Second-Generation Support

Well, well...time to see if my experience with, passion for, and desire to remain on support is transferable...not "only" to those who read this blog and/or hear me speak or read some of my stuff...but now to flesh-and-blood.

Yup, it appears my son Josiah will soon begin the support journey as he takes a position a a Christian camp in a few months. More on this later.

I hope to have two more decades of service, and thus am trusting the Lord to continue to provide through the marvelous adventure of "support" or "deputation." And yet it is exciting to watch one of my sons embark on the same journey that I began over thirty years ago.

I'll keep you posted.

Top Five Fears in Support Raising

Good stuff from The Body Builders:

Fears. We've all got ‘em. Some of us are willing to admit it; some of us aren't. Author Larry Crabb in When Fear Seems Overwhelming writes that most of us live our lives based upon our fears. We move toward those things that are safe and comfortable and run from and avoid those things that are scary and intimidating. I don't read his stuff though; it's mainly for men in denial and that, of course, doesn't apply to me!
As believers, we have an enemy who uses fear to discourage and even destroy us if possible. The question isn't IF we will experience fear in support raising, but only HOW we will respond when it comes. Identifying the fears might help forewarn us. My top five fears include:

1. Dread of Failure—Each year approximately 200,000 Americans feel led to contact various mission agencies to inquire about ministry opportunities. But some estimate that as little as 1% of those ever make it into long-term service. Why? I think when people read the fine print where it says “you must raise your support,” they quietly bow their head, turn, and walk away. Isn't it sad that most will never follow through with that sense of calling because of a fear of failing?

2. Rejection by Family—Sometimes those closest to us are the very ones who oppose us the most. Ironically, “Christian” parents can be the greatest obstacle to fulfilling the Great Commission. They might go and give to their church, but will do anything to dissuade their children from making the “ultra-radical” decision of becoming a missionary and the even more embarrassing step of “begging” others for support. None of us like rejection, especially from family members whom we dearly love.
3. Loss of Friendships—Some who do follow through to fulfill their calling into ministry get started raising support but then abruptly stop. Why? They perceive they offended someone. “Paranoia Tapes” start to play in the mind of the support raiser and they suddenly feel “led” to take the next career exit ramp rather than supposedly damage a friendship. We might think we're being sensitive or discerning, but in reality we may have prioritized pleasing men over God. 

4. Appearance of Weakness—Aren't true blue Americans supposed to have a rough and ready “pull yourself up by your boot straps” self-sufficiency? If we depend on anyone for anything, it's a sign of weakness. That's why we're careful to acquire our own house, cars, computers, life/health insurance, savings/investments, even grill and lawn mower. We dare not borrow or lean on each other. And the ultimate indicator we don't really have what it takes to “hack it” in this world? Avoiding getting a “real job” by hiding behind a Christian ministry role and funding ourselves by leeching off of others!

5. Financial Instability—Depending upon God and monthly givers to fund our living and ministry expenses can seem foolish to some. Their definition of long-term security is getting a high-paid salary and benefits from a longstanding corporation—like General Motors, Chrysler, or Merrill Lynch. RIGHHHHT! Bottom Line: In all seasons and in all circumstances if the rock we choose to stand on is anything or anyone but Jesus Christ Himself, we will find ourselves on shifting, sinking sand.
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25-26)

Walk By Faith

I am hopeful there are no anti-piperites on this list, but if so delete this.

John just twittered this valuable and timely statement:

"The man God used to call me from pre-med to gospel ministry never knew it. Don't judge your life by known effects." John Piper

Don't judge it by attendance at your events, "decisions", or response to invitations.  "No one comes to the Son unless the Father draws (literally 'compels') him".

Don't Worry About the Opposition!

Sometimes the ongoing work of ministry can get really tough. Sometimes the support account drops. Sometimes it just plain hurts. But, as long as we are personally "growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," no matter how tough the opposition may appear, the Lord has the knock-out punch. Invest less than a minute in this visual reminder: CLICK HERE

Ministry is Ministry

I love it when somebody smart says the same thing I've said...like, for instance, "money follows ministry."

