Have you noticed the Portantorchas Ad on facebook?
Some people have already contacted us about it. Most of our advertising is done through Word of mouth, where somebody who has been to Portantorchas in the past, or a Torchbearers school tells somebody else about it. They look up one of the websites, and then decide to come to Portantorchas or another Center around the World. This has and continues to work great. After almost 70 years of existence, Torchbearers or Capernwray have enough recognition for people to look us up, without spending any money on marketing.
For many Christian organizations marketing is taboo. Believing that the Lord will draw whom He chooses, when He chooses, and how He chooses, they will avoid marketing. This has and continues to work for many organizations. Some would argue that if the numbers begin to fall, perhaps it is the Lord saying that it's time to say goodbye to the organization.
I personally don't have any problem with marketing. I am thankful for the people who press on their friends or family the urgency of them attending a Torchbearers Bible School. Nonetheless, I believe so much in the message of Christ in you, as taught in our Bible Schools, in the value of community life as experienced in our centers, in the preparation for full-time Christian ministry no matter what our occupation (ie. preach Christ ALWAYS), that I think every young Christian around the World should have an experience like Portantorchas. I'm not kidding. I really, truly believe that every young Christian around the World can postpone one year or one term of their life plan and invest it in Spiritual growth. But there are millions of young people out there who would long for an opportunity like Torchbearers offers, but they don't happen to know anybody who has been to, or will ever be to a Torchbearers Bible School. They may need to be the first.
So I have started advertising on facebook. Unfortunately it is a limited form of adverstising, since I have to guess key words that will help me target an audience. Christians don't have common key words. For instance, you need to target musical preferences. I can pick Christian bands (since I'm so hip on what's going on in the Christian music scene.) But some Christians don't listen to any Christian music or at least don't want to mention it on their facebook profile. Either way, there are about 3,000,000 people who may one day see our ad. If you see it, let us know. That way we know it's getting around. You'll have to put a Christian band in your profile, or perhaps a Christian author, or a Christian book.
If you don't see it, and you've been to Torchbearers, then consider letting others know about your experience.
