**Companion Resources Newsletter**
edited by Paul D. Leichty
January 1999
I did it!
For over a year, I’ve been saying I’m going to do this. Now, here you have it–the premier edition of the **Companion Resources Newsletter**!
Is this more junk mail? I hope not! I am sending this first edition of **Companion Resources Newsletter** to family, friends, and acquaintances because I think you might be interested in the fascinating interplay of technology and Christian community. After reading this newsletter, you will have various options at the end of it for continuing to receive this (hopefully monthly) letter or telling me to delete your address from my database.
A bit of background
I started Companion Resources in 1997 in a time of personal transition. As a pastor for 16 years, I learned the value of communicating effectively and efficiently. In the past year, as I have made this temporary transition, I have given renewed thought to the tools that are increasingly important to make that communication possible in our modern world.
In the last few years, we have seen a remarkable coming together of two tools of communication, the telephone and the computer. Both tools have become very important for church, business, and personal use. In addition, the convergence of these tools through the Internet has produced a unparalleled avenue for persons with similar interests and missions from around the world to build networks of support and encouragement.
Companion Resources is a ministry and a business dedicated to finding low-cost ways for ministries, agencies, businesses, and persons with special needs to utilize modern technology to build these networks. Rather than becoming symbols of an impersonal culture, I believe telephones and computers can be tools for persons to reach out to each other. This enables a mutual helpfulness that can build up local communities, churches, and families.
This newsletter and other resources
I intend to keep this newsletter free to anyone who wants it for as long as I can sustain this enterprise. Obviously, to be able to do this, I need to find some ways for this to bring in some income. Thus, I will be promoting various avenues whereby you may gain needed services, and support Companion Resources in exchange. The newsletter will highlight some of these, but you will find much more information at the Companion Resources web site.
Paul D. Leichty
Companion Resources
People using Technology building Community