3 Reasons Not to Ask Foreigners for Money
“Do you know of any short-term teams that could come and work with us?” I was surprised by the question. It seemed to me that they were doing a great job without help from abroad. Inquiring further, it became clear. They didn’t need the team for ministry…they needed them so they could pay their rent!
Hoping to build friendships with foreigners, they thought they might gain sponsorships. They would never tell the team that. No, they would act as if they genuinely wanted them to come to train, teach and do ministry. Under the surface were financial motivations.
This is a sad but common fact on the mission field.
While definitely not true in every case, it is the reality in far more situations than we would like to admit. Raising foreign support comes with real dangers both to the heart and the ministry.
Who Uses Who?
Nationals receiving teams often use them to get needed finances. Those sending short-term teams use them to give Western Christians a missions experience. They hope this will jumpstart inactive believers into ministry action. In some cases (definitely not all), it’s little more than adventure tourism with a good cause in mind. Does that sound harsh?
My intention is not to be rude. I do want to help us look honestly at what takes place on the mission field.
Both parties fall short of what God desires. The senders and the receivers both need to check
Teams going abroad need to be careful about their giving, not encouraging unhealthy patterns of dependency. Those receiving teams need to avoid using short-termers for hidden purposes related to money. Though teams may be a source of income now, in the end, it will not help you build a sustainable ministry.
As much as possible, raise money for your ministry locally. This will cause the ministry to grow with health and dignity.
3 Reasons Not to Ask Foreigners for Money
1. It can destroy treasured relationships with foreign friends.
Though some foreigners are not readily aware, they will catch on. If you are pursuing a relationship with them only to get finances, they will eventually see this. It’s a terrible feeling to discover that your “friends” have alternative motives for wanting to spend time with you. It’s even worse to find they have been inviting you to minister only because they believe you will pay for everything.
Don’t hurt your foreign friends in this way. Be genuine and real. Give rather than take from those who are guests in your country.
2. It can ruin your chance of raising support within your own country or from your own people.
When people from your own country see that you have many foreign connections they will not be motivated to help you. Why should they? You can get plenty of money from your rich Western friends. That is what they think. If you do receive foreign funds, go the extra mile to be transparent and accountable to other national leaders about what you received and how it was used.
3. It can affect your witness with local unbelievers.
In working among the unreached, we must work hard to overcome the natural assumption that Christianity is a foreign religion. Bringing in money from abroad strengthens that mindset. It can be a significant barrier to the spread of the gospel.
As difficult as it is to raise support locally, it is well worth the effort. Taking short cuts by raising support from foreign teams or friends can weaken your ministry in the end.
Share your vision with integrity and transparency with local friends and churches. Invite them to partner with you in what God is calling you to do.
There may be times of scarcity, but God will make a way for you. Even if you end up doing income generating projects or tent making, this is better than becoming dependent on foreign funds to do your ministry.
Blessed By Their Generosity
In a recent visit to East Africa, as I was departing, my Kenyan friend rode with me to the airport. I’d spoken at her church. “It’s not much,” she said, handing me an envelope. “You have blessed us and we want to bless you back.”
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
2 Corinthians 9:11
When we reached the airport I opened the envelope and found a generous and unexpected gift. My heart was filled with thanks, both to God and to those who’d given. Instead of looking to me as a foreigner to provide for them, they had blessed me. Hope rose in my heart for their church and movement. Generosity would open the door for God’s blessing upon them.
Do you believe it is possible to raise funds locally? Often we have a mindset that hinders our faith. Find out more about how to raise local ministry partners by signing up for my free e-course.