Missionary Support Letters- Are They Effective?

He came to the fundraising training discouraged. There had been numerous attempts to raise funds. All had failed. Hope was not high, but he still came. Would this missionary support raising training work for him? His spoken English was fine, but writing in English was difficult. Would we help him know how to write a missionary support letter? My friend soon realized that was NOT what the training was about at all. Support letters have their place, but they are not the most effective way to raise ministry partners.

Learning Important Skills

In the fundraising training, we taught this brother how to develop ministry partners. (If you are interested in some of the things we taught, sign up here for our FREE e-mail based course on fundraising.)

This dear national missionary was amazed. He realized there were many friends, family, and relatives he had never considered sharing his vision with. They were people in his own country. It was hard though, to overcome his fears and concerns about talking to them about finances.

In our few days together, my friend came to understand that Jesus had supporters too! If Jesus had ministry partners, maybe he didn’t need to feel like a beggar when he talked to people about partnering with him in his work for God. Instead, he could invite them to join him by making a small regular contribution. He began seeing those people as team members in the work God called him to, not simply as supporters or donors.

By the end of the training, he was hopeful and excited! He’d already made some calls and set up appointments. A few people had even immediately responded and committed to join his ministry partner team! He now knew that God had people out there who were ready to stand with him financially. He was excited to go and find them. And he did!

Don’t Waste Time on the Wrong People

Support letters have a role to play in fundraising. It’s not wrong to use them. They are quite ineffective, however, if they are all you do. In general, an impersonal support letter will not get much response. Nor will sending Facebook or WhatsApp messages to random organizations and people in foreign countries who you think might have money. These people do not know you or your ministry. There is no trust relationship established. Why should they give to you? In fact, these kinds of messages make them trust you less!

Don’t bother doing these kinds of things. They are rarely fruitful.

Instead, invest your energy in talking with the right people. The right people are those you have a natural connection with already. They already trust and believe in you. Those are the best people to approach as potential supporters/ministry partners even if they are not rich or foreigners!

Create a Clear Vision Presentation

Next, work on creating a clear and simple way to present your vision. Steve Shadrach refers to this in his excellent (though a bit Western-missionary-focused) book, The God Ask. Before inviting others to partner financially, you need to be clear about your vision. What has God called you to do? Why does it matter? What is the need you are working to meet? Get clear on these things so you can share them in a simple, concise way.

Then, make appointments with people who already know and trust you. Tell them that you want to share your vision and invite them to join your ministry partner team. Ask, “Would you be open to hearing more about that?”

This requires confidence and boldness. You will need to be ready to be turned down by some people. Don’t feel bad about this, it is normal. Thank them for their time and don’t get offended! Others, however, will respond positively.

Schedule these appointments, and show up on time. Be respectful of their schedules and other commitments.

“You do not have because you do not ask…”

James 4:2b NIV.

Boldly and Politely Ask the Question!

We must be bold in asking God for help in finding the right ministry partners. As the verse above says, we do not have because we don’t ask God. The rest of this passage talks about our motives. We need to be sure we are not motivated by wealth and gaining possessions.

I’m guessing, if you are a missionary, this isn’t an issue for you. It doesn’t hurt, however, to check our hearts on this as we ask God to help us in fundraising.

There is another point to learn from this verse as well. What is true with God is also true with His people.

After you have shared your vision briefly (not more than 15 minutes), answer any questions they have. Then, confidently ask the question you came to ask them.

Clearly and simply, invite them to join your ministry partner team by becoming a financial partner. Tell them you’d be thrilled if they chose to join you in accomplishing the tasks God has put on your heart to do.

This should not be done from a place of pressure or manipulation. Don’t whine about how your kids don’t have school fees, or your family is not able to buy groceries. That may be true, but it will make people feel they have to give to you out of pity. Or they will feel bad if they can’t help at this time. That approach doesn’t build good long-term partners.

At the same time, you don’t need to be shy. Confidently say something like, “Would you be interested to join my ministry partner team? I am in need of 10 people who can give me $______ a month. Then I can be fully funded and focus on doing the things God is calling me to do.”

For years I was hesitant to ask this question. I would share my vision, then get to the end and stop short.

People can’t read your mind! You have to ask the question.

I guarantee. This works 100 times better, in every culture, than sending out an impersonal newsletter that has the comment “please pray for my finances” at the end of it! Yet that is what I see many missionaries doing.

If you invest time in meeting people personally, many will respond and say yes to joining your team. They’ll get behind you as ministry partners, not just people giving you a “handout.”

When to Send Support Letters

There is nothing wrong with sending support letters. I still do this! Make them personal though, and write from your heart. Share stories about your life and ministry. Express your God-given dreams. Write about the hope in your heart and what you are asking God to do through your efforts. Sometimes it is also good to be real and vulnerable about your struggles and disappointments too.

Then, follow those letters up with a request for a personal appointment to share more. Don’t just send them to all your foreign (or rich) friends. Send them to the people who know you. Write them in your own language. They don’t have to be in English! Be creative. Maybe mail or email isn’t the best way. Could you use WhatsApp or texting instead?

The main way I recommend using letters is to communicate about what is happening in your ministry and life. It should not be your primary tool to raise funds.

Want to know more about support raising? Sign up below for my email-based 5-day course. I’m hoping one day soon we can make a short fundraising training available online. Until then, this e-course will help.

I’d love to hear your questions or comments about fundraising below. Or post them on the Missionary Life Facebook group so others can also respond.