Just stumbled across a guy named Michael Kelley...in a writing praising Dunkin' Donuts for kicking some serious Starbucks tailfeathers...and how it applies to those of us committed to sharing Jesus:
"Dunkin Donuts is creaming Starbucks right now. Dunkin won the taste test, it’s 3 times cheaper, and the company is actually expanding whereas Starbucks is closing stores every day. Dunkin is about to roll out a $100 million marketing campaign to trumpet the results of the taste test and try and put the dagger into the heart of Seattle. Some people are saying that Starbucks has seen its better days, and that this is just the beginning of the downhill slide.
I would propose that the church has something to learn from Dunkin Donuts.
The reason we have something to learn is that we have tried to be Starbucks. We’ve tried to be slick, trendy, and hip. We’ve tried to be a place that is non-threatening and easy to come to. And when you walk in, you see beautiful people in holy jeans and black glasses, all looking very intellectual and hair-frosty.
Additionally, we have tried to make church a low-demand environment, much in the same way Starbuck’s is. It’s low demand in that even though the basic premise of the store is selling coffee, some people don’t even go there for coffee at all. And nobody’s going to pressure them about the coffee. That sounds familiar, too.
But guess what?
People like Dunkin Donuts. They like that it’s not trendy. They like that it’s not hip. They like that it’s not cool. You know why they like it?
Because it’s simple: It’s good coffee at a reasonable price.
It’s not fru-fru, latte, grande, frappa-whatchamacallit. IT’S COFFEE. And at Dunkin Donuts, they call it what it is. COFFEE.
Seems like there’s a lesson in there for us as Christ-followers somewhere. Now hear me say this - I’m all for contextualizing the gospel. But I’m also for simply proclaiming what we have to “sell” rather than trying too hard to at it.
And you know what else? The thing that we have? It actually tastes good. Maybe the problem is that we don’t really believe the gospel tastes good. We don’t believe it tastes good, so we feel the need to pile alot of stuff ontop of it to make it more palpable. Maybe if we really believed it tasted good, we would have the courage to let it speak for itself, like Dunkin did, rather than trying to help out the product so much."
Encouraging support (deputation) raising and maintaining
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Don't Lose Heart
Here is a great read from one of my favorite guys, Mart Batterson:
In my daily Bible I came across this passage in Numbers 32: "They went as far as the valley of Eshcol." I think that is where many of our dreams die. It is the place where we lose heart or lose sight or lose focus. That is as far as the spies got. The promise was about to be fulfilled. It was at their fingertips, but instead they let it slip through their hands.
The valley of Eshcol is the place where we stop trying or stop believing. It is the place where we turn back. But here is what God put in my heart: turning your back on a God-given dream is turning your back on God himself. Obviously, the operative phrase is "God-given." You need to keep going after that dream. Why? Not so you can accomplishment something. Please! You need to go after that God-sized dream because it is the thing that will keep you on your knees living in raw dependence upon God. That is how we grow. And that is how we glorify God.
For those in the valley of Eshcol, here's one verse and one story.
Psalm 37 says, "Wait passionately for God." Most of us wait passively. The Psalmist says wait passionately. How do we wait passionately? One word: prayer.
I just got an email from Randall Brown, founder of Fusion Warehouse in Anderson, SC. I've never met him, but his story inspired me. He read the story in In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day about how we prayed for eight years for Ebenezers Coffeehouse and God miraculously gave us that piece of property. His story is so similar. Randall started doing prayer walks around an empty 70,000 sf Wal-Mart building. He prayed around it every day for three-and-a-half years until one day the Lord said today is the day to call them. They had 47 cents in their bank account. Today that building is home to an incredibly creative student center that is impacting its community!
I hope that encourages those who are in the valley of Eshcol. You may only have 47 cents in your account. You may have been praying for something for three-and-a-half years.
Don't lose heart. Don't lose sight. Don't lose focus.
In my daily Bible I came across this passage in Numbers 32: "They went as far as the valley of Eshcol." I think that is where many of our dreams die. It is the place where we lose heart or lose sight or lose focus. That is as far as the spies got. The promise was about to be fulfilled. It was at their fingertips, but instead they let it slip through their hands.
The valley of Eshcol is the place where we stop trying or stop believing. It is the place where we turn back. But here is what God put in my heart: turning your back on a God-given dream is turning your back on God himself. Obviously, the operative phrase is "God-given." You need to keep going after that dream. Why? Not so you can accomplishment something. Please! You need to go after that God-sized dream because it is the thing that will keep you on your knees living in raw dependence upon God. That is how we grow. And that is how we glorify God.
For those in the valley of Eshcol, here's one verse and one story.
Psalm 37 says, "Wait passionately for God." Most of us wait passively. The Psalmist says wait passionately. How do we wait passionately? One word: prayer.
I just got an email from Randall Brown, founder of Fusion Warehouse in Anderson, SC. I've never met him, but his story inspired me. He read the story in In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day about how we prayed for eight years for Ebenezers Coffeehouse and God miraculously gave us that piece of property. His story is so similar. Randall started doing prayer walks around an empty 70,000 sf Wal-Mart building. He prayed around it every day for three-and-a-half years until one day the Lord said today is the day to call them. They had 47 cents in their bank account. Today that building is home to an incredibly creative student center that is impacting its community!
I hope that encourages those who are in the valley of Eshcol. You may only have 47 cents in your account. You may have been praying for something for three-and-a-half years.
Don't lose heart. Don't lose sight. Don't lose focus.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Ideas Concerning Thank-Yous
Here's something from one of the blogs I review frequently...it is obviously not pertaining directly to those of us who have the privilege of being "on support," but it is just another prod from me to send thank you notes regularly to your people: (by the way, we have yet to get a firm "closing date" here in NY, nor do we have approved appraisal/financing on the other end...and I leave Thursday morning to drive to St Jo to attend Saturday's quizzing and then begin a week in a church in Troy, Ks Sunday...appreciate any prayers you can lift!)
rom Daily Writing Tips by Ali
rom Daily Writing Tips by Ali
Sending a thank you note is always a lovely gesture – and often an expected one. I'm sure that when you were a child, your parents encouraged (or forced) you to write thank you notes for birthday and Christmas presents. As an adult, you should still make a point of writing a thank you note to express gratitude in a number of situations. These come in both personal and business contexts:
In most cases for a personal note, it's not appropriate to set it out as a formal business letter. Instead, use good-quality notepaper or a nice greetings card.
Structuring a Personal Thank You Note
Here's an example, from the Etiquette Grrls' book More Things You Need to Be Told (p56):
Personal
It's appropriate to send a thank you note:- When you receive a gift (especially important for wedding gifts).
- When you've been a houseguest in someone's home (this is sometimes called a "bread-and-butter letter").
- When someone has done a particular favor for you.
Business
It's appropriate to send a thank you note:- After attending a job interview.
- After receiving a promotion or payrise.
- After a business lunch, dinner or party.
- When an acquaintance has given you their time and advice.
- When a manager or professor has supplied you with a reference letter.
- To co-workers who've given you a gift (this last one may fall into the "personal" category, depending on how well you know your colleagues).
Writing a Personal Thank You Note
If merely expressing your gratitude doesn't seem like a good enough reason to write a thank you note, you might like to read these words of advice from Leslie Harpold.I will also grudgingly tell you the hidden secret of thank you notes: They improve the frequency and quality of the gifts you receive. People like being appreciated, and if they feel you actually notice the nice things they do for you, they're more likely to give an encore performance.Ideally, your letter should be on paper rather than emailed. If you are emailing, you must send individual thank you notes rather than mass-emailing everyone who gave you a gift.
- How to Write a Thank you Note
In most cases for a personal note, it's not appropriate to set it out as a formal business letter. Instead, use good-quality notepaper or a nice greetings card.
Structuring a Personal Thank You Note
- You should put your address at the top (or, if you know the recipient will already have your address, simply put the name of your town and state). Add the date.
- Address the recipient as "Dear [[name]]", then open the letter by thanking them for the gift, hospitality or kindness offered.
- Your second sentence or paragraph should give some indication of your enjoyment or use of the gift.
- Some people like to go on to share a little news, especially if they have been out of touch with the recipient for a while. Some etiquette experts, though, suggest that the thank you note should purely be about the recipient's kindness, not about your own life. I believe that in a personal context, it's fine to share your news.
- A good closing sentence or paragraph is one which looks forward to seeing or speaking to the recipient – especially if a reunion or holiday is coming up. Mentioning "thank you " again is a good idea, to emphasise the point of the letter.
- You should not end with "yours sincerely" but with a less formal phrase; "love" or "love from" is often appropriate for relatives, or "best wishes", "warmest wishes" or even "thanks again".
Here's an example, from the Etiquette Grrls' book More Things You Need to Be Told (p56):
September 1, 2005As you can see, a thank you note needn't be long to be friendly, polite and effective.
Dear Katherine,
Thank you so much for the wonderful book about nineteenth-century architecture of Long Island that you sent me. Not only was it the perfect present (I haven't been able to put it down!) but it will certainly come in handy for my studies. You always pick the perfect thing!
Again, thanks so much, and I'll talk to you soon.
Love,
Bitsy
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Encouragement
From the "People Raising" folks:
"All of us are concerned when the economy goes south. It affects all of us. For the fund raiser it's a challenging time because people would tend to be more cautious and not freely give as they have in the past. But the encouraging news is that God's net worth has not decreased. When it comes to missionary support raising or raising funds for your organization, move out by faith, challenge people and look for His provision."
"All of us are concerned when the economy goes south. It affects all of us. For the fund raiser it's a challenging time because people would tend to be more cautious and not freely give as they have in the past. But the encouraging news is that God's net worth has not decreased. When it comes to missionary support raising or raising funds for your organization, move out by faith, challenge people and look for His provision."
Monday, January 25, 2010
How Does Your Email Reflect You?
Michael Hyatt writes an interesting blog, and he recently posted this regarding email. I urge you to read and heed as appropriate:
The reason I went is that Matt Baugher, one of our Thomas Nelson Vice Presidents, was starring in the lead role of Henry Higgins. I was blown away by his performance. He sang, danced, and spoke with an English accent. I was completely swept up in the story and forgot that Matt is a colleague and dear friend.
The story itself is fascinating. The version that we saw is based on George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s movie Pygmalion, with book, music and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. It is a story about Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, who takes on the challenge of transforming Eliza Doolittle, a common cockney flower girl, into a duchess.
Higgins particular expertise was that he could listen to someone speak and tell precisely where they were raised. Based on their diction, grammar, and accent, he claimed that he could determine their hometown or county of origin within six miles.
What does all of this have to do with email? Plenty.
Every time you communicate, you are making a “brand impression”—for you—and for the organization you represent. What kind of impression are you making? Is it positive or negative?
I want to focus for a few moments on email, since for most of us that comprises 90% of our communication today.
Here are four ways to make a positive impression with your email messages:
Posted: 19 Feb 2009 06:00 AM PST
Last night, Gail and I went to see the play, “My Fair Lady.” I am embarrassed to admit that I have never seen it. I had seen clips from the movie, but I had never the watched the entire thing.The reason I went is that Matt Baugher, one of our Thomas Nelson Vice Presidents, was starring in the lead role of Henry Higgins. I was blown away by his performance. He sang, danced, and spoke with an English accent. I was completely swept up in the story and forgot that Matt is a colleague and dear friend.
The story itself is fascinating. The version that we saw is based on George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s movie Pygmalion, with book, music and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. It is a story about Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, who takes on the challenge of transforming Eliza Doolittle, a common cockney flower girl, into a duchess.
Higgins particular expertise was that he could listen to someone speak and tell precisely where they were raised. Based on their diction, grammar, and accent, he claimed that he could determine their hometown or county of origin within six miles.
What does all of this have to do with email? Plenty.
Every time you communicate, you are making a “brand impression”—for you—and for the organization you represent. What kind of impression are you making? Is it positive or negative?
I want to focus for a few moments on email, since for most of us that comprises 90% of our communication today.
Here are four ways to make a positive impression with your email messages:
- Respond in a timely manner. I can’t overstate the importance of this. As I have said elsewhere, to whatever extent I have been successful, it is due in large part to the fact that I am generally been very responsive. My goal is to respond to all emails the same day I receive them.
- Address the sender personally. Don’t just start writing. Use the person’s name. Nothing is sweeter to the recipient’s ear than their own name. And in the age of unprecedented spam, using a person’s name indicates that you are a real person, not a robot.
- Use proper grammar. You don’t have to obsess about this, but observe the basics: use complete sentences, check your punctuation and spelling, and proofread your message. And please, don’t use ALL CAPS. If you are feeling a little insecure about this, I highly recommend that you read a basic English grammar book, like English Grammar for Dummies.
- Keep the message short and your intention clear. As a recipient, there is nothing worse than receiving a long message from someone, reading it, and still not knowing what the person wants or is saying. When in doubt, use short sentences, short paragraphs, and short messages.
- Use a proper signature block. Use your email program to create s standardized, email signature that includes your full name, logo, company, address, telephone numbers, website or blog, twitter handle, etc. In my opinion, it should be simple but professional.
Friday, January 22, 2010
A View of the New(sletter)
Bumped into a valued friend and coworker this morning; he told me he was going to write his newsletter and said something about how many he has written. He has been in ministry a looooong time, and the number was big.
It got me to thinking...how big is your mailing list? Let's say a small number, fifty...that means (assuming you are smart enough to send out a monthly letter) you write 12 letters that ends up being 50 a month or 600 a year. Hopefully your list is somewhat larger than that; you do the math.
In our hypothetical count, 600 letters go out. Hopefully the majority of them are actually read!
What a privilege to bless, encourage, and educate people 600 times in a year!
Whether you hate or love or are ambivilant to your newsletter; it is used of the Lord to be the lifeline for your ministry. And everytime we write we need to ask the Spirit of God to give us insights into how we can not only inform our people, but bless them.
It got me to thinking...how big is your mailing list? Let's say a small number, fifty...that means (assuming you are smart enough to send out a monthly letter) you write 12 letters that ends up being 50 a month or 600 a year. Hopefully your list is somewhat larger than that; you do the math.
In our hypothetical count, 600 letters go out. Hopefully the majority of them are actually read!
What a privilege to bless, encourage, and educate people 600 times in a year!
Whether you hate or love or are ambivilant to your newsletter; it is used of the Lord to be the lifeline for your ministry. And everytime we write we need to ask the Spirit of God to give us insights into how we can not only inform our people, but bless them.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Ten Commandments of Layout and Design for Donor Newsletters
And Curt Harlow, Chi Alpha West Coast Area director, spoke all these words:
"I am married to a great graphic designer and she brought me out of the land of bad newsletters and spake unto me:
"I am married to a great graphic designer and she brought me out of the land of bad newsletters and spake unto me:
- "You shall have no other information at the top except YOUR NAME and the FULL NAME OF YOUR MINISTRY.
- "You shall not make for yourself a newsletter that is OVERCROWDED. Nor shall it have small text and a cacophony of images or you will not receive support for a thousand generations.
- "You shall not use THE COLOR BURNT ORANGE (or similar Kinko's discount paper colors) on your newsletter.
- "Remember the Sabbath and actually SCHEDULE TIME every month to do the job with excellence. If thou doith it at the last minute your supporters shall thinkith 'This is a sloppy ministry and I shall find another place to investeth my coin.'
- "HONOR YOUR SUPPORTERS in every letter and it will go well with you. Tell them thanks, but avoid financial appeal (it won't work anyway) and never use 'poor' talk.
- "You shall not murder the English language. FIND A PROOFREADER.
- "You shall not engage in BAD PHOTOCOPIES.
- "You shall STEAL GOOD IDEAS from friends in ministry.
- "You shall not give five testimonies and seven updates with six prayer requests and fourteen scriptures. STICK TO ONE MAIN THEME and this shall you do creatively.
- "Don't covet your neighbor's COLOR LASER PRINTER. Raise your budget and get your own."
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
People "Leak"...Remind Them
I feel every monthly (yeah, I typed "monthly") letter we send out needs to remind our recipients that we are "on support." People forget, and need the reminding.
How to do that without feeling we are begging and/or whining is a chore.
One of our team had what follows in a letter last year; I kept it as a reminder, as well as a model (not word-for-word; but the sentiment) for my own letters.
Perhaps it will be of inspiration/example to you:
"It continues to be a privilege to partner with you, to trust as He speaks to the hearts of His people to provide for me along the way. Your prayers, your financial gifts and your words of encouragement are what make it possible for me to answer God's call."
Good stuff!
How to do that without feeling we are begging and/or whining is a chore.
One of our team had what follows in a letter last year; I kept it as a reminder, as well as a model (not word-for-word; but the sentiment) for my own letters.
Perhaps it will be of inspiration/example to you:
"It continues to be a privilege to partner with you, to trust as He speaks to the hearts of His people to provide for me along the way. Your prayers, your financial gifts and your words of encouragement are what make it possible for me to answer God's call."
Good stuff!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Not Directly Support Related, But Important
Since we are all in ministry, I feel compelled to share this with you for your thoughtful and prayerful consideration. After thirty plus years of vocational ministry, I sadly concur with this guys' assessment. Many of our students who profess salvation know what they are supposed to be against (premarital sex, abortion, drugs, etc), but do they know, are they being taught and guided, concerning what (Who) they are for?
Here's the thoughts:
internetmonk.com thinks evangelicalism is dying. Here is one of his observations that, for me, is hard to argue:
2) Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people the evangelical Christian faith in an orthodox form that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. In what must be the most ironic of all possible factors, an evangelical culture that has spent billions of youth ministers, Christian music, Christian publishing and Christian media has produced an entire burgeoning culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures that they will endure.
Do not be deceived by conferences or movements that are theological in nature. These are a tiny minority of evangelicalism. A strong core of evangelical beliefs is not present in most of our young people, and will be less present in the future. This loss of "the core" has been at work for some time, and the fruit of this vacancy is about to become obvious.
READ THE WHOLE THING HERE
Here's the thoughts:
internetmonk.com thinks evangelicalism is dying. Here is one of his observations that, for me, is hard to argue:
2) Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people the evangelical Christian faith in an orthodox form that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. In what must be the most ironic of all possible factors, an evangelical culture that has spent billions of youth ministers, Christian music, Christian publishing and Christian media has produced an entire burgeoning culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures that they will endure.
Do not be deceived by conferences or movements that are theological in nature. These are a tiny minority of evangelicalism. A strong core of evangelical beliefs is not present in most of our young people, and will be less present in the future. This loss of "the core" has been at work for some time, and the fruit of this vacancy is about to become obvious.
READ THE WHOLE THING HERE
Monday, January 18, 2010
A FREE Record-Keeping Program
Ethan is one of the recepients of "Support 101," and he has alerted me to a program which I did not know existed...I'm gonna give it a look, maybe a try...perhaps you should also...here is Ethan's note to me: (I'll save you a step. After you read Ethan's note come back and click here to go right to the site!
I use a free software called TNT MPD (ministry partner development)
You can either have direct downloaded gift input from your financial organization, or you can use it all manually entering all the data. It is very useful, links to outlook and excell ~ (mail merge ect) color coded as to if a donar is up to date. shows graphs as to when they give etc. you can even put pictures and notes ~ birthday and anniverseries in for suprise notes to your partners. you can write in tasks, set up certain appeals, group your partners by state, partner prayer or financial or special etc.
I am now using this with everything I do with my donors. I schedule apts and phone calls, and write down notes about each touch I have with them. If they mention they are going on vacation i write it down so that next time i call them or write, i can ask how the vacation or whatever is.
TNT ~ only really works on Windows (unless your a real techie)
I use a free software called TNT MPD (ministry partner development)
You can either have direct downloaded gift input from your financial organization, or you can use it all manually entering all the data. It is very useful, links to outlook and excell ~ (mail merge ect) color coded as to if a donar is up to date. shows graphs as to when they give etc. you can even put pictures and notes ~ birthday and anniverseries in for suprise notes to your partners. you can write in tasks, set up certain appeals, group your partners by state, partner prayer or financial or special etc.
I am now using this with everything I do with my donors. I schedule apts and phone calls, and write down notes about each touch I have with them. If they mention they are going on vacation i write it down so that next time i call them or write, i can ask how the vacation or whatever is.
TNT ~ only really works on Windows (unless your a real techie)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
God is Bigger than the Economy
Another good article from The Body Builders:
Successful Support Raising
What's a support-raising Christian worker to do when things get so bad it's more appropriate to spell it ickonomy rather than economy?! Should you do the "security shuffle," scrambling to interview for church staff or secular positions? Afraid not. They're slashing budgets and employees too! Yes, some of your donors' 401K's turned into 201K's overnight, but God is still in control, and clinging to the six pillars I list below may help you weather the financial tornadoes intent upon wreaking havoc on the economy…and our support teams!
1. Review your calling
Go back and remember when and how God led you into this ministry and reaffirm that conviction. When you get to heaven someday and review the tapes of your life, the Lord may ask, "Do you want to view the good times first or the bad?" Guess what? From God's perspective, these tumultuous, faith-stretching experiences may be part of the "Good Times Highlight Reel!"
2. Don't panic
Do not send out crisis letters. People might respond once, but if you ever do it again they'll conclude: "Either this Christian worker doesn't know how to manage their money or they need to raise more support." Ron Frey, veteran fundraiser, asks: "Can we count on the resiliency of our economy or the good will of the American people to support our causes?" My answer is a resounding NO! Even though the nightly news feeds peoples' fear by likening our situation as The Great Depression 2, our security is in God, and God alone!
3. Diversify your ministry partners
Those whose main support comes from a few big "sugar daddy's" may be in trouble when the economy tanks. For you, spread out to different cities and states, seeking to add a steady flow of new givers, even if they're just $50, $75, or $100 a month gifts. Creating a broader base of 100 monthly donors provides so much more long-term stability than hanging your hopes on five big hitters promising to tithe from their end-of-the-year real estate deals! And studies show people are less likely to cut back on a monthly commitment they have made to an individual Christian worker than they are a general gift to a church or charity.
4. Focus on essentials, not electives
Kill your debt. Don't take on any new debt. Build up your savings account. Repair stuff rather than replace. Get creative. Plant a garden. Pool the whole family's incomes and expenses. Work together, and just like your struggling supporters, prayerfully distinguish between your wants and your needs.
5. Empathize with your supporters
Acknowledge to your givers the economy is suffering and they may have been affected. Ask what you can pray for them about. Be sensitive to their losses and pressures, never demanding they give, but with appreciation and humility asking them to continue to invest in God's work through you. During these tough times, Ellis and Colleen Goldstein with Campus Crusade have committed to pray for different supporters each night and then send them a postcard telling them they did so.
6. Keep the ministry vision central
Scott Morton with the Navigators says, "We must remember we are inviting supporters to advance the Kingdom, not merely to meet our personal needs." YWAM's John Ray adds: "Let's help our supporters process what is really valuable and how their investments cannot be affected by the stock market or economy." Veteran fundraising consultant Bill McConkey shares, "We should all be making Jesus the Lord of our asset base so it goes into the Kingdom now, and when we get to heaven, God won't have to ask us why we were such hoarders!" Finally, knowing your donors want their tightly-squeezed giving dollars to be the most strategic possible, you may want to evaluate your mission statement in order to put forth the most compelling case for support possible.
Successful Support Raising
In a Suffering Economy
What's a support-raising Christian worker to do when things get so bad it's more appropriate to spell it ickonomy rather than economy?! Should you do the "security shuffle," scrambling to interview for church staff or secular positions? Afraid not. They're slashing budgets and employees too! Yes, some of your donors' 401K's turned into 201K's overnight, but God is still in control, and clinging to the six pillars I list below may help you weather the financial tornadoes intent upon wreaking havoc on the economy…and our support teams! 1. Review your calling
Go back and remember when and how God led you into this ministry and reaffirm that conviction. When you get to heaven someday and review the tapes of your life, the Lord may ask, "Do you want to view the good times first or the bad?" Guess what? From God's perspective, these tumultuous, faith-stretching experiences may be part of the "Good Times Highlight Reel!"
2. Don't panic
Do not send out crisis letters. People might respond once, but if you ever do it again they'll conclude: "Either this Christian worker doesn't know how to manage their money or they need to raise more support." Ron Frey, veteran fundraiser, asks: "Can we count on the resiliency of our economy or the good will of the American people to support our causes?" My answer is a resounding NO! Even though the nightly news feeds peoples' fear by likening our situation as The Great Depression 2, our security is in God, and God alone!
3. Diversify your ministry partners
Those whose main support comes from a few big "sugar daddy's" may be in trouble when the economy tanks. For you, spread out to different cities and states, seeking to add a steady flow of new givers, even if they're just $50, $75, or $100 a month gifts. Creating a broader base of 100 monthly donors provides so much more long-term stability than hanging your hopes on five big hitters promising to tithe from their end-of-the-year real estate deals! And studies show people are less likely to cut back on a monthly commitment they have made to an individual Christian worker than they are a general gift to a church or charity.
4. Focus on essentials, not electives
Kill your debt. Don't take on any new debt. Build up your savings account. Repair stuff rather than replace. Get creative. Plant a garden. Pool the whole family's incomes and expenses. Work together, and just like your struggling supporters, prayerfully distinguish between your wants and your needs.
5. Empathize with your supporters
Acknowledge to your givers the economy is suffering and they may have been affected. Ask what you can pray for them about. Be sensitive to their losses and pressures, never demanding they give, but with appreciation and humility asking them to continue to invest in God's work through you. During these tough times, Ellis and Colleen Goldstein with Campus Crusade have committed to pray for different supporters each night and then send them a postcard telling them they did so.
6. Keep the ministry vision central
Scott Morton with the Navigators says, "We must remember we are inviting supporters to advance the Kingdom, not merely to meet our personal needs." YWAM's John Ray adds: "Let's help our supporters process what is really valuable and how their investments cannot be affected by the stock market or economy." Veteran fundraising consultant Bill McConkey shares, "We should all be making Jesus the Lord of our asset base so it goes into the Kingdom now, and when we get to heaven, God won't have to ask us why we were such hoarders!" Finally, knowing your donors want their tightly-squeezed giving dollars to be the most strategic possible, you may want to evaluate your mission statement in order to put forth the most compelling case for support possible.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Experience Trap
This is from one of my favorites, MARK BATTERSON. Though not directly support related, there are some points that apply; and it all applies to the work to which the Lord has called us, and the work which is enabled by our supporters:
A few years ago I read a book by R.T. Kendall titled The Anointing. I memorized something he said because it's so true: "The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday."
One of my greatest fears is that I would lose my innovative edge. I never want to become a closed-system. That's why I read like crazy. That's why I go to conferences. That's why I do reconnaissance at other churches. It boils down to this: you never arrive. And if you think you have, it's the beginning of the end. One of my fall back verses is I Corinthians 8:2: "He who thinks he knows does not yet know as he ought to know." Translation? The more you know, the more you know how much you don't know!
Did some research this week on what is commonly referred to as the experience trap. On one level, experience is important. We need a deep knowledge of our domain. But if we aren't careful, old methods can blind us to new possibilities. I wrote a little bit about the heuristic bias in Wild Goose Chase. It is the tendency to think the way we've always thought and do it the way we've always done it. Another way of saying it is this: at some point, most of us stop doing ministry out of imagination and start doing ministry out of memory.
I have a core conviction: there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet. We also have a core value: everything is an experiment. But in order to maintain a culture of innovation, you have to believe that there might be a better way. Over the years, we've tried to periodically put everything we do on the table. We don't want any sacred cows. If a service isn't working, we'll kill it. If we need to shift sermon strategy, so be it. If we need to radically change our small group structure, we'll do it. Going to a free market system of small group wasn't just one of the most important decisions we ever made. It fosters innovation because we expect our leaders to get a vision from God and go for it.
I really think it comes down to this: stay humble and stay on your knees. Thank God for experience! It fuels wisdom. But let's not let it blind us to new possibilities!
I love the church. I bleed the church. And I believe our best days are in front of us. But old wineskins won't cut it. I'm praying that God would continue to raise up a generation of right-brain leaders who dare to be different.
A few years ago I read a book by R.T. Kendall titled The Anointing. I memorized something he said because it's so true: "The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday."
One of my greatest fears is that I would lose my innovative edge. I never want to become a closed-system. That's why I read like crazy. That's why I go to conferences. That's why I do reconnaissance at other churches. It boils down to this: you never arrive. And if you think you have, it's the beginning of the end. One of my fall back verses is I Corinthians 8:2: "He who thinks he knows does not yet know as he ought to know." Translation? The more you know, the more you know how much you don't know!
Did some research this week on what is commonly referred to as the experience trap. On one level, experience is important. We need a deep knowledge of our domain. But if we aren't careful, old methods can blind us to new possibilities. I wrote a little bit about the heuristic bias in Wild Goose Chase. It is the tendency to think the way we've always thought and do it the way we've always done it. Another way of saying it is this: at some point, most of us stop doing ministry out of imagination and start doing ministry out of memory.
I have a core conviction: there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet. We also have a core value: everything is an experiment. But in order to maintain a culture of innovation, you have to believe that there might be a better way. Over the years, we've tried to periodically put everything we do on the table. We don't want any sacred cows. If a service isn't working, we'll kill it. If we need to shift sermon strategy, so be it. If we need to radically change our small group structure, we'll do it. Going to a free market system of small group wasn't just one of the most important decisions we ever made. It fosters innovation because we expect our leaders to get a vision from God and go for it.
I really think it comes down to this: stay humble and stay on your knees. Thank God for experience! It fuels wisdom. But let's not let it blind us to new possibilities!
I love the church. I bleed the church. And I believe our best days are in front of us. But old wineskins won't cut it. I'm praying that God would continue to raise up a generation of right-brain leaders who dare to be different.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Resources - The Price is Right!
Here are a ton of articles from The Body Builders...do I agree with all of them? Of course not, but that isn't the point. There is no "way" to raise support; you've got to find what works for you...Obviously you can't read all of these at one sitting, but come back and check 'em out:
March 2005
"Underfunded Staff: What To Do With Them?"
April 2005
"A Working Spouse: Does it Affect Support Raising?"
May 2005
"Full or Part Time Support Raising: Which Approach is Best for Your Staff?"
June 2005
"100% in 100 Days: Are You Kidding?"
July 2005
"Lowering the Support Raising Bar: Whose Fault is That?"
August 2005
"Five Current Trends in Personal Support Raising"
September 2005
"Tentmaking vs. Support Raising: Which is the Biblical Model?"
October 2005
"Budget or Vision: Which One Pulls Your Train?"
November 2005
"Administrative Staff: Getting them Fully Funded"
December 2005
"Connecting You to Major Donors: Why Staff Should be the Bridge"
January 2006
"To Ask or Not to Ask: That is the Question!"
February 2006
"Standard of Living: What Should it be for Christian Workers?"
March 2006
"Asking Big: Does it Offend or Affirm?"
April 2006
"Front Door-Back Door: Why do people leave your organization?"
May 2006
"Getting Personal: Support Raising is like a Marriage Proposal"
June 2006
"Newsletters: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly"
July 2006
"Five Ironclad Policies Every Ministry Should Have"
August 2006
"An Open Letter to the Parents of Support Raisers"
September 2006
"An Open Letter to the Spouses of Support Raisers"
October 2006
"An Open Letter to the Pastors of Support Raisers"
November 2006
"An Open Letter to the Friends of Support Raisers"
December 2006
"Support Raising Relationships: The Six that Matter Most"
January 2007
"The Top Four Books on Support Raising"
February 2007
"Prayer and Support Raising: Only God Can Turn Hearts"
March 2007
"The Latest Support Raising Trends: A Survey of 100 Sending Agencies"
April 2007
"Crossing the River of DeNial: Why it's So Hard to Change Ourselves"
May 2007
"The Role of the CEO: Raising Organizational and Personal Support"
June 2007
"Back to the Future: Can old friends become new supporters?"
July 2007
"Asking for Referrals: A Key to Multiplying Your Contacts"
August 2007
"Jesus: Did He Really Live on Personal Support?"
September 2007
"Asking Non-believers for Support: Is it Wrong?"
October 2007
"Placing Priority on Support Training: It Shows You Care"
November 2007
"Taking the Leap of Faith: From Job to Full-Time Support Raising"
December 2007
"Big Visions Require Big Dollars: Principles From Nehemiah"
January 2008
"Subsidizing Staff Salaries: Does it Help or Hurt?"
February 2008
"Support Training: How Much is Enough?"
March 2008
"When Building a Team, Don't Settle for Cheap Substitutes"
April 2008
"How My Relationship With God Affects My Support Raising"
May 2008
"The Most "Secure" Job You'll Ever Have!"
June 2008
"Getting "Buy In" From Supporters at Pivotal Transitions"
July 2008
"Three Secrets to Save Your CEO From a Heart Attack!"
August 2008
"Four Ways a Steering Committee Can Help Get You to 100%"
September 2008
"Support Raisers: Should We Be Giving Too?"
October 2008
"Three People in Your Ministry Who Should NOT Raise Their Support"
"Underfunded Staff: What To Do With Them?"
April 2005
"A Working Spouse: Does it Affect Support Raising?"
May 2005
"Full or Part Time Support Raising: Which Approach is Best for Your Staff?"
June 2005
"100% in 100 Days: Are You Kidding?"
July 2005
"Lowering the Support Raising Bar: Whose Fault is That?"
August 2005
"Five Current Trends in Personal Support Raising"
September 2005
"Tentmaking vs. Support Raising: Which is the Biblical Model?"
October 2005
"Budget or Vision: Which One Pulls Your Train?"
November 2005
"Administrative Staff: Getting them Fully Funded"
December 2005
"Connecting You to Major Donors: Why Staff Should be the Bridge"
January 2006
"To Ask or Not to Ask: That is the Question!"
February 2006
"Standard of Living: What Should it be for Christian Workers?"
March 2006
"Asking Big: Does it Offend or Affirm?"
April 2006
"Front Door-Back Door: Why do people leave your organization?"
May 2006
"Getting Personal: Support Raising is like a Marriage Proposal"
June 2006
"Newsletters: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly"
July 2006
"Five Ironclad Policies Every Ministry Should Have"
August 2006
"An Open Letter to the Parents of Support Raisers"
September 2006
"An Open Letter to the Spouses of Support Raisers"
October 2006
"An Open Letter to the Pastors of Support Raisers"
November 2006
"An Open Letter to the Friends of Support Raisers"
December 2006
"Support Raising Relationships: The Six that Matter Most"
January 2007
"The Top Four Books on Support Raising"
February 2007
"Prayer and Support Raising: Only God Can Turn Hearts"
March 2007
"The Latest Support Raising Trends: A Survey of 100 Sending Agencies"
April 2007
"Crossing the River of DeNial: Why it's So Hard to Change Ourselves"
May 2007
"The Role of the CEO: Raising Organizational and Personal Support"
June 2007
"Back to the Future: Can old friends become new supporters?"
July 2007
"Asking for Referrals: A Key to Multiplying Your Contacts"
August 2007
"Jesus: Did He Really Live on Personal Support?"
September 2007
"Asking Non-believers for Support: Is it Wrong?"
October 2007
"Placing Priority on Support Training: It Shows You Care"
November 2007
"Taking the Leap of Faith: From Job to Full-Time Support Raising"
December 2007
"Big Visions Require Big Dollars: Principles From Nehemiah"
January 2008
"Subsidizing Staff Salaries: Does it Help or Hurt?"
February 2008
"Support Training: How Much is Enough?"
March 2008
"When Building a Team, Don't Settle for Cheap Substitutes"
April 2008
"How My Relationship With God Affects My Support Raising"
May 2008
"The Most "Secure" Job You'll Ever Have!"
June 2008
"Getting "Buy In" From Supporters at Pivotal Transitions"
July 2008
"Three Secrets to Save Your CEO From a Heart Attack!"
August 2008
"Four Ways a Steering Committee Can Help Get You to 100%"
September 2008
"Support Raisers: Should We Be Giving Too?"
October 2008
"Three People in Your Ministry Who Should NOT Raise Their Support"
Monday, January 11, 2010
People "Leak"...Remind Them
Got this quite a while ago from an organization...this was the last paragraph in their letter. There is nothing new under the sun, so perhaps this is something you can adapt for a future letter?
Remember...your support list doesn't necessarily remember that you are "on support." Remind them!
Here's the closing paragraph:
"We count on you every month to help us according to your own abilities by sending a gift today so we can continue our work. I hope you consider our efforts worth your support."
I'm not saying "cut and paste" it into your newsletter, but it serves as a reminder that it is okay, and probably necessary, to remind our people how we subsist.
Remember...your support list doesn't necessarily remember that you are "on support." Remind them!
Here's the closing paragraph:
"We count on you every month to help us according to your own abilities by sending a gift today so we can continue our work. I hope you consider our efforts worth your support."
I'm not saying "cut and paste" it into your newsletter, but it serves as a reminder that it is okay, and probably necessary, to remind our people how we subsist.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
God's Interruptions
Came across this a couple days ago; not directly applicable to deputation, but very applicable to our busy schedules and lives...
"We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will
be constantly crossing our paths and cancelling our plans by sending us
people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with
our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen
among thieves, perhaps - reading the Bible..... it is part of the
discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can
perform a service and we do not assume that our schedule is our own to
manage, but allow it to be arranged by God."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will
be constantly crossing our paths and cancelling our plans by sending us
people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with
our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen
among thieves, perhaps - reading the Bible..... it is part of the
discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can
perform a service and we do not assume that our schedule is our own to
manage, but allow it to be arranged by God."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Saturday, January 9, 2010
May God Increase "Small Amount" Supporters
It has been my joy and pleasure to subsist on missionary support for just over three decades. I have served parachurch youth ministries throughout that time, and the Lord has been faithful to provide for, first, my needs, then, following marriage in 1982, my wife and now four children.
During this period of service I have seen scores of potential staff members initiate the support raising process and then, after a length of time, drop out. There are a multitude of reasons for this, to include the possibility that God closed the door in each case for His own good purposes.
From my view, however, many quit because there was inadequate supervision, training, and encouragement. For this reason I am in the process of writing a book/training manual on the subject. Yes, there are many books on-the-market; and all have good information, but I am writing primarily for those who are raising funds for career work with small youth ministries that dot our land, and for those who are raising support for short-term mission work.
In all cases, though, I believe a key negative factor is that there are so many potential supporters who do not support for one simple reason…at some level they feel their small contribution won’t be of help.
I do ask my contacts to pray specifically as to whether God might have them come alongside in our work. I am hopeful they do!
But I wonder how many times God prompts them to invest five, ten, or twenty dollars a month and they think, consciously or not, “Oh good grief, I’d be embarrassed to give ‘only’ that amount,” or “Jack would be upset if I ‘only’ supported him for ten bucks a month.”
Wanna bet?
Let’s see, I spend some time writing a monthly newsletter, I include a return envelope; you put ten, or twenty, bucks in the envelope, lick a first class stamp, and mail it back to me.
Whether five, ten, or twenty bucks….I think this is a pretty good “return” on my investment!
And, at least of equal importance, now that you are investing in my work you are probably praying for the work also. As Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there is your heart also.” Too often I think we misquote that verse as “where your heart is, there is your treasure also.”
Nope. It is hard to show interest if you don’t have anything invested.
Sure, I enjoy the fact the Lord has raised up some “big” supporters. But in my early years a petite grandmother in rural Kansas began supporting me…for two dollars a month. She supported me for over ten years, and then went on to glory.
After she died, I must admit it was hard to miss the two dollars. But, oh, did the lady know how to pray!
During this period of service I have seen scores of potential staff members initiate the support raising process and then, after a length of time, drop out. There are a multitude of reasons for this, to include the possibility that God closed the door in each case for His own good purposes.
From my view, however, many quit because there was inadequate supervision, training, and encouragement. For this reason I am in the process of writing a book/training manual on the subject. Yes, there are many books on-the-market; and all have good information, but I am writing primarily for those who are raising funds for career work with small youth ministries that dot our land, and for those who are raising support for short-term mission work.
In all cases, though, I believe a key negative factor is that there are so many potential supporters who do not support for one simple reason…at some level they feel their small contribution won’t be of help.
I do ask my contacts to pray specifically as to whether God might have them come alongside in our work. I am hopeful they do!
But I wonder how many times God prompts them to invest five, ten, or twenty dollars a month and they think, consciously or not, “Oh good grief, I’d be embarrassed to give ‘only’ that amount,” or “Jack would be upset if I ‘only’ supported him for ten bucks a month.”
Wanna bet?
Let’s see, I spend some time writing a monthly newsletter, I include a return envelope; you put ten, or twenty, bucks in the envelope, lick a first class stamp, and mail it back to me.
Whether five, ten, or twenty bucks….I think this is a pretty good “return” on my investment!
And, at least of equal importance, now that you are investing in my work you are probably praying for the work also. As Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there is your heart also.” Too often I think we misquote that verse as “where your heart is, there is your treasure also.”
Nope. It is hard to show interest if you don’t have anything invested.
Sure, I enjoy the fact the Lord has raised up some “big” supporters. But in my early years a petite grandmother in rural Kansas began supporting me…for two dollars a month. She supported me for over ten years, and then went on to glory.
After she died, I must admit it was hard to miss the two dollars. But, oh, did the lady know how to pray!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thank You Help
You do send out thank yous, do you not?
If not, why not?
If someone walked in and handed you twenty bucks; wouldn't you say something?
"Oh, but there is postage and times costs..."
Yeah. So?
If you don't want to write thank yous, that's your decision.
But, if you want to do the polite thing, but need some advice, I found this helpful: click here
If not, why not?
If someone walked in and handed you twenty bucks; wouldn't you say something?
"Oh, but there is postage and times costs..."
Yeah. So?
If you don't want to write thank yous, that's your decision.
But, if you want to do the polite thing, but need some advice, I found this helpful: click here
Thursday, January 7, 2010
"I've not heard from a donor for a while, what now?"
So what do you do when a regular supporter seemingly drops off the planet?
I don't know what you do, but let me give an example from late last week...
I am not a numbers guy, but I keep a paper monthly record of support that works for me, and I periodically check it...and was surprised that I had not received a gift from a long-time supporter (like 25 years!) for over two months.
What to do?
I sent him the following email, with the subject "Awkward Question"
Hey there! I recognize you have more than a few things on your plate, but have noticed you guys have not sent support for last two months; and thus need to ask if that is a permanent thing, an oversight, or what? Just trying to budget for the move and so forth...obviously (I hope!) this is not a "bill" or a nag, but just seeking clarification...let me know when you can.
No bites on the house yet. God has a timing to coincide with His will...so am trying to be patient
A couple days later I got this response:
Hi Jack,
Not sure if you got the message through Jane, but it is my oversight. After all these years you would think that wouldn't happen, but it did.
I must've displaced some envelopes. I usually sort through at various times of the month, separate and schedule bills from ministries. I realized about three weeks ago that I hadn't sent anything out to you, nor had seen the mailing envelope. It has been a blur since the beginning of May. I hope to catch-up with the "stack of stuff" this week.
Praying for your move, direction and patience!
And today I got the "make up" check...plus a "bonus" so to speak.
Communication...maybe you'd do it with a phone call, or, if geographically possible, a visit. This guy lives a few states away, so I did the email thing.
Again, my basic premise regarding support - "There is no "way" to raise/maintain support"...you need to find and tweak what works' for you.
But I hope this example is a reminder to you that communication is vital!
I don't know what you do, but let me give an example from late last week...
I am not a numbers guy, but I keep a paper monthly record of support that works for me, and I periodically check it...and was surprised that I had not received a gift from a long-time supporter (like 25 years!) for over two months.
What to do?
I sent him the following email, with the subject "Awkward Question"
Hey there! I recognize you have more than a few things on your plate, but have noticed you guys have not sent support for last two months; and thus need to ask if that is a permanent thing, an oversight, or what? Just trying to budget for the move and so forth...obviously (I hope!) this is not a "bill" or a nag, but just seeking clarification...let me know when you can.
No bites on the house yet. God has a timing to coincide with His will...so am trying to be patient
A couple days later I got this response:
Hi Jack,
Not sure if you got the message through Jane, but it is my oversight. After all these years you would think that wouldn't happen, but it did.
I must've displaced some envelopes. I usually sort through at various times of the month, separate and schedule bills from ministries. I realized about three weeks ago that I hadn't sent anything out to you, nor had seen the mailing envelope. It has been a blur since the beginning of May. I hope to catch-up with the "stack of stuff" this week.
Praying for your move, direction and patience!
And today I got the "make up" check...plus a "bonus" so to speak.
Communication...maybe you'd do it with a phone call, or, if geographically possible, a visit. This guy lives a few states away, so I did the email thing.
Again, my basic premise regarding support - "There is no "way" to raise/maintain support"...you need to find and tweak what works' for you.
But I hope this example is a reminder to you that communication is vital!
Huh?
The following is from a well-known support "expert"...