Here are wise words (not "just" because they agree with me  from Bill Dillon (who wrote People Raising. If you've not bought and read this book you are ripping yourself off)

"I always cringe when I hear people talk about the support raising process and make such comments as "I can't wait to finish raising funds so that I can begin my ministry." I'm here to say loud and clear that fund raising is a ministry and a vital one to your prospects and donors. As you focus on ministering to them, I'll assure you that giving follows ministry. Look for ways that you can minister not only to your donors, but to your prospects as well. I'm convinced that God has divine appointments there for you and me and it just happens to be fund raising appointments."

Mad Church Disease

I very rarely recommend a book before I finish it; but this is a vitally important book that I am in the midst of reading. Mad Church Disease is an honest look at why so many vocational Christian workers burn out/blast out/cave in; whatever term you want to use. You know you struggle with this; be honest enough to buy the book. If I had the money I'd buy you each a copy...I don't...so I genuinely plead with you to get a copy.

And, if you decide to order it, follow the link below and I'll get a few cents credited to my account. But I really don't care how you get it...get it!

Don't Obfuscate Either in Teaching or Newsletters

Dear Jack,
Has this ever happened to you?


You're listening to a high powered speaker give an
impressive presentation. But at times it's like you are
hearing a foreign language. You have a good vocabulary, but
you feel like you should have brought a dictionary. You find
yourself jotting down words to look up later, and discover
that you've missed key parts of the presentation.


You've been bamboozled by an obfuscator.


Obfuscation: "The activity of obscuring people's
understanding, leaving them baffled or bewildered. To make
so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or
understand." {www.Dictionary.com}


Beware of obfuscators. They sound brilliant. They must be
brilliant because their vocabularies are so superior. Their
incomprehensible erudite commentary must be important
because no one can understand it.


I first learned the "value" of obfuscation when I decided
to major in philosophy in college. I was searching for the
meaning of life. I began with introductory classes. I read
the assigned readings and wrote papers analyzing what I had
read. My papers were clear, easy to understand and to the
point. I received grades of "C" or "B-". Those grades
confused me. What was I missing? I thought I understood what
I was reading. I was not accustomed to getting poor grades.
I was upset.


I decided to try an experiment. I used my thesaurus to find
obscure words to replace my clear ones. I obfuscated
everything I said. I replaced my easy to understand
paragraphs with cognitive opaqueness yielding professorial
accolades: grades of B+ and A.


I learned to communicate at a college level, using the most
opaque words I could find in my thesaurus. My professors
were impressed. Many business journals are written in this
academic style as well. When I began to write computer user
manuals and train people, I discovered that my language
needed to be more accessible. I had to unlearn my college
lessons and use language people could readily take in and
remember.


As a communicator, is your goal to sound impressive? Or is
it to deliver information that people can understand and
use?


If you really want people to understand you, if you really
want to make your point, don't force people to reach for a
dictionary when you speak or write.


Warmly,
Sally

A Needful Reminder/Warning

After thirty years of ministry and seeing all-too-many coworkers fall (as well as the "national" figures), I think this article is worthy of a careful reading and occasional rereading.  CLICK HERE

The Work of Writing

For some, the newsletter is a chore likened to a root canal; for some it comes fairly easy.

None of us have "arrived."

I found the following to be helpful as regards writing, whether a newsletter, a blog, or just a note of encouragement:

By Mary Jaksch

Do you want to be a boring writer? No, of course you don’t!
But how to avoid it?
Do you sometimes read a piece that moves at an agonizingly slow pace? I do. Well, let me be honest here - I tend to read only the first paragraph, and then I put the boring book aside or flick over to another website.

Boring is bad. Boring is slow.

Enter Sol Stein. A master-editor who knows a trick or two. His book “Stein on Writing” lies on my bedside table and is a source of constant inspiration.
Stein’s take on ‘boring’ is that we need to accelerate the pace of our pieces. This means compressing the perceived flow of time.

Pace is often the deciding factor whether what we write is read, or not.

That’s especially true when it comes to stuff we publish on the Net, as internet savvy readers all seem to suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder.

The good news is that we can learn to control pace in our writing.

Sol Stein suggests three techniques to speed things up which can be used in fiction as well as nonfiction.

