Christian Media Giant Gospelcom Closing Down

Officials of Gospel Communications International have notified partner ministries that the Muskegon-headquartered global media distributor plans to shut down its Web-hosting services.

In an e-mail to those partners, a company official said its ministry, "as we have known it, is coming to a close."

During more than four decades of the organization's 58-year history, it operated as Gospel Films, which became the largest distributor of Christian films and videos in the world.

Most of its growth came under the leadership of the charismatic Rev. Billy Zeoli, who once served as spiritual confidante to President Gerald Ford and as chaplain to professional football and baseball teams.

It is not immediately clear what the decision may mean for other non-Internet parts of the organization's operations, such as film distribution.

"The board has not made final decisions on some things," said Gordon Loux, acting chief executive officer for Gospel Communications International.

The decision by the board follows at least two years of fiscal difficulties in which the Christian organization has registered significant financial losses.

In the last dozen years, the organization, renamed Gospel Communications, has added to its more traditional outreach with an Internet presence that has extended around the globe.

Now it has come face-to-face with some dire realities encountered by Christian non-profit organizations in the 21st century, particularly those who rely on the contributions of donors.

"If you look at the trending in religious non-profits, these have been difficult years for us," Loux said in a telephone interview from his home in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Loux refused to speculate on the firm's ultimate fate, stressing that its board hasn't made a decision. Currently the organization is focusing its efforts on smoothing the transition for member ministries of the Gospel.Com Alliance, whose Web sites have been hosted by Gospel Communications International.

"What we have been tasked with is finding homes for our ministries," said Robby Richardson, the firm's acting chief operating office for the past week and a half.

There are more than 300 members in Gospel Communications' Gospel.com Alliance.

Some staff have already left the firm, including president and CEO J.R. Whitby, who succeeded Zeoli in 2006. Zeoli had been president since 1963.

During the past two years, Zeoli has co-chaired the board of Gospel Communications with Grand Rapids businessman Doug DeVos. They could not be reached for comment.

Loux said the board's decision will have further impact on jobs at the organization but refused to speculate on how many.

An e-mail from Robinson this week to partner ministries informed them that "because of a number of factors," the ministry of Gospel Communications "as we have known it" is coming to a close.

Loux, a onetime president of Charles Colson's Prison Fellowship ministry, said he has been a friend of Zeoli's for 65 years. Loux praised Gospel Communications' innovations, particularly in the use of the Internet. Its online presence has carried the gospel to more than 200 countries. That includes the Bible Gateway, a searchable, online, multiple-translation version of the Bible.

But financial problems caused the board to rethink its ministry, Loux said.

According to the firm's annual report, the organization's expenses outstripped its revenues by $700,000, more than 17 percent of its $4 million budget.

The first eight months of 2008 brought similar difficulties, Loux said,

"We're trying to keep faith," he added. "We want to end well, if and when that time comes."

Source: Michigan Live