Support Raising 101: A Great Whatever You Wanna Call It

Saturday, April 10, 2010

A Great Whatever You Wanna Call It

April 9 I had the privilege of sharing my "support/deputation" journey with about a dozen folks at various stages of the support adventure. A few had almost as many years as I, and some were just in the launch window. Most were workers in a similar-style youth ministry (although one that doesn't (yet) have Bible quizzing as part of their strategy...pray for them :)...

A young couple isn't quite sure (yet) where the Lord is leading them, but they are reasonably confident support will be in their future. A couple other guys were getting launched into a ministry focusing on the campus of Fort Hays (Ks) State University...

It was neat to facilitate/guide the discussion, and a discussion it was; questions were voiced, several of us offered our insights. I hesitate to call it a "seminar" or a "workshop," but I'd rather call it an encouraging strategic planning meeting.

I did not teach "how" to raise support, as if there is only one way. We did discuss various scenarios, and it was, by appreciation voiced afterward, helpful.

All that to say this: I am passionate about a few things...Jesus and His gospel; my family; Bible quizzing; and support raising. If there is any way I can help you in this journey; shoot me an email, facebook, pigeon, whatever, and I commit to do all I can to help you get on and stay on the field to which the Lord has called you.

And if you are a ministry head, consider bringing me to your turf for a day or two of "consultation."

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My Support Journey

My formal schooling was crawling to a halt. I was chomping at the proverbial bit to get into ministry. Though scared spitless in some ways, I was confident the Lord had called me to vocational ministry, and I was weeks away from finishing the schooling that, at the time, I thought prepared me for the transition from student to “minister of the Gospel.”
Several “parachurch” (how I hate that term!) ministries had expressed an interest in me serving with them. Yet all had one minor quirk…they wanted me to raise my own salary…to subsist on deputation…to raise support.
Yuck! I had only been a follower of Christ for a few years, and all but one of those years had been spent incarcerated. I was, prior to Jesus invading my life, a thief! I had stolen from friends, enemies, companies, stores…I could not now go out are mooch money from other people!
But, gladly, the Spirit of God kept me from being hasty; I prayed, I sought counsel from the Word, I asked advice from others; and got to the point where I recognized, realized, and resolved that support raising was Biblical and was for me.
That was early summer, 1978. I have subsisted on deputation/support since that time. The early years were, well, not exactly overwhelming successes as far as support went. But I was single…for a couple years I preached three or four times a week all over the Kansas City area…without a car. I lived in a succession of small apartments and houses with lots of roommates. I ate a lot of macaroni and cheese.
As time evolved I connected with more and more people that seemed genuinely interested in my ministry and my life; and more and more became financial partners.
In 1982 I married Jane, and the Lord has blessed us with four children. We’ve not had to worry too much about what to do with extra income, but neither have we starved. Any financial struggles have been self-induced rather than consequences of being “on support.”
I am confident the Lord called me to Himself. I am equally certain the Lord called me into vocational ministry (though I’ve no idea why…but if He can use a donkey I shouldn’t marvel that He can use me!). And I am absolutely convinced the “Giver of all good gifts” has called others alongside us to “support us in the work” to which the Lord has called us.
Even after all these years I am still amazed with every gift given to our support account. I marvel at how many of these folks have been with me since those early days, and how the Lord uses a relatively small number of people, and portions of their resources, to allow me to serve full-time and thus impact thousands upon thousands of lives over the years.
I am also amazed at the confusion, attitude, and general misconception of support held by most Christians…both those that are trying to “raise” support and those who are current or potential supporters.
Thus I set off to put my thoughts, experiences, and ideas on paper, with a fervent prayer the Lord would be pleased to use these efforts to, in part, provide more workers for the ever-whitening fields.