The Power of God in Our Lives 🕯️
Annual Report 23/24
August 28, 2024 - Volume 17, Issue 37
Last summer, in August, I moved Eyes on Christ to the Substack platform. Substack enables writers to monetize their newsletters by offering paid subscriptions, and allowing readers to support their favorite writers directly. As we approach September 1st, I want to share how this journey has gone and my Substack experience as well in the hope that it’s informative and helpful to you. Enjoy!
About the Substack Platform
The highest earning email newsletter on Substack is Letters from an American (politics). The author reportedly earns an annual minimum of five million U.S. dollars. While Letters from an American has an estimated 1.6 million readers, only 6.25%, i.e. 100,000, is paid. The majority 93.75%, i.e. 1.5 million, is free readers.*
Eyes on Christ, however, is a part of what’s called the long tail, and belongs to the vast majority of content creators who don’t earn a decent income from their work. In other words, we’re not among the top-earning 1% or even 10%, but rather one of the many who are barely scraping by, with wide variances in revenues from paid subscribers.** Meanwhile, for each dollar earned through Substack, the platform takes a commission of up to 13.4%. This business model has raised concerns. But for the time being, I’ve decided to stay on Substack. I still believe in Substack’s no algorithms model and that it’s possible for writers like me to build a loyal audience and generate some income through my work while also serving as a witness to the power of God in our lives. 🙂
The Power of God in Our Lives: Eyes on Christ Annual Report 23/24 🕯️
I’m excited to report that it’s been a lovely year of spiritual formation and writing. My days settled into the familiar, pleasant routines again of writing, studying, gardening, cooking, cleaning, and fun! I worshipped with IPC friends, the communities to which it has given life, and created memorable new experiences with friends and family.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
From 08/07/23 to 08/07/24 I wrote a total of 54 letters - that’s 1.03 posts weekly!
I maintained a consistent schedule throughout the year, publishing every week. From August 2023 until the end of February 2024, my letters were published on Mondays. In February I alerted readers that I’d be publishing on Wednesdays. I transitioned in March. Every week I included at least one photo from our modest but drama-laden suburban Garden of Grace, travels, public domain, or generated by my forays into AI. Sometimes I had more photos. In addition to writing, I also created 4 videos and 2 audio recordings. In June, I launched a podcast Ears on Christ (paid only), thanks to a faithful reader from here who was my first guest on the show, and other faithful Eyes on Christ readers who subscribed. Another reader has been a guest, more recently.
Donations to Charities
Thanks to paid subscribers I donated to charities: PHS, USA, and Pravaham, India.
Community Engagement
Thanks to paid readers 21 letters received comments; some of you also directly emailed me. One reader ’hearted’ every letter.❤️ The top discussion: Beyond the Sunday Sermon: Moving From Authoritarian Teaching to Partners in Learning.