PERSONAL

God has blessed me through this work; may I share my testimony with you?

The ByFaith Team receives tremendous encouragement by reading your testimonies, and we would love to hear your testimony. Therefore please email us.

I have lots of spiritual questions – where can I find the answers?

The ByFaith website has various pages where answers can be found to many of your questions. Please visit the site map and the 'You Ask The Questions' page to find what you are looking for.

Will you pray for me?

To maximise the exposure of your prayer request, we have developed a section on our forum where visitors can post their prayer requests. We do monitor the forum and consider the content.

How do I become a Christian or a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?

The answer to your question can be found by browsing throughout this site and reading the pages. We would particularly encourage you to visit our basic discipleship course and the page about Jesus.

I have some problems; can you give me some counselling?

Throughout the website you will find hundreds of pages of biblical teaching that should be able to help you grow in your walk with God and could help resolve problems. Try visiting  'You Ask The Questions'. However, many people do need to talk through their problems and receive prayer, and ByFaith Media is not in a position to offer counselling etc. Your Pastor/Youth Pastor or counsellor at your local church is probably better suited to be able to help you in this situation. There are also many other trusted and accountable ministries that are called to help people receive healing and deliverance who may be able to help you.

To become a disciple do I have to enter full time Christian ministry?

The basic answer is no. We are called to be salt and light in our everyday life with whomever we interact with, whether that is at school, college, out shopping, or holding down a job etc. Wherever God has placed you, you are called to be faithful and that is your mission field. Maybe it is only you who can reach those people with whom you study, work or socialise.

The important issue is that each believer follows the call of God for his or her life as each individual calling is different from the next. If in the future God calls you into full-time ministry then you must be obedient, however the majority of disciples serve God in their regular work and home lives.

In essence a disciple is fully surrendered to the call of God on his or her life and desires to be obedient in all things. Find out more by visiting our discipleship course.

I contacted you recently, why haven’t I had a response?

While each message that we receive is as unique as the people who write them, there are many questions that are frequently asked. If the answer to your message can be found in the FAQ, or on the ‘About Us’ page, then we please ask that you will spend the time to read our response on those pages. These pages have been developed over time, to answer the questions that people may have about us. Whilst we value the messages that we do receive, due to the volume, it is impossible to answer every request. If you have read the FAQ’s and the relevant links and still cannot find your answer, you could contact us again. Also we often go away for extended periods of time, on missions etc and are simply unable to reply. It is also worth bearing in mind that a recent survey suggested that 17% of all emails never end up at their intended destinations and there are many reasons for this.


WEBSITE


Tell me more about the website, how many hits have you had?

The site has had millions of hits and on the ‘About Us’ page you can find more information about it, including a small sample of the testimonies that we have received.

How can I link to ByFaith?

ByFaith has several linking options and you can find them all here.

Can you add a link to my website?

Due to the large number of requests and the administration time taken, links can now be added based upon a fee of UK £30. To apply for consideration, please send your link to us and a link to the page that wish to be added on. (It must already contain external links). After you have received confirmation from us, cheques can only be received in UK Pounds Sterling - made payable to ByFaith Media. Please send to at the address we give you.

What did you use to make the website?

We do not use any software to create the basic page, but the ByFaith Team construct each html page as necessary. The moving graphics and movies are created in Flash Macromedia. Christian webmasters please visit this page for links that could help you.

How do I get the ‘Flash’ detection?

You will need Flash to view this site. Please visit this site to download it for free.

Can you send me a Flash presentation or image?

In times past Christian leaders have asked us to e-mail them a Flash presentation (or an image) which they saw on the site. Unfortunately this is no longer possible; however you may wish to add a link from your website to the particular presentation or recommend your particular audience to visit www.byfaith.co.uk.

Can we use your material for our church magazine etc?

If you belong to an evangelical christian church which holds to the doctrines of the Evangelical Alliance, and wish to use some of our material in your church magazine, you can use 600 words without needing any written permission from ByFaith Media; but it must never be sold or used for commercial gain. Also, you may use 600 words in your book without needing any written permission. In every case, the ByFaith website must be credited with the source and the link (www.byfaith.co.uk) must also be included. The complete Discipleship Course can also be printed and used for free in your youth/cell group etc. Even after printing, our material remains the exclusive property of ByFaith Media, all rights reserved.

I’ve found an error on your site –what should I do?

