Is Lifetime-PHG Still a Solid Investment
Read this article on my website
It’s been a challenging four years for Lifetime-PHG. Actually, it’s been a frustrating decade, not from internal pressure, but external.
As is now acknowledged in all sectors of media, academia, and government, the ministry’s struggles have been instigated by the Federal government. Their justification is that organizations like Lifetime-PHG are threats to society.
During the Obama administration, the IRS was weaponized against conservative and Christian nonprofits. Lifetime was caught in this governmental overreach. False accusations were made by the IRS that we failed to file our annual report. Fines were levied against the ministry for approximately 10% of annual revenue. The IRS warned that if we did not pay our penalty immediately, we would incur additional penalty and interest while the government evaluated our account. Our appeals are slow-walked. Interest accrues. I haven’t heard from them since last spring.
The solution? Send the IRS a copy of the ministry’s annual report, stamped with their receipt. We’ve done this—several times.
This starts a series of exchanges with the Feds stating they didn’t receive our copies, couldn’t read the form, the form was paper not electronic, electronic not paper, not signed correctly, etc., etc. Once a given case is resolved, it all starts over again citing a different year. Meanwhile, penalties, threats, accruing interest. It’s a form of extortion, and its immensely frustrating, threatening, and unsettling.
This begs the question: Why would the IRS care about a small nonprofit like Lifetime-PHG? They’ve probably spent more money harassing Lifetime-PHG than the ministry receives annually. What’s going on?
Stand by. I’ll offer my perspective in a few lines.
I’ve written extensively about the censorship on Lifetime-PHG that began four years ago. It was a two-step assault: The first quelling of our voice occurred when I wrote about the horrid policy of late-term abortion enacted by Executive Order during President Biden’s first day in office. This punishment ruined my presence on social media. The second assault occurred six months later when I asserted that the fundamental debate in American society is whether government or God should be the ultimate provider for us.
This article was immediately blocked. The government seized control of my database and blocked my mailing accounts. While days later I was able to restore my accounts, our ability to deliver my writings has never returned to normal and the ability of Lifetime-PHG to grow numerically or benefit from online marketing remains blocked.
About eighteen months ago, the organizations behind these attacks figured out that I am connected to “Everyday Grace,” Anabel’s daily devotional. Even though running on entirely different platforms than Lifetime-PHG, her devotional stopped delivering. My tech folks could see the problem, but the problem was mysterious, a solution unknown.
After much effort and expense, I gave up. There was no way to beat the government’s system. Several weeks after resigning myself to the situation, “Everyday Grace” returned to normal delivery. Who knows why? Punishment meted out, damage done to our constituency, and time served I suppose.
Why not just switch from my current accounts and open accounts on friendly platforms?
The problem with this idea is that my name is poison. Anything and anyone associating with Preston Gillham results in blockage of that site or platform. While I use an alias for podcasts and conference marketing, it’s impossible to hide electronically.
Like the CJ-5, lawn darts, and candy cigarettes, the government believes Lifetime-PHG is a risk to consumer safety. Our message is so dangerous, societal banishment is justified and our right to freedom of speech curtailed. Jonathan Turley notes, “Once declared harmful, it is not longer free speech. It’s that easy to dispense with the First Amendment.”
How egregious is this censorship? That’s hard to say, but in a recent poll, conservative students on university campuses were 300 times more prone to self-censor than liberal students. Much to the shame of those abusing their power, Lifetime-PHG is not the only entity under attack. Their principal target is our children.
Is this problem reversible?
It’s not likely.
Perhaps the incoming administration will “uproot” censorship as pledged, but the associated power and money would suggest this is unlikely. Further, unless existing algorithms, spyders, and bots can be purged from the net, then online censorship will persist. From my understanding, once these electronic tools are deployed, they replicate, and according to The Social Dilemma, technologists have no idea what they actually do or how to control them.
So, here we are: It’s the end of the year, a time for charitable giving, a season when nonprofits appeal for your contribution to advance ROI for the Kingdom.
Is Lifetime-PHG still a solid investment or are we defeated?
What does Lifetime-PHG do?
Answer: We guide Christians in the practical application of their faith.
