We made it to our Year Update, with good results.
Updates... and stuff that can hopefully help all you other stack writers!
Well it’s been one whole year of posting on Substack. It has grown, changed and I have learned and enjoyed various aspect of this experiment. With the general crush of social media opposing any views that do not fit with the social justice warriors. Generally any blogs that I have had in other places like Wordpress, Facebook or any other place have had dismal results at best.
Although this stack has not grown at breakneck speeds like many others people that I read about, I am happy with the results I am seeing. Generally around 52% of subscribers stay engaged and keep reading and interacting at some level. Although some of them do it privately, communicating via email because of what they need to say, other do it publicly.
In the last couple of months people have, to my surprise given subscriptions as gifts as we now break the 60 subscriber mark. Yes, I know other stacks are in the hundreds in their first year, but not many are speaking on the subjects I am in this stack.
Generally each post views are around double to almost triple compared to the amount of subscribers. This means it’s getting found on other platform because people are sharing. Substack has been great in sharing the numbers and facts with writers like myself. I am now finding evidence of these posts showing up on platforms like Tic Tock. Below is a list of the top twenty posts by number of views. FYI, you can click on any of the names to see the post.
Current Subscriber distribution is growing. The vast majority of subscribers for a long time were located in the southern states of America. This is perhaps happing because the content is more relevant in these area or perhaps because who is sharing. I say this because through one person I have acquired around 40% of my subscribers.
Now however this dynamic is changing as not only are overseas subscribers increasing, but some midwest and western states subscribers are starting to connect. Currently the largest contingent of oversea subscribers are in India, Great Britain and South Africa.
The chart at the bottom is for all you subscribers who have just started your stack. Look closely, for a long time my subscriber numbers had flat lined at four people. This was followed by good months and bad months. But in the last two, every record for the number of subscribers has been broken, so don’t give up.
Things Learned.
Generally the top views are not coming from anything related to the End Times, Prophetic, Spiritual Warfare, Publishing or Historical. Most are coming from three areas. One is related to Christian Integrity with the on going issues with IHOP and other Charismatic ministries. The second seems to be related to the Presence of God and the last being general updates like this one. In fact the top post with the most views is a ministry update, I’m still scratching my head about that one.
I also slowed down my posting, I was up to three posts a week and I had a strong feeling I was about to wear everyone out. To be completely honest I was almost worn out and started to suffer from writer block, So I slowed down. I am putting more thought into each post and in the case of the post, “Coming Up For Air.” I needed to do research as some new information was coming my way.
The second most popular post, “How Hard is Your Heart,” came out on May 15th. That is the anniversary date of our local fellowship group. This post got a few comments and likes. But a really interesting, personal letter was sent to me concerning this post. The author of letter also forwarded it to several other people. Basically it touched her heart in a big way, I am amazed. And by her testimony and sharing, the numbers for the post jumped, putting it into second place.
So, if your working on your stack, the main advice I can give is write from your heart to touch other hearts. I suspect if your honest, people will know it.
Other Things
I have hinted for a while that sense the Bickle Pickle hit the floor and made a mess that more would be coming. There is more happening, and part of me would love to give what I know. However a story shared is not evidence. And much of this is just bits of information that come to me in the last several years are just that, stories. Some stories I have been handed off to people who have better resources than I. They are digging for facts, and that will take time. But as they dig the information becomes clearer and truth rises to the surface. Now that does not mean they come back to me with what they know, I can just tell by their questions what they are digging for. We all just need to be patient, justice will roll on at its own speed.
So, if someone out there who is reading this feels they have something to share, here is my email address rfoster@BreadstonePublishing.com You can also use Substack’s chat as well, or you can use @BreadstonePub on X/Twitter. I don’t give away my sources unless you give permission.