If you have found a spelling error on any page, please email us with the page link (Example - www.byfaith.co.uk/paulb112.htm#t) and help us identify the paragraph with the problem. Whilst every attention is made to check and recheck each page, there are times when mistakes go unnoticed and the author, editor and the ByFaith Team would greatly appreciate these errors being pointed out. Please note that there are spelling and grammatical differences between American English and Standard English. We understand that within the Evangelical Christian Church (though united in our central doctrines) there are many different interpretations of Scripture. We do have respect for those who interpret the Scriptures differently from us, but we do not have time to discuss different views.

Can I submit my article to you?

ByFaith does receive various articles from pastors, missionaries, ministries etc, however at the present time we have a huge stock-pile of work to go online and therefore are unable to accept any more submissions. Your church magazine or website may greatly appreciate the time and effort you have put in to compiling your articles and may be willing to publish it.

Will you advertise my event?

ByFaith Media is not a site that is dedicated to advertising Christian events; therefore we encourage you to contact the relevant websites.

Can you review / play my new CD or book?

We appreciate that you will have put many hours of work, prayer etc to produce your latest CD or book. However, we rarely do reviews of books, bands or their CD’s and we are not a magazine. Also we are not a radio station and therefore cannot play your CD! There are a few ministries that feel called to specifically help to see new Christian music releases. Please take a look at the following link.

Where is the websites disclaimer?

You can find the disclaimer at the bottom of the front page.

Can we add our Bible College to your directory?

Due to the amount of requests and the administration time taken, the Bible College Directory can now be updated based upon a fee of UK £30. The listing contains the Bible College website link only. Email addresses and phone numbers etc. are not included because of the many changes that have taken place in the past.

To apply for consideration, please send your Bible College link to us. After you have received confirmation from us, we shall send you an address to contact, and cheques can only be received in UK Pounds Sterling - made payable to ByFaith Media.




MISSIONS


How many countries have Paul and Mathew visited?

At the time of writing, they have visited over 40 different countries. Some nations have been visited several times and both Paul and Mathew have travelled with other people and ministries on various mission trips.

What do you do on mission?

In every country the ByFaith Team have a mission to fulfil. At times they may meet up with local pastors and missionaries to document the work, or preach. They also distribute gospel tracts, and share the gospel one to one. Sometimes they take Bibles, Christian cassette tapes (both music and teaching) and videos in the vernacular to countries where it is not available and can also distribute small gifts to the local people. In some countries, where there are no mission opportunities, they find themselves led to pray that God’s will be done, in the nation, as it is in heaven.

What about long term follow up?

Jesus called His followers to ‘make disciples’ of all nations, ‘teaching them to observe all that I have taught you' Matthew 28:19-20. Therefore we know that every person who gives their heart to the Lord Jesus needs to learn about the principles of discipleship. For that reason, we do believe that it is very important to work with local churches and missionaries, so that each person can receive long-term support. However, the reality in some countries is that there are no local churches. Fortunately today the Internet is widely available and relatively cheap to many in some developing countries: partially in response, we have an online Discipleship Course, which is being systematically followed by believers who may not have the same access to Christian material as we do in Western countries. Also secret believers (who do not have the privilege of fellowship) can access our website in countries that do not have religious freedom (depending on government filters). We also believe that if someone has truly been saved, they will seriously seek to know more about the Lord and the life of discipleship - and those who seek shall find.

Why do you go to so many countries?

This question is often asked by a missionary who has worked many years in one country, or by someone who feels the call to one country only, or by someone who supports a believer in a country. It is our belief that for a mission outreach to be successful, long-term follow up will be needed; therefore we do love to work with local pastors and missionaries. Getting someone in a village to pray a prayer may be comparatively easy, but to see them discipled, to become a real follower of Christ Jesus takes long-term discipleship work. The ByFaith Team does not feel the call to plant churches, or to work in one country alone. They visit many countries for various reasons.

1) Because they believe God has opened the doors to these nations.

2) Because God has called them to many nations, not just one. In many ways, the ByFaith Missions are a collection of several short-term missions.

3) Because they can highlight the work of foreign missions and the plight of believers through their media work.

4) Because they love to work with local believers and know that long-term follow up is happening.

5) Because many times God uses a visiting speaker to bring fresh encouragement, and at times, the Lord moves in special ways on these occasions.

