This ministry began on August 18th, 1996 - the day my fourth child was born.  On that day, I sent out an email message to about 12 people informing them we were on our way to the hospital.  I was struck with the ease at sending out messages to many people at the same time.  Over the next few days, I sent out updates of our new daughter and included a few words of biblical encouragement.  At some point within the first two weeks, someone sent me a reply with a challenge - Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another daily!"  That person said I should try to send out daily words of encouragement.  And so, a ministry began.

I expanded the list to about 25 people and began writing short devotionals.  This was a very good discipline for me as it kept me focused on God and on His Word.  That first year it was exciting to watch the list grow to about 125 names as people began to share the messages with others.  I remember driving out to a park with my wife and remarking on how I would like to someday work an internet based ministry full-time.  This would be nothing short of a miracle as I had no formal ministry training and was fairly well entrenched in the world's work environment (See About Steve Troxel).  At that time we joked that if the mailing list ever grew to 1000 names, we would seriously consider full-time ministry.  At the end of the first year we decided to take a break for the summer and just see where God would lead.

The second year was much like the first.  I continued to write and the mailing list grew to about 500.  We took a break again for the summer, but this time it was very hard to start back up.  I had become very busy with my work.  The pressures of work and family were beginning to squeeze out any extra time.  If not for the encouragement of my wife, I'm sure I would have abandoned this ministry.

The third year required me to minimize my time with the ministry.  I don't think I wrote more than 20 new messages during the whole year.  I simply sent out old messages and tried to keep my head above water.  However, God continued to move in a mighty way.  The mailing list grew, the Web site expanded, and we continued to get feedback messages which confirmed the need and the desire by others for this ministry to continue.  Midway through the third year (and as the mailing list was rapidly heading toward 1000), God began speaking to us about stepping out on faith.  God continued to nudge us along for the first several months of 1999 and by April we had decided to make the transition into full-time ministry.

We incorporated God's Daily Word Ministries as a non-profit corporation in the State of Texas and obtained our tax-exempt status in June, 1999.  I became a full-time minister with God's Daily Word Ministries in July, 1999.

At the end of July, 1999, there were 1300 people on our mailing list and  by the end of November, the mailing list had doubled to 2600.  Now, in November 2006, the mailing list is over 28,000, reaching many different countries and is growing consistently every week.  We also began a Spanish version of the mailing list a few years ago and are archiving these messages on the Spanish section of this site.  I'm very excited about the vision God has given us.  Our primary focus for this ministry will remain the internet - Web site and email - but we will definitely explore print material as funds are made available.  In the last five years we have published six different devotional books and have distributed over 100,000 copies completely free of charge.  We currently have several thousand copies of three devotional books "in stock" (actually in my garage) and plan to print an additional book each year (See "Book Store").  I hope to continue developing this site to include many more instructional tools in the near future.  (See "About Future Plans").  In 2002 sent out a News Letter which details some of our growth as well many of the testimonials we receive.

Please pray for this ministry as we watch God use it for His Glory! 

Matthew 28:19-20a
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Mark 16:15
"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.'"

Romans 10:14-15
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?"

Continue to allow the message to be sent!  If you would like to receive these devotionals, simply send an e-mail saying "add" to closerwalk@gdwm.org or use the subscribe box on the home page.  If you are interested in helping to support this ministry, please visit the "Support" page for more information.

Steve Troxel
President, God's Daily Word Ministries