Southeast Christian Church has found a growing market for Senior Minister Bob Russell's sermon transcripts. And now, that audience is increasing with the launch of a re-built Web site for the ministry that broadcasts and sells recorded sermons and transcripts, The Living Word. A new on-line ordering system for sermon tapes, CDs and transcripts from Russell and preaching associates, Dave Stone and Kyle Idleman, has been highly trafficked since the site went live, Sept. 7.

According to Jo-E Cain, The Living Word's Internet supervisor, telephone orders were the primary mode for sales prior to the launch of the new Web site ordering system. She was also spending a lot of time e-mailing transcripts to customers who purchased them.

Once the new site went live with a shopping cart, not only was the purchasing process streamlined, but Cain said the ministry found new customers.

"It's a whole different clientele," she said. In fact, half of all sales are now coming from new customers drawn in through the Web site. "That's what we've been the most pleased with," Cain said.

"Many of these people are ministers from out of town so it's a whole different purpose for what they're buying." Cain said some 36 percent of the Web sales are in transcripts, a product intended for preaching ministers. "Transcripts are by far our biggest sale," she said.

In addition, 43 percent of the revenue in the month following the launch of the new site came from new customers. That jump in sales surprised The Living Word staff because their marketing had only targeted a few hundred previous e-mail transcript customers.

The first five weeks the site was up some 192 orders came in via the Internet and 227 new customers logged in. Staffers anticipate more to come.

"Ultimately the goal is more air time for Bob, more radio broadcasts," said Judy Russell, Bob Russell's wife and the director of The Living Word. Sales of tapes, CDs and transcripts fund the minister's air time.

Russell's sermons are heard on The Living Word broadcasts on 39 radio stations throughout the United States and on four short-wave stations internationally. The broadcast ministry has grown from taping sermons on a small cassette recorder in a pew in the mid 1970s to a multi-faceted radio broadcasting, recording and bookstore ministry today.

"It is our desire and purpose to reach the hearts of millions all around the world; bringing fresh hope, encouragement, and joy through biblical preaching and teaching," the mission statement for the ministry begins. Now those millions have access to The Living Word through the World Wide Web, at www.livingword.org.

Donations generated from the new Web site also surprised The Living Word staff. Money came in from new customers who didn't buy a thing but wanted to support the ministry. "It was kind of a shock," Judy said.

The Living Word ministry also includes The Living Word Bookstore, which is operated inside the church building. Staff members say they have no plans to expand that to the Internet.

Southeast sermons can also be heard for free on the Internet at SoutheastChristian.org. In addition, Bob Russell's sermons are available at OnePlace.com and Dave Stone's sermons are available by subscription on PreachingPlus.com.

Transcripts from The Living Word average $10 each and can be downloaded or accessed by e-mail subscription. Tapes ($5) CDs ($7) and Videos ($12) are also available. In comparison, Saddleback Church Senior Pastor Rick Warren's sermons are available at Pastors.com as audio files, recordings and transcripts from $4 to $8.

PreachingTodaySermons.com offers select sermon transcripts from many preachers including Warren and Russell, for $5. But the selection is limited. They also offer a guide, "How to Use Other People's Sermons with Integrity," by Craig Brian Larson, the editor of PreachingToday.com.