisting of Music, Teaching, and Mediation. For the most part these will be offered as free will offering ministries. Truth be known, this type of ministry has always been my preference, and represents my heart of ministry. Unfortunately, though, in the past we often found that we consumeristic styled Americans felt that if they did not pay a substantial ticket price, the concert could not be worth attending. So these events often drew less people than regular pay concerts. During this recession it might be different. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW DIRECTION!
 
Please pray for us as we face the remainder of this recession during this most important time in the history of The Brothers and Sisters of Charity, of our nation, and of our world. The issues we face in western civilization and its effects on the entire world are serious, and radically foundational. We are at a major turning point. Jesus, the Church, and good basic spirituality provides the answers we need. I will be writing more in the weeks to come.
 
In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder, and Spiritual Father
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage