Jim Stier

Support Raising Training and Fundraising Philosophy

The article below is from the Ywam Article Library. Jim Stier, President of YWAM discusses YWAM Fundraising Philosophy and support raising.

Money is Not the Problem

I've seen so many valuable, productive missionaries discouraged because of a lack of support. What's to be done?By Jim Stier

I sometimes wish that we didn't need any money at all in order to do God's work. I've seen so many valuable, productive missionaries discouraged because of a lack of support. What's to be done?

We must start with a clear perception that money is never to be a decisive factor in our life calling. Money isn't the problem. God can and will provide. I am not speaking out of a merely theoretical perspective. In raising up YWAM in Brazil, Pam and I have personally seen thousands of miracles in this area. These are facts, laid down over a long and sometimes difficult trajectory. God is powerful. God is faithful. Many of us have proved this to be true countless times.

I can't begin to cover all of the possible sources of financial shortages within the confines of this column, but would like to mention three areas which should be considered.

First we have to take care of our hearts. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Paul had to learn to be content with or without money. This is the context when he says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Hebrews 13:5 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

No matter how much support we have, our problems with finances haven't been solved until we are determined to do the Lord's will with a joyful heart, whether or not we have money. God will be very cautious about releasing finances to us if we haven't dealt with this issue.

We should also check our character. Sometimes money problems have their source in moral shortcomings. There can be some area of our life where we are disobedient to the Lord or where our attitude is dishonoring to Him. This might range from the excessive worry of unbelief, to failure to pay tithes, to misappropriation of funds, or to any transgression which causes the withdrawal of God's blessing. The only way to solve such problems is to confess and repent of our sin, making full restitution.

More often, however, our problems come in the third area. It is a lack of wisdom which causes us to drag along in a dull gray world of financial inadequacy. I'm not talking here about some esoteric, opaque philosophical solution to your financial woes. I am talking about down-to-earth common sense. We need to get out and work at forming our support teams. Too many of us are hesitant and embarrassed by the whole procedure, even though we are appropriately bold in other areas.

For example, we all believe that it is a miracle for someone to be born again. God must move in order for someone to be united to Him. It doesn't follow, however, that we don't have to do anything. God is the principle mover, but we also must play our part. We don't just sit around and expect God to save people. We pray fervently. We go out and witness, challenging people to make a radical commitment to Christ.

Money is necessary to do the job which God has called us to do. The job is of infinite value. We should have the same zeal, energy and confidence in forming our support teams as we do when we go out and win people to Jesus, or when we recruit people to work as missionaries. There is nothing to be embarrassed about in seeking out financial partners so that the unreached can hear.

There are people enough out there. There is money enough out there. God is interested and involved in supporting us. There is no reason for any missionary to ever have to quit because of a lack of support.

The key is to work at it. We should work at it in prayer. We should work at it by planning our budgets. We should work at it by making contacts, showing our work, and asking for support. We should work at it by taking special care to minister back into the lives of those who support us.

You don't need to be a charismatic speaker or have a particularly interesting function in missions in order to achieve financial dignity. I know many who have adequate support without public ministries or powerful personalities. They do have one characteristic in common, though. They have worked hard at forming their support team and they carefully take care of the people on that team.

God wants you to be fully supported. There is no reason at all why that can't happen. It's not easy, but it's a sure thing. God is with you and He wants your calling to be fulfilled more than you do. If you will believe Him, purify your heart, and get out there to work at it you will have the victory.

Let's do it so that the unreached can hear. Let's do it for Him!

YWAM