For perspective, Scripture observes that belief in Christ is unremarkable. James states that the demons believe with enough conviction that they shudder (2:19). Clearly, Satan doesn’t care that you believe. Study the Bible all you want; lots of folks do.
But a faith that is applied is his worst nightmare. He knows once the power of Christ is deployed, it is transforming and contagious.
Why is Lifetime-PHG targeted?
Because of our expertise teaching people how to apply their faith across the spectrum of life.
Why was the government moderately bothered when I declared late-term abortion a moral abomination but went scorched-earth apoplectic when I wrote that humanity’s wellbeing is inextricably tied to who we rely upon: government or God?
The political powers felt threatened. When their power is jeopardized, they overreach—just like they did during their COVID messaging debacle. Government is existentially dependent upon the compliance of its citizenry. As they say, the top priority for an elected official is to get reelected.
Lifetime-PHG is targeted specifically because we are effective at guiding people to Jesus Christ as their all-in-all as opposed to anything or anyone else, including a socialized government. We are effective at showing Believers how to win the battle between flesh and Spirit. Thus, we are Satan’s worst nightmare.
So, we are under attack. We should be—and have been for the entirety of my professional life, just not attack by the Federal government, its agencies, and lackies.
Until four years ago, Lifetime-PHG’s measurable growth was typically around 19% per year. Operationally, between $.94 and $.97 of every dollar contributed is used in direct delivery of ministry. This is exceptional growth, efficiency, and excellence.
But four years ago, traditional growth stopped. Ministry delivery was blocked. Online marketing can’t occur. Yet, incoming communication remains remarkable. Testimonies of transformation are consistent. Reports of churches and ministry groups, both foreign and domestic, using Lifetime’s resources still come to us. In short, ministry through Lifetime-PHG is flourishing, it just can’t be measured like we used to measure it.
Here’s a history lesson: Governments, and tyrants, and despots; presidents, kings, potentates, and officials have tried throughout history to stop the influence of the Gospel and seize its power for themselves. Guess what? All of these have fallen, and the oppression they unleashed produced the opposite result of what they intended: God’s message expanded exponentially.
As I’ve written, Psalm 27 has been a harbor for my soul during the government’s attack on Lifetime-PHG. In this psalm, David reasons, “Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life.” He recounts evildoers seeking to devour him, a host rising against him, and war being unleashed upon him. But then he states, “My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.”
Are you paying attention?
Reflect upon the political fortunes lost, power transferred, demise of status, resultant financial duress, embarrassment, and societal misfortune we’ve witnessed in the last six months. “Stumbled and fell” seems an appropriate description of those seeking my demise.
Lest you be foolish enough to read this as a hopeful attachment to the incoming administration, take note: Lifetime-PHG belongs to God and depends upon Christ alone! Perhaps the One who holds and directs the atoms of the universe, distributes His message however suits Him.
At this time, I can’t produce a customary report that demonstrates conventional ROI in Lifetime-PHG. But I know this: Lifetime-PHG still rocks n rolls. We wouldn’t be targeted if we didn’t matter and we wouldn’t still be in the game if God was done with us.
THE core tenet of Lifetime-PHG is that the ministry belongs to God, not the Gillhams. When God wishes to invest His resources elsewhere, God will conclude the service of Lifetime-PHG. But until that time, NO government, administration, and no device of man is capable of stopping the message of the Gospel and its application.
If you want to invest on the cutting edge of what God is doing, the steel of Lifetime-PHG has been tempered and tested in the heat of battle. The ministry’s message is razor-sharp, clear, relevant, and we have our wits about us.
God is investing in Lifetime-PHG. Why shouldn’t you and I?
You can partner with Lifetime-PHG online via this link
You can send a check postmarked before January 1 to:
Lifetime Ministries
2020 Wilshire Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76110
You can donate stocks, securities, goods, volunteer services, and by all means, please pray. Contact me if you need assistance with these options.
As of this writing, there are still copies of No Mercy available with the deal provided at this link.
Questions? Email is a good option: preston@prestongillham.com
Now! A wonderful Christmas to you and those around you. Lord willing, we will march into the New Year focused, resolute, and confident in Him who is our life.