1. Use short sentences

   Here is an example:
   I stopped. The silence was awful.

2. Use frequent paragraphs

   Frequent paragraphs move the reader forward. One way to use frequent paragraphing is to use dialogue. Because each line is really a separate paragraph. While it’s enlivening to use direct dialogue in non-fiction, it’s sometimes difficult to find a way to place it. Another way to use dialogue is as a conversation with your reader. Here’s an example by Brian Clark in this Teaching Sells Report:
   

   Want to have a profitable online business?
   Here’s the part where I tell you all about how fabulous it is to have a purely online
   business.
   And then I tell you how you can have the lifestyle you want, live where you want,
   and have unlimited income potential-all from publishing online.
   What’s that?
   You mean you’ve already heard all that stuff?
   Oh… You’ve already been sold the dream, over and over.
   Now you’re looking for a way to make the dream come true that actually works?
   OK.
   Let’s just jump straight to that part.

That’s beautifully written, isn’t it? It’s engaging and enlivening. The reason it’s enlivening is because of the pace is accelerated through ultra-short paragraphs.

3. Use jump cuts

   Sol Stein suggests skipping about two thirds of your words in order to increase the pace. Here are two of his examples:
   

   Version A:
   In the morning he would shower, brush his teeth, shave, dress in a suitable business suit with shirt and tie, get down to the kitchen I time to have his coffee and then rush off to the station, but he’d frequently missed his train anyhow.

   Version B:
   He washed his body, shaved his jaw, drank his coffee, and missed the seven-thirty-one.
   (This is what John Cheever wrote in his celebrated story “The Country Husband”)

So, here are Sol Stein’s three techniques to accelerate the pace - all ready to put into your writer’s tool box. But don’t just leave them in there. Bring them out and use them next time you wonder whether your piece is boring.
Do you think they would work for you?

What Can I Do For Them?

Do I agree with everything in Bill Dillon's book, People Raising? Nope.

But this is worthy of repetition...

"Whether raising missionary support or funds for your organization you need to be appreciative of those who give and pray for your ministry and many do this sacrificially. From time to time you stop and ask yourself, "What in the world can I do for them?" Obviously you can't begin to match their gift with a similar gift back, to them but one thing you can do is to provide the gift of time. Take the time to call, email, visit and minister back and let them know what God is doing through their gifts and through your ministry."

Warning! Warning! Warning!

This is a very timely warning for us all. If your first thought is "hah, that doesn't apply to me" I suggest you check the location of your head. Okay, maybe that is too blunt at 5.45 on a Sunday morning...but after thirty plus years of ministry I, like most of you, have seen coworkers crash and burn; and even at my advanced age I must "guard my heart; above all!" And so much you, dear friends.

Here's the article from Paul Tripp's Shepherd Press newsletter:

Guard Your Heart!

"It began innocently." These words have been used by many to describe the beginning of some event that resulted in personal devastation. Most recently, these words were used by South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford at the press conference in which he described the events that led to unfaithfulness to his wife. Governor Sanford stated that he met his future lover innocently, with a note of irony. They had a conversation eight years ago in which he counseled her to stay with her husband and not divorce him. The Governor went on to say that emails followed that conversation, and they began to develop a remarkable friendship over the next eight years.

It began innocently. This phrase, however sincere, offered no protection for Mark Sanford, his family, or the woman he was trying to help. There is a reason that the Bible warns so strongly to guard your heart. Proverbs 4:23 is emphatic:  Above all else guard your heart! None of our actions are truly neutral. Even when seeking to help this woman eight years ago, about an issue where he appeared to be well-intentioned, Governor Sanford did not guard his heart. He did not protect the intimacy of his marriage. How did he fail to guard his heart? He did not provide the accountability necessary to guard those close to him. He could have provided this woman with the name of a competent counselor. He could have brought his wife into the conversation right from the beginning. Instead, he chose to “help her” himself.

