Funding Your Vision: The Cost Of Doing Ministry Online

When God calls us to create these platforms, there will be a cost—some small, some big. These costs are what allow you to grow your ministry online. Depending on the platform God has called you to, and the direction He is leading you to take your ministry—you will need to invest in expenses like your domain name or ministry hosting platform. If your goal is to build your ministry through SEO, investing in a hosting platform is the way to go. This, of course, is an expense you may or may not have in the beginning. Which leads you to ask God, If this is the platform you’ve called me to, how am I going to fund it?

Finding A Funding Strategy.

There are so many ways God will lead you to fund the vision for your ministry. Some may require an upfront investment, while other times it will require you to save for it. Whatever strategy God gives you, it will challenge you or deepen your faith in Him. This process will help you rely on His support instead of solely on your own abilities—Proverbs 3:5–6. It also reveals how God wants to uniquely fund and support your ministry.

When I began my ministry in 2023, God led me to use Google Sites, a free hosting platform. This allowed me to concentrate on building my podcasting channel, as my website was primarily for connecting with others, and sharing information about my ministry. After a year, God prompted me to switch from a free Google Sites platform to a paid platform like Squarespace.

Prior to that, God gave me a dream about using this platform, but at the time I didn't have the money. After that dream, He kept bringing up Google sites. Not knowing why, I asked God why this platform? He showed me I didn't need an expensive site right now, and would eventually upgrade to Squarespace. Since my website wasn't the main focus of my ministry, I started with a free option. After a year, I was able to finally invest in Squarespace.

Seeking God For Provision.

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy to building your ministry online. Sometimes God will have you do it one way for a season and then pivot you in the next. This may require you to trust God for yourself and have a relationship with Him to be able to discern if He is the one leading you, your flesh, or the enemy—because he wants you to walk in disobedience or try to get you to go the wrong way.

Because there are three ways you can fund your ministry: God's way, the world's way, or your own way. You need to pray and think about the costs involved. You need to know if the investment you’re making is right for you and your ministry.

Saving For The Vision.

One time God told me to save a percentage of my income towards my website every month for a year. This was so I didn’t have to worry about finding the money upfront. It also allowed me to spread my expenses over a period of time. Other times God had me take a percentage of my income that month and purchase the thing I needed. While it was a big investment at the time, God sustained me with the money I had left. This was definitely an act of faith. Sometimes God will do that to test you, and see if you’re willing to trust Him through the process of building your ministry—His way from the ground up.

Do Your Research.

If God is calling you to build a website, the first thing you need to do is see what platforms are out there. See which one fits what you’re currently trying to do. For example, if you want to build your ministry through SEO, a free platform like G-Sites isn’t going to work. But a hosting platform like Wix.com, Squarespace, or WordPress is great for that. You then need to decide which platform best fits your style and skillsets—A platform like Wix may be easier to navigate than WordPress.

Next, count the costs and look for discounts to save money at the start—Wix offers many discounts and is a good option for beginners. When you know where you’re going to build it will help you with seeking God's guidance on the HOW.

Research provides the information, but prayer gives you the insight you need to move forward. With that said, sometimes God will have you focus on building on a free platform before He leads you to a paid one!

Choosing Your Ministry Platform.

Finding out where God wants you to start your ministry—such as podcasting, blogging, or YouTube—will help you know what resources or additional costs you might need to consider. For example, if you want to launch a podcast ministry, you'll need to consider costs like a microphone, editing software, and a hosting service. You could start with a free option like Spotify and later switch to a paid service like Podbean, depending on your budget and God's direction for your ministry.

When God revealed that podcasting was going to be the primary way I would share content. I explored what platforms were available. At the time of starting my ministry—Spotify for podcasts previously known as Anchor.fm was free and easy to use. But as my podcast evolved and my needs changed, God guided me to a paid platform—Podbean.

God Will Make A Way.

In conclusion, remember that God will supply all your needs—Philippians 4-19, even the resources to build your ministry. These resources may come from unexpected sources like relationships or divine opportunities. Other times, God may prompt you to sell something you own or start a business. A good example is Apostle Paul, who used his skill as a tentmaker to fund his mission. As a business he was able to support himself and ministry, when the church couldn’t. Even if your budget is tight, think about the ways God might be guiding you to fund your ministry right now.