God's Pattern of Provision

Transcription

1 God's Pattern of Provision Understanding the Biblical Precedent for Support Development: So, you want to go on a mission trip, but you need to raise all or some of the money needed to be able to go. Rest assured that you are not the only one. You will also be in the good company of people like the Apostle Paul who needed the support of the church to carry out his ministry. You may have many questions and even some fears, but we believe that as you read and follow the steps outlined, while trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide and help you, you will be greatly encouraged, your fears will be overcome, and you will see the faithfulness of God who provides for the work that He calls us to do. We believe that the following article will help you as it provides the biblical rationale behind the practice of raising support. Once you have an understanding of that, you'll be better able to raise support with boldness and confidence. Developing a Vision: Raising support is not about raising money, it's about sharing a vision. It's about sharing the excitement of God's call and the opportunity He has set before you; and it's about giving others a chance to participate in God's plan to reach the nations. The basic principal you need to understand is that people are giving to the Lord (His work) and not to you personally. You need to have a sense of purpose when you ask, and there is no greater purpose than God's will or His work. Do you have a vision or idea of how the Lord may use you? God desires for all to enter His Kingdom, for every person to have a chance to hear about His mercy and forgiveness. If you help lead one person one step closer to Christ on this trip, then you are doing the greatest work on earth. Support Raising is Biblical: Throughout Scripture we find that God expects His people to support those involved in full-time service. He instituted a tithe as the means to support the Levites (Num. 18:24, Neh. 13:10-13). And throughout the history of Israel, God promised to bless those who invest in this work (Pro. 3:9-10, Mal. 3:10). Paul said emphatically to the Corinthians, "The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). And John wrote to Gaius saying that it was a good thing to support missionaries because, "it is for the sake of the Name that they go out, receiving no help from the pagans" (3 John 5-8). At times, especially at turning points in his ministry, Paul explicitly asked other Christians and churches for financial support. "When I go to Spain...I hope to have you assist me on my journey" (Ro. 15:24). The original language here confirms that Paul was asking for monetary assistance. Jesus had financial supporters. As a carpenter, Jesus could have funded his ministry by building furniture or repairing carts and tables. But as far as we know, He didn't. As Jesus went out ministering, He relied on people such as Mary, Martha and Lazarus who helped "...support Him out of their own means" (Luke 8:3). Jesus gave specific directions to His disciples which forced them to depend on others for their needs. They were to accept gifts from others, as Jesus said, "...eating and drinking whatever they give to you; for the worker deserves his wages" (Luke 10:4-7). A laborer in God's Kingdom is truly worthy of being paid for his service. The workers in the early church lived on a system of support similar to what God had established for the Levites.

2 In 1 Corinthians 9:14, the Apostle Paul writes, "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." He explains that God set up a system of financial support for His workers. He also writes that even though he had the right to be supported by the Corinthians, he chose to make tents. This was and exception, however, to Paul's usual method of ministry. Living by Faith Today: All Christians need to live by faith (2 Cor. 5:7, Heb. 11:6) regardless of how they receive their finances. The bottom line is that you need to be willing to do whatever it is the Lord asks you to do. Raising support is a matter of obedience to God's word and calling, not of following your feelings. If God calls you to go on this mission, then He will provide everything you need to fulfill your ministry, including emotional strength and perseverance (1 Thess. 5:24). God's Promises: Deut. 11:8 "Therefore, you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess." Ps. 84:11 "For the Lord God is a sun shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Luke 11:9-10 "And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened." Luke 18:27 "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." Romans. 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." 2 Cor. 9:8 "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Heb. 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

