A Guide for Individuals Preparing for a Short Term
When we talk about building your support team, we are not just talking about money! We are also talking about gathering a team of people who commit to pray for you during the whole mission experience. A prayer team is essential for your ministry to be effective.
As you begin the adventure of building your support team, you will probably feel a range of emotions (anticipation, fear, excitement, dread…). Remember, though, if God has called you to join Him in His work around the world, finances will never be an obstacle that cannot be overcome. Maybe a challenge, but never a barrier!
Getting Started…
Step One: Prepare
Pray! Begin by recognizing that God owns all the resources in the universe (Psalm 24:1). Believe that he wants to use you and will help you get there (Psalm 23:1). Commit yourself to making personal sacrifices along the way.
Brainstorm all the ways you can save or raise money. Although you may be able to raise the full amount through free-will gifts from others, you should be prepared to forego some of your own personal luxuries in order to follow God’s call to the mission field. When others see you making sacrifices and saving, they may be more apt to contribute.
Identify a list of people you could ask to partner with you financially. Don’t rule anyone out! You may find financial and prayer support where you least expect it. God has already provided all those who will participate in your ministry as supporters. You only need to discover who they are! Telling others about your ministry and allowing them to invest in it, lets them share in your work for the Lord. They can experience the challenges, joys and victories of your ministry. Developing a support team is an opportunity to see God work. Here are some ideas to help you get started on your list.
- Family members
- Relatives
- Teachers/Professors
- Co-workers
- Friends from church
- Friends from school
- Friends of parents
Tip: List everyone you know, and then highlight those who know you and care for you the most. Start with them!
Step Two: Present
Ask individuals. Let’s think a bit outside the traditional support-raising box. Although letters can be an effective tool for fundraising, phone calls and personal visits are much better in developing a support team. Studies show that people give to people they know, trust and care for. Try to use all three methods to build your support team. If you aren’t getting a big response from the letters you send out, get on the phone and schedule some appointments.
What do you say when you ask for an appointment? Try this: “Have you heard the news about my short term mission opportunity? I’m excited about it! I’m in the process of developing my financial support team and wonder if you’d be willing to meet with me so I can tell you all about it. At some point, I’d like to ask you to consider joining a team that will surround this ministry with prayer and give financially to make it happen. Would you like to get together?” This way, if they agree to meet with you, they won’t feel blindsided if you suddenly start talking about your need for financial support. In fact, if they agree to meet with you, you’re already more than half-way there. They expect you to ask them to support your ministry!
Keep in mind that you should be as enthusiastic and specific as possible when describing your ministry opportunity and your funding needs. However, there is never a need to make people feel guilty or pressure them into giving. You should also try to present your ministry opportunity in 15 minutes. What you should tell people:
- Something about the ministry you will be involved with (even though you may not know all the details yet).
- What you hope to accomplish.
- How you expect to see God work in your own life.
- The total cost of your short term experience.
- The deadline for raising your funds.
- How the supporter can be specifically involved through prayer and giving.
After you ask someone to give financially, be quiet. Don’t try to fill the “awkward silence” by talking more. Allow the person to respond in whatever way they choose.
Think about how you can inform others about your ministry. What about short email updates for your growing support team? Or building a web site? Get a web-savvy friend to help you. How about hosting a dessert or coffee night to share your mission opportunity? Throughout the support raising process, make sure to keep people up to date with how much you are raising and how much you still need. Your goal is to help them feel connected to your ministry even before you leave for the field. Make it a top priority to be a blessing to them, even if they don’t end up giving. One way to be a blessing is to pray for them and their needs.
About Support Letters…
If you decide to raise funds through support letters, here are some basic guidelines.
- Be brief. People get a lot of mail these days. Keep your letter to ¾ of one page.
- Be personal. Write a short handwritten note on each letter.
- Be clear and accurate. Have someone read your letter. Even small errors can make a poor impression. Get it perfect before you send it out!
- Provide people with a convenient way to respond. Please direct donors to make their checks out to your church or group. Ask them not to write your name on the check, but to include a separate note or response slip that indicates the money is for your ministry. You should provide them with a response slip and return envelope with your group’s address.
Ask your church. Talk to your church leadership or those who handle the money allocated for missions. Try to present your opportunity to the missions committee. They will want to know specifics, so be prepared to answer their questions. Even if your church is not able to support you financially, you need to ask them to support you with prayer.
Step Three: Properly Express Your Appreciation of Supporters
It is vital that people know how much you appreciate their support for your ministry. When someone indicates a willingness to support you, write a note or call to thank them personally. Don’t wait until after your short term experience is over to express your gratitude. Do this as soon as possible!
After your return home, it is important to follow up with a report of your ministry experience. This should be done as soon as possible after you return. Your supporters need to hear what happened, but don’t be too wordy. Include some personal stories or tell them about lives impacted by your ministry. This is an excellent way for you to review your experience and put what you learned into words. Don’t try to squeeze several weeks or months of ministry (if that is the case) into a two page letter! Just give the highlights. Some supporters may want to get together with you to hear stories and see pictures. Perhaps your church would allow you to share your experiences with the congregation. Allow God to use you to be the catalyst to get others engaged in missions.
Raising support can be both an intimidating and exhilarating experience. It can be intimidating when we look to our own strength to meet our needs. But when we look to God, who is all sufficient and holds all the world’s resources in His hands, we need not fear! It can be exhilarating to see how He provides in ways and through people we would not expect. He is able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine…!
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