"Prospects and donors have many questions and from time to time you might hear this very question. "How much do people typically support you?" Be careful on this one. If you recite a lower amount, they could very easily consider that amount. I would respond by saying "people are supporting me at different levels" and then I would fall back on a minimum ask of $100 per month."
Excuse me? Why not "just" answer the question? (Frankly, I'd have to do research; I don't crunch numbers, and my "regular" supporters vary greatly). I also have personal problems with "minimum ask."
Am I the only one?
"Prospects and donors have many questions and from time to time you might hear this very question. "How much do people typically support you?" Be careful on this one. If you recite a lower amount, they could very easily consider that amount. I would respond by saying "people are supporting me at different levels" and then I would fall back on a minimum ask of $100 per month."
Excuse me? Why not "just" answer the question? (Frankly, I'd have to do research; I don't crunch numbers, and my "regular" supporters vary greatly). I also have personal problems with "minimum ask."
Am I the only one?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
How You Doing with Thank yous?
I just got done writing thank you letters. This time it was to six supporters; one from NY, one from MO, two from CA, and two from KS. One is my high school journalism teacher, whom I "bumped into" while on a speaking trip in California. He came to Christ well after my high school years. After we reconnected, I sent him a letter telling him about deputation, and he immediately became a $50 buck a month supporter. For years he has been giving $250 monthly.
Another is a former Youth For Christ club sponsor in Kansas who has supported me from day one. He told me, perhaps twenty-five years ago, that he supported several YFC staff members, and that I was the only one who sent him thank you notes.
The others are "just" people God brought across my path and, for reasons known only to God, began supporting me. All of these folks have been supporting me for at least 25 years...that's a quarter-century!
Guess what? I saw one of these guys two years ago; another about nine years ago; the others I've not seen in at least 20 years. So why do they stick with me? First, because of the Lord; and, a close second, because I stay in touch with them, and frequently remind them of the truth - I could not do what I do without them, and that every life touched through our ministry is, however unknowingly, endebted to them.
It probably took me twenty minutes to write the thank yous. $2.46 in postage (the combined gifts of these six totaled $525). And in a couple days these six vital links in our chain of ministry will get a letter from a very appreciative home missionary.
Just for the record...there is no receipt sent with the note, no return envelope. It is simply a thank you.
How often do your people hear from you?
Special Project Fund
One of our fellow staff members wanted to go to Nationals, but didn't have the cash. I urged her to add that to her next support letter. Just the need, and ask for help. She got more than necessary.
People like to give to individuals, they like to give to projects. If your ministry allows, there is nothing wrong (and, in my view, everything right) about a "car fund," a "short term mission fund," or whatever. Can this be overdone? Of course.
But if you have a genuine need, and it is "work/ministry" related; let your people have a chance to participate.
I do not think this would apply to a "Porsche fund".
Monday, January 4, 2010
Ministerial Logo?
I've often thought that the best "logo" or "pin" for a genuine minister of the gospel would be a toilet plunger. Why? Because we are called to "serve the Lord with gladness," and, perhaps especially in youth ministry worthy of the name, serving often involves the mundane; setting up chairs, copying studies, unplugging a toilet etc...Toilet plungers don't get a lot of attention or glory; they just do the dirty jobs when necessary...but they do it effectively, efficiently, and tirelessly when needed.
I was reminded of that by this:
The real test of a saint is not one's willingness to preach the gospel, but one's willingness to do something like washing the disciples' feet - that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God.
Oswald Chambers
Sunday, January 3, 2010
An Important Reminder
DELEGATE THE WORKLOAD
by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Exodus 18:1--27
The Christian worker is a strange breed. He or she wants it to look as if the work is terribly hard. In fact, the more difficult and strained the look, the better. Christian workers are notorious for what I call the "tired blood" look, better known as the overburdened and outdated "missionary image," or, better stated, the exhausted "overburdened religious image." They usually carry an old, worn-out Bible, and walk with a slump, listing to port. They seldom smile---sort of a "please pity me" image. Makes me want to gag.
I don't mean to be super critical. The tragic reality is, some of these folks are overworked and hardly have enough to live on. But I believe you can be in full-time ministry without having to resemble the poor-me stereotype.
The happiest people on earth ought to be those of us in God's service. And we ought to look like it. We have every reason to smile more than anyone else. Even though our work is terribly serious, we ought to have more fun and have a better time doing it than anybody in any other career or calling. I think an individual in cross-cultural ministry or a local pastor ought to be able to enjoy his or her taste in music and live it up, just like anybody else.
Frankly, those who look as if they've just finished their last piece of bread do not minister very effectively, certainly not to me. Those who minister to me, and those to whom I think I minister, are men and women who truly enjoy life. We really don't need to spend all our time on the negatives of life; there are enough heart-breaking experiences to go around for all of us.
Please don't misunderstand me. Ministry is not an easy calling. There are times when you must work longer than you should. And those times can occur back to back. But we don't need to remind most pastors of the need to work harder. We need a reminder of another sort. "You're making your job harder than it should be. Share the load. Lighten up! Your work can be easier. Let us help you get these things done."
Friday, January 1, 2010
Too Hard Sell?
EXPLANATION: For about two years I have sent out occasional emails to people who are "on support," and, dumby that I am, I have neglected this blog. So, with the start of the New Year, my first task is to get all those emails I sent out previously put on this blog...If you'd like to, read, heed, and/or toss as appropriate to your situation.
Reminder of three, to me, basics of "support raising":
1. There is no "way" to raise support (You need to find what works for you)
2. Support raising is not preparation for ministry, it is ministry.
3. Money follows ministry.
That being said, here is the first one I sent out, in March of 2008:
Reminder of three, to me, basics of "support raising":
1. There is no "way" to raise support (You need to find what works for you)
2. Support raising is not preparation for ministry, it is ministry.
3. Money follows ministry.
That being said, here is the first one I sent out, in March of 2008:
So I get this letter today from a national ministry that I really enjoy.
As I got to the last of the cover letter, I was at first intrigued by what they wrote, and then wondered if it was too "hard-sell."
I'd be interested in your opinion.
Here's the concluding paragraphs:
"This is the kind of help you have learned to count on...And all of us on staff work hard every month using our gifts and abilities so we won't let you down.
"In the same way, we count on you every month to help us according to your own abilities by sending a gift today so we can continue (this) important work. I hope you consider our efforts worth your support."
So...again, I have mixed feelings about this particular approach; but it may be something you can use/adapt for your own use; or perhaps you share my misgivings?
Would appreciate your continued prayer that the Lord would send a buyer for our New York house so we can get this deal on the road - literally and figuratively!
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