3 Pay for Your Trip Yourself or Raise Funds? Important Financial Information Since this packet is aimed at helping you raise support, it assumes that you may seek to raise some or all of the needed funds to cover the cost of your trip; however, please know that you may, individually, pay the trip cost by check without raising support. Individuals paying for their own trip expenses may qualify for a tax deductions. Please consult with a tax advisor to determine the amount you may be able to deduct. A letter confirming your service with the Journey, the dates, and the cost of the trip will be sent to you after completion of the trip. In the case of cancellation or overpayment, payments that were made to the Journey by individuals for their own trip may be refunded after any expenses or fees have been deducted. As explained in greater detail below, donations to the Journey are not refundable. Benefits of Establishing a Prayer and Financial Support Team: Even if you pay for your trip out of your own funds, we require all team members to establish a team of people who will pray for them and for God's favor and blessing to be on a mission project as a whole. In addition, we strongly encourage all trip volunteers to consider raising fmancial support toward the cost of the mission trip. There are numerous benefits of establishing a team of prayer and financial supporters: You will be strengthened and under girded by God through the prayers of other believers. You will grow in your trust in the Lord as you depend on Him to provide. You will give others the blessing of being involved in a faith-mission of taking the mercy and message of Christ to a foreign land, carrying out His command to go and make disciples of all the nations. You will bring glory to God by trusting Him and by sharing testimonies of praise to Him about how He has called you, provided for you, and gone with you on His mission. If you have ever raised support for a mission trip, you already know that the benefits and blessing of doing so go far beyond this list! If You Raise Support Toward Your Trip: If you raise support, donors may, upon request, receive a tax receipt from the Journey for the amount of their donation. For donors to receive a tax receipt, all contributions must be made payable to: the Journey at First Baptist Orange City. The name of the trip participant should not appear on the memo line or anywhere on the check if the donor desires to receive a tax receipt. Simply write Haiti Project on the memo line. You will need to provide a self-addressed envelope to the Journey when you mail your support letters, and write Attn: (Your Name) on the bottom left hand corner. We will provide you with a list of donor names so that you can send a thank you note for their support. It is great to send the thank you after you return from the trip, so you can include trip highlights in your note. Donations submitted cannot be refunded, by stipulation of the IRS. If a volunteer is unable to participate in the Journey trip for which they have registered, the funds donated from other sources will be dispursed toward the team s trip costs. Make Note of Deadlines: Regardless of whether you individually pay the cost of the mission trip or raise financial support to cover the cost, all participants must abide by the deadlines for registration, deposits, payments, passport applications as listed in your trip packet. If you have any questions, please call the church office at , and speak to Pastor John or Nancy, or send an to john@thejourneyoc.net or nancy.shaffer@thejourneyoc.net.

4 Steps to Successful Support Raising As you begin the support raising process, keep in mind that you are also seeking to develop a prayer team along with the financial support. Having a team of people lifting you up in prayer as you go is an important part of the mission journey. We've put together information that we hope might assist you in sharing your ministry vision with your Life Groups, Ministry Team, co-workers, or other groups and individuals. God is doing something special not only in the rest of the world, but also here in the United States. We are seeing many respond to the needs in other parts of the world, not because of us, but because God is moving in people's hearts. Step 1: Pray! Ask the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills to provide for your need (Ps. 50:10-12 NAS). Remember, if God has called you, He will provide your needed finances (Phil. 4:19). If you have sensed God's call to go on this mission trip and you are in need of additional financial help in order to go, just remember that this does not come as a surprise to the Lord. He is aware of your need and has prepared a way to meet that need. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "Faithful is He who calls you, and He will also bring it to pass." Step 2: Set up a meeting with your Life Group Leader, Pathway Leader or Ministry Team Leader. Call your leaders during the week. Don't try to talk to them on a Sunday morning. Set up an appointment at a time that is convenient for them. Explain your vision and why you want to go on this trip. Invite them to go on the next Global opportunity. Step 3: Brainstorm! Who should you write to and call? Ask God to guide you. Create a new list including: Your Christmas card list Your Life Group Your Pathways class or ministry team Your family physician, dentist, etc. Neighbors Co-workers Relatives Christian business men's and women's clubs People on your sports teams As many people as you know! Step 4: Prepare and send your fund-raising letter. Write a rough draft, have someone proof read it for you. Keep your letter to one page if possible. Personalize your letter. Use a computer to do a mail merge with your newly created mailing list to personalize it, or handwrite it. (The very minimum would be to handwrite the name at the top of a photocopied letter; never address a support letter to 'Dear Friend'). Include a self-addressed return envelope and a response card (see samples following) Use the provided sample letter to help you get you started. We encourage you to personalize this letter because you are sending it to friends. However, it shares all of the essential elements needed in a support letter. Send it out!