6) Because in the 21st century, we know that God uses short-term missions and at times, all the sowing that has happened over a long period can be reaped in a short mission.

7) Because primarily, ByFaith Media is a media organisation, and wants to use mass media to motivate people all over the world to become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. By filming in each country, this footage can be shared with many.

8) It is interesting to note that if the series was set in one country, then the mission could possibly be covered in one episode. As you could imagine, this list could go on! But the most important thing is that the ByFaith Team are being obedient to the call that God has for them, and we think that the most important thing for you is to be obedient to God’s call on your life.

Can I give you some Bibles or toys etc. to give to the needy?

Many people do feel a great desire to help others around the world, both spiritually and practically. However, ByFaith Media does not have a mass distribution network to be able to give these gifts, toys, Bibles etc. to the needy. Therefore, though we do at times take small amounts of gifts to the mission field, we cannot accept any more items. However, there are many ministries who feel that this is an important part of their calling, and maybe they will be able to help you fulfil this desire.

God is calling me to be a Christian missionary: how do I get started?

The first step is to make a radical commitment to Christ. Whatever He asks you to do – do it! Jesus is looking for radical obedient disciples; why not deepen your walk with God through our Discipleship Course? The Lord needs to be the foundation and focus of our lives, and He will provide all you shall need to serve Him in missions.

Are you called to do a short-term mission, or do you feel a lifetime appointment to missions? If you feel called to do a short-term mission see the next question. If you feel the call to become a full time missionary, you will probably need good biblical training - take a look at our Bible College Directory with the advice page. We recommend that you read our missions page and especially the article entitled ‘Ambassadors for Christ.’

Also please visit our store to see if there is any other relevant material for you - an example would be the Mission Preparation Training book.

If you belong to a good evangelical church, hopefully your pastor or elders can help give you some advice. You may also be able to get wisdom from visiting missionaries, or from missionary biographies. If you have a burden for a country, why not start by studying and praying for that country?

Can I go on missions with the ByFaith Team?

The ByFaith Team has been encouraged by people who have a desire to do mission work for the Lord. However ByFaith Media is not a mission-sending agency and believes that it is best that people who feel the call to missions should go with an organisation that has the experience and vision to equip each person to fulfil their call. Please speak to your Pastor or Youth leader about contacting a suitable organisation or click here for further information about Short-term missions.

Why do we need to do mission work – shouldn’t we respect other religions as another way?

Whilst we have respect for the sincerity of the people who follow various religions, Jesus made it clear that His disciples should go into all the world, preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations. Jesus said, ‘I am The Way, The Truth and The Life, no-one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6. In obedience to the command of Christ, the Christian Church proclaims the message of the gospel around the world. We should always go in the sandals of the gospel of peace and in the love of Christ. You can research this question by visiting the missions pages and the religion pages.


BYFAITH MEDIA


What is your postal address?

The quickest way to contact us is via email. Our ministry is optimised to receive contact through email and if you post us something, please understand that it will take longer for us to get the letter. If you need to send a letter to us please email us for the address. Please note, our primary form of correspondence is via email. Our postal address is not for personal counselling, which we are not in a position to offer.

What is your statement of faith?

We accept the statement of faith of the Evangelical Alliance.

We have a Christian ministry; how can we contact you?

Sometimes ByFaith Media has partnered with other Christian Ministries to produce information for the website, or whilst on missions work and on various other occasions. We believe in partnership with purpose – where ministries work together for the extension of the kingdom of God and the glorifying of Jesus. If you would like to contact us, please click here.

Can we book someone from ByFaith Media for a speaking engagement?

The ByFaith Team has travelled all over the world on mission and therefore have been able to preach the God's word in many different locations. Please contact us with your request stating if you wish someone to preach and we can look into and pray about this possibility. Please bear in mind that the ByFaith TV team are based in the South of England.

Are you affiliated with any denomination?

The ByFaith Team are evangelical and non-denominational. Our statement of faith can be found here.

How can I stay updated with what is happening in your ministry?

Every month the ByFaith website is updated with all the new features. Information about our ministry can be found on the ‘About Us’ page, and on the news link. You may also join our free email list here.

Can I work with ByFaith Media – are there any job vacancies?

It is wonderful to hear that God is placing a burden on the hearts of many people, to use the media as a tool to reach people with the message of the gospel. ByFaith Media, for the last few years has been staffed by volunteers, whom God has brought together to fulfil our vision. Unfortunately there are currently no jobs available.

