Worth Investing in? Fundraising Principles

True or False: Fundraising is an important priority for a missionary. Do you believe this? Or is it rather an added nuisance to our lives as field workers? If you ask those serving to answer this question honestly. You’ll get a wide variety of answers.

It Has to Be More Than the Money

To set aside the adequate time needed to raise up ministry partners, you need to know why you are doing it. It has to be more than that you need money. That is not a strong enough motivation to keep fundraising from drifting to that place in your “to-do” list… along with all those other things that never get done.

Because I Have To?

Some missions require their missionaries to raise a certain budget before they allow them to go to the field. That is one way to motivate. Threatened with the loss of a missionary appointment, this can be effective. But there has to be a better way!

Other missions won’t allow their staff to be full-time until they have a full budget in place. This may motivate some, but it is an external motivation, not an internal one. Faith missions like YWAM don’t do this and are often criticized for this position. The negative feelings especially stem from times when missionaries struggle severely to make ends meet. Some live below poverty levels.

These criticisms are somewhat valid. If we don’t require our staff to raise a certain budget, we must do our best to educate and train in this area. It’s not God’s will for missionaries to go without food or the ability to pay their kids school fees. Nor does it reflect God’s Kingdom and character to others.

Reconciling these issues is vitally important. Even more so as we look to see a new wave of missionaries being released from the global South.

Is Fundraising Really Ministry?

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…fundraising is ministry,” I told myself. “If I believe that, why do I hate doing it so much?” I asked, inwardly groaning as I tried to force myself to prepare to make one more phone call to a potential donor.

“Do I truly believe it is ministry? Or do see it as a necessary evil? As the sacrifice we make as missionaries to be able to do what we do?” My internal conversation continued. “If I sincerely thought of it as ministry, I would enjoy it more. I dread having these conversations with potential donors.”

Two false ideas came to light as I talked to God about my anxiety.

• One, I was not sure people would want to invest in me…that I was worth it.
• Two, I assumed people wouldn’t want to give. I was nervous about making them uncomfortable, should they not really want to help us.

With these ideas in my head, fundraising activities went to the bottom of my priority list. I’d get to it when I could (or when we were in desperate financial need again).

In the meantime, I’d hope and pray God would somehow provide for us. I hoped it would be without my having to do something as unpleasant as begging people to become our financial partners. (I hope you hear my sarcasm here!)

This was not the right attitude at all. Something needed to change – not just in my circumstances, but inside of me!

For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

1 Tim. 5:18 NIV.

The Word of God says those who work hard in the ministry are worthy of their wages. Our mindset has to change.

3 Fundraising Principles to Remember

1. Your cause is worth investing in.

First and foremost, believe in the compelling cause of global missions. This cause is worthy of our everything, including our money! If we are crystal clear about why we are doing what we do, we will be able to explain to others why they should partner with us by giving.

What is it that made you ready to give up everything to go to the mission field? Your job, security, friends, and many other things were left behind when you said yes to God’s call. Remember the need that was so compelling? That burned in your heart (and still does)?

Communicate that “why” to your potential ministry partners. Reaching the unreached, showing God’s love and compassion, stopping human trafficking, mobilizing for missions, these causes were worth investing in.

2. You are worth investing in.

We often doubt our own worthiness. While we believe in the cause, we question if what we are doing for the cause is worthy of the contributions of others. Or am I the only one who does this? I don’t think so!

Remember…it was God who chose you. He trusted you with this mission. If God thought you were worth calling that means you are worthy of being supported as well.

You may not have seen tremendous fruit…yet. You may not have had a massive impact in your area. If the dream is burning in your heart, and if you are actively serving and moving toward it…you are a worthy investment.

Not everyone will see it that way. Some people will think they should invest elsewhere. They want to see and hear exciting reports. If you can’t produce those, they may not give. That is okay. Don’t become bitter toward them. What matters though is how you think of yourself. As you see yourself the way God sees you, He will bring others across your path who see it that way too.

Do you view yourself and the work you do as worthy of investment? Would you give to your own ministry if you were a donor? If this is a struggle, ask God to reveal to you His heart once again. You are His beloved chosen one.

3. People need to give more than you need their gifts.

Jesus commanded all His followers to go and make disciples of all nations. This mandate is not only for a few…it is for all. Not everyone can go as you have.

By partnering with you, those who give have a chance to fulfill Jesus’ final command. It gives them a chance to obey. It helps them find their part in the bigger picture of God’s incredible ministry on this earth.

Christians need to give. It helps them obey and grow. As we give, God blesses us. Truly it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Not Ashamed

When you hold your head high and ask people to invest in your ministry, it pleases the Lord. No pressure. No coercion. No begging. Simply invite others to join you in the most important cause on the planet- taking the gospel to those who’ve never heard.

We are not ashamed of the gospel. We need not be ashamed to ask people to give toward this great cause.

What is your biggest fundraising challenge, obstacle or fear? Share in the comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook page.