5 Step 5: Follow up your letter with a phone call. Remember, phone calls are very important! A phone call personalizes your request. Two to three times as many people will give you a favorable response if you make the phone calls. Also, it isn't unusual for someone who sincerely wants to give to misplace the response card or forget to mail it. Look over the suggested phone conversation. When calling friends, transitioning to talking about finances might seem awkward. (Remember, you are sharing the opportunity for them to be involved in reaching people for Christ this is an opportunity for them to be blessed by helping to send you as a missionary and share in proclaiming the Gospel to the nations.) The suggested conversation offers ideas on how to bridge the gap. Suggested transitions during phone conversation. Identify yourself and chat briefly. Sincerely ask how they are doing. Ask if they received the letter. They may respond in one of the following ways: They didn't receive it. They received it but haven't read it yet.they read it but haven't decided yet. They read it and have decided. At any point, be prepared to give a brief recap of the trip and how God has called you. Ask if they have any questions about the trip. Then continue, "As you know, in my letter, I shared that I am in the process of raising $ to be able to go on a missional opportunity to Haiti and, as I promised, I'm calling to see if you would like to help send me on this trip. Then pause! Remain silent. Give them a chance to respond. They will answer either "Yes," or "No," or they may need more time to think about it. Thank them for either helping, or for their prayerful consideration. If they need more time, ask if you can call back in a few days. Don't be afraid to ask what amount they'd like to give if none is mentioned. It will help you in your planning and will confirm their commitment. When appropriate, ask if they have any prayer requests you can be praying about for them. Even if they cannot help financially, ask if they are willing to pray for you as you go on the trip. Promise to send a follow-up report when you get back. Step 6: Set up appointments to speak to larger groups: Contact your Life Group Leader, Pathway Leader or Ministry Team Leader. Ask if you would be allowed to communicate your need with the group or class. Share the same things you shared in the letter with the group. Remember to share your calling! Pass out the missions prayer cards and invite everyone to pray for you. Communicate your financial and prayer needs. Pass out self-addressed envelopes with a response card inside. You can either collect them after you are finished sharing, or they can be mailed to you later. Communicate your deadline. Remind them that checks should be made payable to the Journey at First Baptist Orange City, with Haiti Ministry only in the memo, but sent in your envelopes, so you can track your support raising progress. Always thank your leaders, and thank the group for prayerfully considering becoming a partner with you for the mission trip. Remember, if God has called you, He will provide. You will find friends, as well as individuals you have yet to meet, who will be as excited about your trip as you are! Even though they may not be able to go with you, they will consider it a great privilege to be a part of your team.

6 NOTES: Appointments Arranged (date/place/size of group/time allowed): Materials to bring (brochures, handouts, support letters, etc.) Tasks completed: o Compile mailing list o Write and mail letter asking for prayer and financial support o Contact your Life Group Leader, Pathway Leader and Minitstry Team Leader o Contact other groups who might be interested o Develop other fund raising ideas and plans o Follow up with your Life Group Leader, Pathway Leader, Ministry Team Leader and individuals on your mailing list o Send out thank you notes/trip reports Raising Prayer Support Each team member needs to select at least ten prayer partners. Our goal is that they would be praying just you not multiple team members. We will be providing them with a prayer journal to guide them through your journey while you are in Haiti. They will know where you are ministering throughout the day, and can cover you in prayer for those times. Prepare your prayer partners when they agree to take on this task, that they will be providing vital support throughout your fundraising time and ministry time in Haiti.