Will ByFaith Media support my ministry or me?

ByFaith Media is a faith ministry that understands the pressures of leaving a regular salary to trust in the Lord’s provision. We do believe in the principles of tithing, sowing and reaping and therefore, the Lord has led us to sow financial gifts to specific ministries and people. There are many God-breathed, excellent and fruitful new ideas and ministries that are being developed and we wish you the very best in your endeavour for Him, however, we are not looking for new ministries to support and will not consider any applications. From our experience, we believe God does allow new ministries to go through tight financial pressures to test and build faith, this also helps the ministry to become cost effective. These times also help us to look to the Father alone, who has promised to provide all of our needs. We all want a testimony and when it comes to finances, many find the ‘test’ in testimony! Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission said, “God's work, done God’s way, will not lack God’s resources.”

Can you send me some free tracts, books, cassettes and DVDs?

ByFaith Media’s main calling is to produce mass media and therefore does not have a distribution network for the purpose of sending out tracts, books, cassettes tapes etc. Why not try contacting a Christian bookshop or mission/church who assists people in this way.


BYFAITH TV


What is ByFaith TV?

To find out more about ByFaith productions, please visit this page.

Can we add ByFaith TV to our programme schedule?

Please email the ByFaith Team with your request, to discuss this possibility.

Why does ByFaith TV Season 1 focus on the call to discipleship and not on the mission work?

In every country the ByFaith Team does have a missionary vision, yet we believe that the Lord has clearly lead us to focus this season one on the things that He taught us through our experiences on the mission trips, rather than on the actual mission work. Every believer is called to be a disciple of the Lord and to be obedient to the Biblical principles of discipleship, but not everyone is called to the mission field. Discipleship is focusing on applying Jesus’ teaching and on being obedient to His call for your life. The important issue is that each believer follows the call of God for his or her life as each individual’s calling is different from the next. However, through-out the whole series, the viewer can receive an insight into the work as examples of the mission are shown – in speaking in villages, meeting with pastors and missionaries, tract distribution, divine appointments, prayer etc. Please read our vision on the ‘About Us’ page.

I have a question about ByFaith productions, where can I get an answer?

Basic questions about our productions can by answered by visiting this page, and by reading the ‘About Us’ page. Other questions about ByFaith productions are actually answered within the series and by watching every episode, you may find what you are looking for. It is very difficult to get a thorough understanding of the series by just watching one or two episodes.

If you have a doctrinal question, you must appreciate that ByFaith productions are not an in-depth biblical exposition of each subject, but rather it is a very basic look at the subject(s) through the thoughts and experiences that the ByFaith Team had whilst on these missions. In every country they ask, “What did God teach us through our experiences in this country.” Hopefully, every episode will provoke thought, interest and research into every subject by the affected viewer. If you require in-depth exposition, maybe you should view a Bible teaching programme, rather than our ‘Journey of Discipleship’. You can also develop your understanding by searching through our website and in other places. We understand that within the Evangelical Christian Church, (though united by our central doctrines) there are many different interpretations of Scripture. We do have respect for those who interpret the Scriptures differently from us, but we do not have time to discuss different views. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus final words were not about discussing theology and people's different interpretations, however important that may be, but a call to preaching and discipleship.

If you have a question about the mission work, please look at the questions on this page. If your question is not answered by the comments on this page and on the other relevant pages, and you have watched every episode, then feel free to contact us.

What do you film with and what advice can you give for beginners?

We film using a Sony DV broadcast quality camcorder (which is no longer available) and edit on a G5 Apple Mac with Final Cut Pro. All the graphics are created in Flash Macromedia. If you want to start a TV ministry, please understand that the industry is moving over to High Definition. So for professional broadcast, look for HD, minimum quality requirement 3CCD, but its better to have 4CCD.

The best way to start filming is with the basics. Find a cheap digital camcorder and have a go. The basic rule is to use a tripod! No-body likes a shaky-shoot, so put the camera on a tripod and have a go at filming some things. Why not start in the garden? Film for eight seconds, then stop. Move the tripod and film for another eight seconds. Continue this and see how it looks. For interviews, set the tripod up, get everything in place, then go. The best way to learn is to practice.

Here are some important rules for filming:

1) Use the tripod. Stay steady.

2) Stay away from the zoom until you are experienced.

