2021 Annual Report
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| Published: December 23, 2021
Here is the list of the fourteen things we “prophesized” in December 2020 that we would achieve by December 2021, and how we measured up:
| Publish four new titles on Root Source Press | We ended up focusing very intently on publishing books this year! We published Five Years, the Dutch translation of 40 Days of Repentance, our first novel The Prize-Winning Story, and Lighting Up the Nations. We expect to publish at least four more titles in 2022! |
| Launch Root Source Conversations podcast project, interviewing fascinating people from all over the world | We recorded dozens of such conversations with Dr. Richard Booker and began uploading them and featuring them in our weekly newsletter. |
| Conclude the migration of our old site’s lessons to our new site and make progress on other aspects | Complete. We changed the model and all lessons are part of a course. We have over seventy courses on our website, and over a thousand lessons! |
| Work on upgrading the audio and visual aspects of our courses | We have begun upgrading some of our lesson videos, to include a branded introduction, visual features, and subtitles. |
| Continue to publish and upgrade our newsletter | We continue to publish our weekly newsletter, we hope to change the format next year to better reflect the onslaught of new lessons we envision. |
| Start recruiting new teachers. We aspire to have 100 teachers by December 2021 | We recruited a very special teacher, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz of blessed memory, and when we bring more students into our orbit, we will add many more teachers as well. |
| Participate in the planning of the Nations Ninth of Av 2021 | We participated in this year’s Nations Ninth of Av as an online teacher. |
| Engage with like-minded activists and organizations to launch joint educational ventures | We continue to be active among Jerusalem and worldwide groups of activists bringing Christians and Jews together, in 2022 we hope to formalize these activities even more. |
| Build a robust donor list | Much of the work here is behind the scenes, laying the technical groundwork to be able to steward our donors efficiently and affectionately:-) |
| Work towards localization of Root Source for communities in Africa, China, India, and more | deferred to 2022 |
| Hire a Christian Outreach marketing manager, towards expanding Root Source’s reach worldwide tenfold | deferred to 2022 |
| Host next year’s Bridgebuilders program | Because of the Covid, we skipped over 2021. But 2022 is sure to be great! |
| Work more on foundations | While we have not found a Foundations Officer this year, we did receive word from the Carson-Myer Foundation that they will be granting us $10,000 in 2022. |
| Create Gumroad widgets for our courses | This is also dependent on a significant infusion of website visitors but will be launched quickly once that is achieved. |
Besides the above, we:
- Participated in the Nations’ 9th of Av project.
- Raised over $134,000 through Givebutter.com fundraising campaigns since January 2021 from over 400 friends of Root Source!! That’s a growth of three times as many donors and TEN TIMES the amount of gifts in dollars! THANK YOU ALL!!!
- Raised over $22,000 through our legacy subscribers from over 80 friends of Root Source.
- Worked with our active Advisory board of more than 15 close friends and expanded our Executive Board to include six members (want to join? Contact me!).
- Welcomed Gidon’s fourth grandson to the world, and celebrated #1‘s third birthday, #2‘s second birthday, and #3‘s first birthday!
- About halfway through 2021, Dr. J. David Pitcher and Gidon Ariel joined forces to create The Institute of Midrashic Studies of the New Testament. See ntmidrash.com to learn about this exciting development!
- We hosted a groundbreaking pre-Passover symposium, uploaded the video recordings of the lectures as a course on our website, and are working on publishing the proceedings as a book.
- We attached a “piggy bank” Bless This Teacher widget to each teacher’s lesson for students to show their appreciation with a financial gift. Some students have already taken advantage of this, please look for the Bless This Teacher widget and join them:-)
- We hosted numerous online events! Symposium, zoomathon.
- We have upgraded our online store, where as of this writing you can buy thirteen books and products.
- Published Five Years with Orthodox Jews in January 2021 to rave reviews.
- Our first book in a foreign language was published! The Dutch version of 40 Days of Repentance.
- Our first novel was published, The Prize-Winning Story.
- As of November 25, we published the Bridgebuilders book and early next year we will deliver them to the Bridgebuilders.
- Besides teaching and speaking online to Christians around the world, Root Source CEO has been making inroads with Jews in Israel, sharing his story and encouraging them to engage with Christians and teach them Root Source style. Two such lectures in Hebrew are in various stages of translation for viewing on our site.
- The groundbreaking book Lighting Up the Nations by our popular teacher Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler brings together over a dozen Jewish scholars proving that Jews teaching Christians is not only permitted but commanded!
- A lot more but I don’t want to bore you:-)
What are our plans for 2022?
With God’s help, we will:
- Work on upgrading the audio and visual aspects of our courses.
- Continue to publish and upgrade our newsletter.
- Host quarterly Zoom events.
- Continue supporting the Institute of Midrashic Studies of the New Testament.
- Do “Jewish Outreach,” through live lectures and Zoom, to encourage Jewish teachers to join Root Source.
- Recruit more new teachers. We aspire to have 100 teachers by December 2022.
- Work towards localization of Root Source for communities in Africa, China, India, and more.
- Hire a Christian Outreach marketing manager, towards expanding Root Source’s reach worldwide tenfold.
- Hire a Development Officer, to focus on individual donors and foundations.
- Host next year’s Bridgebuilders program.
- Expand the Root Source Conversations podcast project, interviewing fascinating people from all over the world.
- Engage with like-minded activists and organizations to launch joint educational ventures.
- Publish four new titles on Root Source Press, including the LIST 2020 (and the LIST 2021!) and Ten From The Nations, which are already in the very last stages of production.
- create gumroad widgets for our courses.
