Welcome FYi Subscribers!

Lets Look at a KEY factor in your fundraising success - AND - a common key blunder!

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A Key Factor

You may have got the hidden meaning in the password to get here:

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

Don't worry - I am not going to preach. Assuming you are a missionary, I am sure you have heard more than your share of sermons on tithing. We want to point out here though that often those of us in missions can skip over this principle when it comes to our own ministry because we are supported by others. When I talk with individuals or organizations that are struggling to raise support, one of my first questions is to ask them about THEIR giving record. The Old Covenant tithe was a shadow of the principle of the New Covenant believer knowing everything they have is the Lord's and they would be led by His Spirit in their giving to others. If as missionaries our giving doesn't reflect at least the 10% Old Covenant standard, we need to seriously look at this principle. If we are not being Spirit led in our giving, we are greatly hindering the process of raising our support. We in essence are not co-operating with God's design to provide for us and/or our ministry."Give, and it will be given to you." Just because we are missionaries does not make us exempt from this key ingredient to our own fundraising.

Many missionaries I know are GREAT givers, and usually give well beyond their 10%, or even their own ability to do so. These missionaries I have noticed though usually see God come through time and again when they are in need of support. This isn't a guarantee because other principles and wisdom applies also - which is the impetus for our web site - MissonaryFundraiser.com.

Those missionaries that consistently struggle to raise support often neglect this principle thinking somehow they or their ministries are exempt.

Tip: Be led by the Holy Spirit in YOUR giving to others!

A Common Blunder

We look at all the angles regarding this at MissionaryFundraiser.com, but in this exclusive email to FYi subscribers we wanted to hit it head on. The major error many fundraisers make is that they treat all of their supporters the same. As in any group of relationships, including our supporters, we have varying degrees of intimacy and friendship. There are levels of communication, both in volume and in quality.

This natural truth should be prevalent in the relationships we have with those who yoke with us on this journey we call missions also.

One of the fears that leads to treating everyone the same, thus creating at times unnatural or artificial communication is the fear that we are somehow using or manipulating those who support us more. By all means this heart motive is wrong and should be repented of. On the other hand, by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our heart AND our actions, it only makes common sense that we should value those who are the most committed to us, and treat them with higher respect and honor - which in the case of supporters would include more thorough communication. There are many tools and ideas to do this found on our web site. My favorite is Send Out Cards: Send Out Cards

Those who support us the most are not necessarily the biggest givers. Jesus pointed this out with the widow: "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." So we need to be careful we don't use just the amount of money as a indicator of those most committed to us.

Once we identify those closest to us in heart and action, we need to go the extra mile and communicate in extra meaningful ways. It is a mistake to treat all of our supporters the same. If we do, those most committed to us may become less interested as they see we don't acknowledge their love and zeal for our work. They may conclude our actions of treating all the supporters the same means we don't recognize or value their contribution.

Tip: Don't treat all your supporters the same.

Bonus Training Area for FYi subscribers

As promised, here is the link to the bonus training area for our subscribers. This is focused on assisting those who need to expand their support network:

FYi Training area

So - enjoy the forthcoming issues of FYi - Fund Your Ideas. If I can ever be of service to you, be sure to feelfree to contact me. The easiest way is Skype: tazcurt

May God richly bless you as you value your most committed journey mates, and enjoy your giving to others.

Curt