The tab at the top of the home page that says, “The Legacy Continuum” has not changed. Nor have the plans changed that I have for it, the current problem is two fold. My computer crashed and I had to rebuild. I also lost many days of work due to an infected tooth. So financially I am still building back. This has given me time to reflect on various things, not just related to this audio project but the possibility of what else could possibly happen if the Lord brought the right pieces of the puzzle together. Yes, I am still being vague but that is because I am trying not to spill the beans so to speak.
I thought the sequel to my first book, “My Fathers House,” was done. But then a good prophetic friend, Ian Winslow read it and told me something is missing. So I parked, “The Well” and I am slowly understanding that there is more to write and some of what I need to cover I am learning now as everything unfolds in the Charismatic world.
~ FYI, for the growing overseas readership. If you looking for my book and you want to keep the cost down then I suggest the following sources. Click the hyperlink, I don’t make hardly anything off these but at least they are available to you.
In Europe
Australia
Me
Generally I feel like I am still sitting on a lot of information as well as possibilities. When scripture says, “all things are possibly through Christ,” I find my mind wanders down way to many roads all labeled with “what if” signs. Some are exciting, some are daunting and other seem so far fetched they need to be stuffed into a fiction book to entertain other minds.
The outside projects of firewood, and garden all seem to be moving slowly because of the odd weather that keeps hanging around North Idaho. Has it been odd in your world as well?
Follow up
I hit a few issues in a recent post about issues concerning my former employer in “Coming up for Air.” Some of the things said were because I was hearing that the staff was growing frustrated with not being told the real reason the former Vice President was fired. Here is a quote from that post.
“Other disturbing patterns emerge in leadership as there core worship shifts from God to things like money as in the case of ex-vice president Dave Yarnes. Pride, arrogance, deception, and insubordination all take root forcing leadership to pull the plug on employment. “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:23. The fact is once arrogance takes root, then your love of Jesus shifts in your soul as it is replaced with the idol of yourself as you believe your own press.”
When I worked at the Ministry I was not exactly Dave’s favorite person when he tried to hide the fact that he was shredding large quantities of Morningstar Books in the warehouse. Another staff member was sent to me to tell me to be quiet and lie to people about the reason he was doing this. I refused, went over his head and Dave refused to speak to me after that. Dave’s departure is about the money that went into his pocket that he should not have had, and the lies he told to not only senior staff but the tower attorney's as well. His attitude when confronted only expedited his very swift exit from the ministry.
As dismal as this, I wanted to give something positive to the people on Starlight Drive.
“You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.
Restore us again, God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.” Psalm 85:1-7
I know people who have prophesied total destruction for this ministry. And yes, the day may come when you “might” loose the facility you are now in, but all is not lost. A good friend I know has also seen restoration. He saw several skyscrapers all twisted and crumbling. All of these represented major ministries that were slated for destruction. But ever so slowly MorningStar’s was getting twisted back into shape. This untwisting will be very painful as some things must happen publicly for this to take place, but the end result will be worth it.
Post number 86. What do you suggest for post 100?
I launched on January 1. I've found that, so far, I really have no idea what will resonate with people and what won't. A lot of stories or lessons that I think will be popular seem to fizzle while other lessons take off for no discernable reason. Mostly, I just try to write what God gives me and let Him worry about who sees it. I'm confident that someone, somewhere is getting something out of it.
I have found two things to be true which I think has contributed to the growth I've had so far.
1. Using Notes. I saw advice about posting regularly on Notes and engaging with others to help grow your readership. I found that to be true. I still post Notes less frequently than a lot of people but I do try to like and comment on Notes and articles I read if I feel I have something to say. I've gotten a lot of subscribers this way. In fact, my subscriber growth had seemed to have stalled when I had a Note go semi-viral (350+ likes). I got around 50-60 subscribers from that one Note.
2. Reaching 100 subscribers. There really does seem to be some kind of boost when you hit 100 subscribers. I assume some algorithm kicks in. But once I hit 100 I started to get more subscribers much quicker and it's grown exponentially since.