7 Sample Letter Dear, I want to share with you a wonderful opportunity I have to go to Haiti with my church, the Journey, October 17-22, As I heard about this opportunity, I really sensed God calling me to be a part of this team. It is my prayer, as you read this letter, that you will consider joining me as a partner in this opportunity to minister to the poor and needy in areas where the physical and spiritual needs are great. During this missional opportunity, my days will be filled working with, and ministering to, over 500 children in a remote mountain village. In the evenings, I will be sharing the love of Christ to hundreds of families, many who have never seen a person from America, much less hear the message of a God who loves them. One of our objectives is to assess the immediate needs of the children, food, clothing and education, and then to evaluate how our church can meet those urgent needs on an ongoing basis. Would you consider partnering with me, both prayerfully and fmancially, to enable me to go and share Christ's love with those who need to hear? I need to raise $1400 to participate in this mission. (Or, I have determined I will personally be able to pay $, leaving a balance of $ that I need to raise.) Would you be willing to invest $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, or any amount that God would lead you to give, to help send me on this vital outreach to children and adults in Haiti? I would love to know that you are in part going along with me on this trip by way of getting me there! Your check made payable to the Journey at First Baptist Orange City, will be tax deductible. In the memo simply write HAITI PROJECT, without any names. Please use the enclosed envelope to mail your check to me, so I can track my financial progress. Feel free to call me if I can answer any questions you might have, or if you need any more information. My deadline to have all my funds in is September 1, Thank you for prayerfully considering joining me in this opportunity to reach out to those who need to know that God is real, and that He loves them. If now isn't a good time for you to give, I do understand; simply knowing that you are praying for me as I seek to raise the funds, and while I am in Haiti, will be a great encouragement! I promise to send you a full report when I return. Sincerely, (or closing of your choice)

8 Enclose a Response Card You may include a very simple response card, such as: Please return as soon as possible; no later than September 1, I,, am willing to help sponsor the Haiti Missional opportunity in the following ways: o I/We would like to help financially sponsor your trip. Enclosed is a one-time donation in the amount of $. o I/We would like to help financially sponsor your trip. I/We will send in payments of $ per week for the next weeks. (A total donation of $.) o I/We are not able to send a donation at this time, but will pray for you as you go. o I/We would love to receive a report of your trip when you return. Thank you for your consideration of this request! Your donations and prayers are greatly appreciated. Make checks payable to the Journey at First Baptist Orange City, and write only HAITI PROJECT in the memo. (Tax-deductible receipts are available upon request.) Please send your check to me in the enclosed envelope, so I can keep track of my financial progress. Sincerely, (or closing of your choice)

9 Ideas of how you can thank your Ministry Partners. Write Thank You Notes: Promptly write thank you notes to those who support you, a handwritten note is best. During the trip: Pre-print labels before you leave with the names and addresses of those who supported you and send them a postcard from the country you are visiting. Keep a journal of daily events so you will be able to remember significant moments. Take photos that you may want to include in your follow-up report. Be sure to get some that include you with the children and adults at the sites you visit. Be sure to take time to meditate on what God is doing both in you and through you. Listen to the stories others share about their experiences and get the "big picture" of what God is doing through Global Aid Network. When you return home: Write a report of how the trip went and what was accomplished. Be sure to share a specific story about something you experienced, include details such as names and ages of the children in the story. Try to include photos in the graphics of your report. You may want to send a copy of the report to everyone you sent a support letter to; at the very least send a copy to anyone who supported you or prayed for your trip. Try to arrange an opportunity to give a verbal report to any of the groups you spoke to prior to the trip. Praise God for all He's done. Pray about what God has next for you!

10 Support Raising Ideas Towers of Treasure - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:21 Your change can change the world and Your dollars can make a difference, too! Place jars in places that friends, family, coworkers might drop their spare change in to help you out on your adventure to Haiti. Idea: INDIVIDUAL yard sales to earn money for the Haiti Project. Ask friends, family, Life Group members to donate stuff to sell. Sell higher ticket items on Craigslist or Ebay! Ask friends, family, Life Group members to donate stuff to sell. Cash for Gold What better time to clean out the jewelry box of gold that is broken, twisted, or just plain unworn. Friends and family may be willing to donate their junk gold, too. Let it help finance your trip! (Ask the name of a reputable store to make your exchange.) Nancy will be happy to print your letters out for you at the church. This will help you as you start the support process. Contact her for a sample letter that you can make your own. Most Importantly, remember to pray diligently and fervently. James 5:16b "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."