Big Visions Require Big Dollars:
Principles from Nehemiah  

    
    “It’s in your blood, Ray. Of course we’ll join your team.” Such was the response after one of my first support “asks” in 1987. The prospective donor was a good friend and apparently more aware of my propensity for missions involvement than I was. This might have been the case with Nehemiah as well. Certainly King Artaxerxes and his queen were familiar with their cupbearer (Neh. 2:2). Nehemiah was a bodyguard of sorts to the Persian throne. A slight change in his demeanor might signal a potential threat. So his personality and interests were important to the King.

   On that spring day when Nehemiah was moved to respectfully seek help from the King, his intentions were clear. Whether it was because of the King’s familiarity with Nehemiah, or because God simply answered Nehemiah’s fervent prayer (1:5-11), Artaxerxes responded generously to the request for aid. The trusted servant got what he asked for—and then some (2:9).

   Having been in a support-raising ministry for over two decades, I’ve learned much about people and their motivations. How I approach people with requests for funding (or how I treat a store clerk for that matter), is vitally important. Recently, while traveling with a supporter, we had to stop at a turnpike toll booth. Instead of seeing this simply as an inconvenience, I saw a way to quickly make a state employee’s day. With temperatures outside soaring, I grinned and inquired of the conditions ahead; “How are the roads?” I asked. “Any snow or ice ahead?” The toll-taker’s lifeless stare jumped into a smile and then a laugh. My passenger noted her response and said, “She’ll remember that interaction all day!” He’s right. People enjoy getting to know people—even if it’s only for a moment—especially when we’re willing to deposit something of value into their lives.

   Nehemiah spent years in the Babylonian court building rapport with all the key players. We don’t always have that much time to win friends. We might meet with a referral with whom our only credibility is the word of a mutual friend. That doesn’t mean we must make an abrupt ask and leave—and it’s not an excuse to put off asking indefinitely. Some of my supporters I never met until the appointment. When we’re with people, we need to be appropriately transparent and authentic. Being vulnerable feels risky, as I am sure it did to Nehemiah, but when it comes to turning acquaintances into friends, it pays off to let our passions show.