3) Learn the 'rule of thirds' (search online).

4) Don't film with lots of noise. Get the best sound, get a microphone.

5) Watch the light. Make sure the sun is not overwhelming everything.

To get an idea of the basic rules, you can probably get a book from the library, or visit some sites online with some rules. Our first information came from a book which was made to explain the simple principles of filming and it's worth spending a few hours reading and studying these ideas. If you search online you will find many sites that explain the rules of filming.

By filming carefully, you are also editing whilst shooting. But if you want to edit on a computer, you will need to get an editing programme from a PC shop and of course, a computer which can edit. It takes real time learning how to edit, so we started with a very simple package, then worked our way up to a more complex programme that can help. For a starter, Premier make some nice things. If you want to add music to your creation, you either have to find royalty free music, or you have to purchase the rights to use music. Search around online for these ideas and you will find help.

If you want people to view your productions, you can upload them for free to many video websites, like www.youtube.com. and www.godtube.com. But of course, it takes time to learn all the different file types, formats etc, so learning to film and edit for broadcast does take a long time, so you need lots of patience! Remember the Internet is a great tutor, so search around for other people's experiences and advice


BYFAITH STORE


Where can I buy the ByFaith products?

Please visit our store.

Can I order by post?

Orders can be received by post, with cheques in UK Pounds Sterling ONLY - payable to ByFaith Media. However the online store is the quickest way to order. If you wish to order by post, please email us with your order request and we will send you the details of how to order.

I have a problem with the DVDs, where can I get help?

Occasionally a DVD player will reject one disc, whilst playing others. The problem can be with how the DVD player interprets the DVD. First, please make sure your DVD and the player is clean. To help solve the problem, follow these instructions.

1). Check the DVD and make sure it is clean. Just a tiny bit of dust can make the DVD 'jump' because the DVD player is very sensitive.

2). Try another player. Are you playing your disc on a DVD player or on a computer? If your DVD player is having a problem, try them on a computer that can play DVD discs. Often the computer will play the DVD, showing that the DVD player is struggling and that the problem is not rooted in the disc.

3). Test the DVD on another system. If the disc is not playing in your machine, try the disc in another player, to find out if your player is having trouble with the disc. Perhaps a friends DVD player or computer could be used to test the disc.

4). Test the connections. At times, some connections on your DVD player / computer can be touched out of their proper position accidentally and they only need a little touch to get them working again.

5). If you are playing your DVD on a computer, you may find that the sound settings need to be checked, to make sure they are set completely equal and not 90% to the left speaker and 10% to the right.

6). If your disc is freezing, please use scene selection and fast-forward to get to the right place. Even the biggest blockbuster movies will freeze at times.

If you are still having problems, please email us.

My products have not arrived, where are they?

Standard delivery times within the UK take from 2-6 working days; Europe 4-10 working days and worldwide 7-16 working days. Delivery times vary between countries and due to circumstances beyond our control, items can take longer to be delivered. Under normal circumstances, if your item has not been delivered within 8 days (*for the UK), 12 days for a European destination and 16 days for the rest of the world then please email us. *Please note: we do not post items until cheques have been banked and cleared and this takes from 7-10 days.

Would ByFaith be interested in stocking any of our products in your store?

Sorry, we only stock items that have been produced by ByFaith Media.

Do you distribute to shops and online retailers giving a trade / wholesale discount?

ByFaith Media books are available direct from book wholesalers and distributors, such as PubEasy, Bertram Books, Gardners, Ingram wholesale and Ingram ipage. Please search using the book's ISBN. We also offer a trade / wholesale discount to retailers. Please email us with your specific request.




THE BYFAITH TEAM


Are Paul and Mathew Backholer available for a media interview?

Please email the ByFaith Team with your request, including the context/subject of the interview, your location and the possible length of the interview.

How did Paul and Mathew become Christians?

To find out more about Paul or Mathew please follow these links.

Do Paul and Mathew read every piece of mail?

The ByFaith Team is encouraged so much by the inspiring mail that they receive. Regretfully, due to the amount that is received, Paul and Mathew are unable to personally read or respond to every email.

What is the quickest way to contact the ByFaith Team?

Please include ‘ByFaith Media’ in your email subject title, otherwise, due to the increase in junk mail, your message may not be opened. The quickest way to contact us is via office(at)byfaith.co.uk, but please do check to see if your question has already been answered above.

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