For all of you who are parents – please listen to Solomon’s warning. For all of you who are parents in public service or ministry – please listen to Solomon’s warning. Talking with another person of the opposite sex who is not your spouse about intimate relational issues, without open and immediate accountability, is dangerous. It is not innocent; it is a high risk activity. When there is open discussion of intimate relational details with someone, there is always the possibility of things going horribly wrong. Christians have an enemy who is like a lion looking to devour the foolish of heart. The flesh is deceitful and it is at war with the Spirit. It cannot be trusted. Governor Sanford went on to say that he and his future lover went on to develop a remarkable friendship over the next eight years. Sadly, what was remarkable about it was that the relationship led to full blown adultery. This friendship was built upon deceit and misplaced trust. A s the governor said, his actions were first and foremost selfish. Selfishness is not the path to guarding your heart. Self pity will not guard your heart. Enjoying conversations about intimate relational struggles, with a woman who is not your wife, is not guarding your heart. Rather, it is the precursor to disaster. God has provided the family and the church for protection for God’s people. The marriage relationship must be guarded with relentless diligence. Don’t have conversations that you cannot speak openly and freely about with your spouse. As soon as intimate issues come to the surface in such conversations, be like Joseph—flee!! Urge the other person to speak with someone who can truly, objectively help him or her. Many relational failures in the church community happen simply because hearts are not being faithfully protected. Trying to help someone else’s marriage by talking privately with one of the spouses is asking for trouble.

Governor Sanford’s affair is high profile. But sadly, thousands of low-profile marriages in the church are put at risk daily because hearts are not being guarded with fierceness. Learn the names of those in your church who are reliable counselors. When someone comes to you with marital troubles, immediately point them to these counselors. Then let them know you are informing your spouse of this conversation. Tell them that you will also encourage an elder or pastor to check up on them. Following this practice is an important, effective way to guard your heart.

Please consider carefully Solomon’s warning:
"Above all else, guard your heart, 
               for it is the wellspring of life"

Dessert, Anyone?

From the folks at People Raising:


"As you raise funds, the challenge always is looking for new contacts. One of the ways to successfully accomplish that is to have a donor provide a dessert time and invite friends. On one occasion, I asked one of our donors to do that and they gladly agreed. At that desert time, I was introduced to a gentleman who you knew very little about me and my ministry. During our time together, he caught our passion and vision. He then began to support the ministry. He also caught the vision of introducing his friends to our ministry who then caught the vision and started giving financially. Whether raising personal support or fund raising for your organization sharing your passion and vision with one individual can help extend your network and increase the number of those who can support your ministry."

Why Do Some of our Students Stagnate

I just posted this on my "regular" blog (CHECK IT OUT HERE), but I think this is so vital, so important, and so often missed that I will gladly risk giving you a double (or triple) dose here:

In the great book, "The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind Shift that Changes Everything" the authors make a statement regarding, specifically, church ministry that I insist is directly applicable to those of us involved in youth ministry (meaning, how many "good" students who are trying to live right and do right are thinking, "What do I have to do to get my youth leader's attention???)

"But if we pour all our time into caring for those who need help, the stable Christians will stagnate and never be trained to minister to others, the non-Christians will stay unevangelized, and a rule of thumb will quickly emerge within the congregation: if you want the pastor’s time and attention, get yourself a problem. Ministry becomes about problems and counselling, and not about the gospel and growing in godliness.

"And over time, the vine withers."

Praying for our Supporters

I am reasonably confident we all invest time praying for our support - but may I ask how much time you spend praying for our existing supporters?

Don't know what works for you, but I have, in addition to other written prayer needs, 31 pages for each day of the month, and I randomly write each of my supporters on at least one day. So, if I'm disciplined, there is at least one day per month when I pray for a specific supporter.

Some of them communicate specific needs, and those go on the list, perhaps daily, dependent on the need.

Of course we are hopeful that our supporters are praying regularly for us, but, bottom line, we can't do much about that (except communicate regularly our specific needs), but we can do something about how we pray for them.

The Ten

Without getting into my feelings about the issue, I get a tad snarky when someone asks me to sign a petition or pass on an email about getting the "Ten Commandments" back in school....I just say I'd be glad to sign if they can tell me the Ten. None have ever been able to.

As we all know, so many of our students (and, sad to say, their parents) are woefully ignorant of basic stuff...like, for instance, the ten commandments. Here is a link that may prove helpful: CLICK HERE