I don’t know about you, but there always seems to be a “tug of war” going on between support-raising, and actually doing the ministry for which I am raising funds. Casting vision, setting goals, working tirelessly to see emerging leaders equipped, impoverished children fed, or national pastors raised up to take on an entire region for the Gospel sounds much more spiritual than managing my contact list, handwriting “Thank You’s”, and interrupting pleasant family dinners with my somewhat annoying phone calls. There is an instant gratification that comes from praying with a homeless man to receive Christ—so much more so than leaving voicemail after voicemail. For those of us who are fresh in their support-raising journey, here are a few things to think about:
1. Laziness isn’t simply the absence of doing things, it is the absence of doing the right thing at the right time. "A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace” (Prov. 10:5 NLT). When it comes down to it, I would much rather prepare for an upcoming speaking engagement than pick up the phone and ask for an appointment. The first definitely sounds like the mostspiritual of the two. Let me ask my wife which one that she would rather I do first ...
2. Exercising my faith by praying and asking uniquely builds me up. Alexa Harris, author of Do Hard Things quips, “ … all effort—even failed effort—produces muscle.” Rather than an exercise in futility, my development of relationships, presenting of ministry vision, and asking individuals to join my support team strengthens spiritual muscles that I didn’t even know existed. This muscle affects other areas of life and ministry in powerful ways.
Think that you've “maxed out” your MailChimp eNewsletter list? Try comparing your Facebook friend list with your actual eNewsletter Contact List. Do you have “real friends” that you have known throughout the years that are NOT receiving your eNewsletter? Under “About” in each person’s FB page, occasionally individuals will list their contact info (often, including email addresses). Let them know that you are in the middle of building up your eNewsletter list, and ask them if they would mind being added (with a promise of NO “spamming”). If it’s not listed, you can request this by going to “About” OR simply via FB message.