Asking Non-believers for Support: Is it Wrong?

By on September 1, 2007   /   Biblical Encouragement   /   Leave a comment

Brad came to Christ in college and instantly started growing. It wasn’t long until he wanted to join a summer missions team to India. The only problem? He was required to raise $3500 and he didn’t have a home church, Christian family or friends. The only people he knew were his fraternity brothers. Sometimes fraternities do service projects to earn money to give to charitable causes. So Brad asked them if they would donate those funds to his mission trip. They agreed, as did two other houses he asked, and he was off to India. When Brad returned, he gave […]

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Jesus: Did He Really Live on Personal Support?

By on August 1, 2007   /   Biblical Encouragement   /   Leave a comment

Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God . The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means. (Luke 8: 1-3)    This is unbelievable. It’s hard enough to imagine the Son of God, King of kings and Lord of lords, would lower […]

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Asking for Referrals: A Key to Multiplying Your Contacts

By on July 1, 2007   /   Contacts and Referrals   /   2 Comments

Olga was a 24 year old Campus Crusade staff girl I met during the year our family spent in Ukraine reaching out to college students. She was later assigned to come to America and raise $2700 in new monthly support that would cover her needs and two other national staff. She knew no one here and had only a 21 day visa. So, a Crusade staffer here made a deal with Olga. He would give her 40 “referrals” to start her support raising activities with if she would give him 40 new ones on her way out of the country. […]

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Back to the Future: Can Old Friends Become New Supporters?

By on June 1, 2007   /   Contacts and Referrals, Fear and Perspective   /   2 Comments

Stevie Hargett. What a guy. We had an unbeatable tandem in 4th grade YMCA football—one would block, while the other would carry the ball. I have such fond memories of Stevie and all the touchdowns we teamed up on. The only problem is—I haven’t talked to him in over 40 years! Now, what if I were launching out on a personal fundraising tour and some crazy support raising trainer told me to write down EVERY PERSON I HAVE EVER KNOWN IN MY LIFE on my namestorming list? And then he challenges me to go back and try to re-connect with […]

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The Role of the CEO: Raising Organizational and Personal Support

By on May 1, 2007   /   Leadership   /   Leave a comment

All of us have values; some good, some not so good. As a leader though, I can’t think of a higher value than this: I will not require or even ask another staff person to do something that I myself am not doing. Some call this “modeling”, and following this value builds respect, credibility, and morale. When a leader chooses to ignore this principle, arrogance and a sense of privilege can set in—eroding trust, sacrifice, and teamwork among the staff. Maybe it’s the difference between the war general who sits back on top of the hill directing his troops versus the […]

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Crossing the River of DeNial: Why it’s so Hard to Change Ourselves

By on April 1, 2007   /   Culture   /   Leave a comment

Flying from London to Nairobi in a 767 is quite an experience. If the expanse of that mammoth plane doesn’t take your breath away, peering down on the terrifying terrain will. After gazing at a thousand miles of Sahara Desert, the gigantic and intimidating Nile River suddenly came into view, cutting a huge swath through the vast African continent. Eyes staring and mind racing, I couldn’t imagine someone attempting to cross the Nile, much less the Sahara.    Some call trying to conquer the most fearsome parts of nature “extreme sports.” I call it a “death wish!” After failing to jump […]

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The Latest Support Raising Trends: A Survey of 100 Sending Agencies

By on March 1, 2007   /   Leadership   /   Leave a comment

Maybe you ran into one of our dedicated staff women at the Urbana Missions Conference in St. Louis this past December. Anna Webb and Megan Corbett were there representing The BodyBuilders Ministry, but also spent several days diligently surveying over 100 different mission agencies who were exhibiting there. Just as the ministry leaders they questioned did not claim to have all knowledge, we are not presenting ourselves as “research scholars!” We’re simply trying to come up with some “pretty close” figures as to how Christian workers are currently doing in support raising. The survey included three basic questions: 1. What […]

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Prayer and Support Raising: Only God Can Turn Hearts

By on February 1, 2007   /   Biblical Encouragement   /   Leave a comment

 “Prayer is the real work of the ministry. Service is just gathering in the results of prayer.” -S.D. Gordon in Quiet Talks on Prayer.    The times in my life when I’ve applied this principle, I have seen God do some incredible things. Then why don’t I employ this truth every day in every situation, you ask? I must have a short memory and proud heart!    The amount of time I spend in prayer can indicate whether I am trusting in God—or myself. Sometimes I foolishly think my presence with someone is more powerful and life-changing than God’s presence. I can […]

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The Top Four Books on Support Raising

By on January 1, 2007   /   Preparation and Tools   /   Leave a comment

1. Friendraising: Building a Support Team that Lasts by Betty Barnett, Published by YWAM in 1991.      Barnett is on staff with Youth With A Mission and trains their staff in support raising from her base in Hawaii. In her short, but powerful book, she teaches the four practical pillars of lasting friend and support raising: Friend Raising, Generosity, Communication, and Prayer with Promises. The only one listed here written by a woman, she brings a warm and enduring emphasis on building life long relationships with our supporters. Barnett exudes a genuine authenticity through her own story and the testimonies […]

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Support Raising Relationships: The Six that Matter Most

By on December 1, 2006   /   Communication and Relationships, Family and Finances   /   Leave a comment

1. God Jesus said in John 15:5 “Apart from me you can do nothing.” We come to Him to find our calling, motivation, and vision. Ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit, courage, and words. Ask Him to go before you to soften the hearts of your hearers. We cannot do what only God can do, but He will not do what He has asked us to do. So ask and believe God for big things. You can honor Him by the magnitude of your requests. 2. Parents Do you remember how your parents responded when you told […]

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Support Raising Solutions
PO BOX 3556
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