- Probably welcome another grandchild or two into the family:-).
- Accomplish other things I haven’t thought of yet;-).
Please be in touch with me or one of our staff or volunteer advisory board members to explore how you can help us achieve our vision and goals even better this year.
To make a financial contribution to the root source, please use this link: https://givebutter.com/partnerRootSource or contact me at gidon@root-source.com.
Shalom from Jerusalem,
Gidon Ariel
Executive Director, Root Source
THANK YOU TO OUR 212 GENEROUS SUPPORTERS IN 2021!
(Please Note: our management software and bookkeeping systems didn’t work so well this year:-) If you think you should be listed in a certain category and you are not, please contact us and we will make it good!)
Champion $25,000+
The Nathaniel Foundation
Partner $1000+
Abbas Suhail
Bob O’Dell
First Melissa
Jane L Poole
Kathleen Cox
Laurie Sliz
Louise Clarke
Parthenia Antoine
Paul Sarvadi
Susan Bowles
Vicki Sarvadi
Ewe Lamb Supporter $500+
Ann Stacy
Chui Ling
Cynthia Heaton
Don Mueller
Esfira Dabuzhsky
Joan Swee Hoon Quah
Julanie C. Lee
Kathy Herbst
Ruby Smith
Sydney Hewitt
Ten Gentiles
Terry And Belinda Raines
Thomas Grace
William Wieland
Turtle Doves Supporter $250+
Brian Thomas
Bruce Haase
Christine Darg
Elizabeth Werner
Hsien E Lin
Janna Anthony
Juanita Jordan
Kate Lynne
Katerina Danek
Kingdomquest Ministries
Marie Moniz
Marion Milstead
Mary M Massad
Patrick Lineen
Shannon Cain
Sister Georjean Allenbach
Tony Burrow
Fine Flour Supporter $100+
Affordable Antiques
Alan Bingham
Alden Johnson
Allan Johnson
Anita Klassen
Arthur Mccutcheon
Aundria Price
Barbara Hanner
Bev Dennen
Brad H Yng Phd
Carlito Balintec
Charles Medina
Chasity Galyon
Christine Eldridge
Christopher Ball
Cindy Offenstein
Daniela Pomeranc
Dawn Rawson
Denise Ishizu
Diane Fortin
Dik Van Der Pols
Donna Passamonte
Douglas Bess
Drake Fenn
Elaine Birdsong
Fernando Carrillo Garcia
Frederick Elkins
Galen Walters
Gary Preston
Geraldine Pinkston
Grace & Truth Deliverance Church
Hartmut Kraft
Helena Marmros
Hilary Anderson
Hung Wang
Irene Moser
James Deyoung
Juliane Jackson
Katie Gregg
Keith Chilson
Kilee Adley
Lea Daggett
Lesley Summers
Linda Fontaine
Linda Keeling
Linda Waggoner
Lynda Sipes
Maria Miese
Michael Vantine
Michelle Cross
Mitchell Harris
Nanette Weghorst
Network For Good
Patricia Chan
Patricia Owen
Paula Bergstrand
Rafael Colon
Raquel Dewitt
Revis Daggett
Richard Sanderson
Robert Coleman
Rose Bechard
Sandra Christiansen
Satheeja Santhi Velayudhan
Timothy Mccurdy
Vincent Jordan
Wier Wood
Friend Under $100
Abigail Wolfer
Alan Ferguson
Alexandra Holloway
Amanda Kelly
Amber Onyan
Angela Hogan
Anne Lowe
Barry Siegal
Bituin Aquino
Brian Croker
Brian Prewitt
Bron Barkley
Camille J.P.G. Ooijen
Carmen Schroeder
Carol Berry
Cassie Bleuer
Cheryl Ryan
Cheyenne Plott
Craig Lodice
Darwin Jiles Jr
David Nehring
David Swaggerty
Devin Thayer
Diane Tishkoff
Donna Matts
Dorothe Waidelich
Drema Gould
Eleanor Covey
Elizabeth Lambert
Ellen Klipp
Erik Ross
Ernest Pendleton
Gale Drew
Garth Milliner
Genevieve Avraham
Gidon Ariel
Gillian Weaverr
Harriet Tamminga-Hebels
Jay George
Jennifer Chrisman
Jennifer Warrior
Jill Moody
Joanne Meeks
John Rawlings
John Talbot
Jonas Bergsten
Jose Castellanos
Joseph David
Juliana Wagner
Justin Murff
Karen Steffler
Kenneth Reed
Kimberley Kincher
Krys Hunter
Laralyn Riverwind
Laura Delegarde
Laura Warren
Lex Cullen
Linda Patterson
Linda Walker
Linda Woolard
Lindsay Hassall
Lori Hinze
Lori Kremers
Loving My
Margaret Makewell
Maria Beisert
Mary Anne Pientka
Mary Cassidy
Mel Sorensen
Nancy C Thiessen
Nancy Majette
Noel Orosa
Patricia Hogan
Patsy Hill
Paul West
Ralph Peil
Raymond Montgomery
Rebecca Darrow
Rebecca Lyttle
Robbie Mason
Robert Bleakney
Robin Fogle
Ronnie Villa
Rosemary Schindler
Rozalie Jerome
Ruth Brooks
Sally Prittie
Sandra Niedrauer
Sharleen Wilkens
Sharon Kuck
Sherwin Louis Tonty
Steve Wearp
Steven Rekedal
Susan Anderson
Swarup Naik
Sylvia Williams
Theresa Guittard
Valur J Juliusson
Victoria James
William Schroeder
Yair Mazur