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Churches or Individuals:
Which Should You Focus On?
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In March of 2003 sportswriters for USA
Today rated the most difficult thing to do
in all of sports is to hit a fastball coming
toward you at 100 mph. Any major leaguer
knows it requires laser like focus to connect
with the tiny blur hurling toward them.
Similarly, a successful support raiser
must exercise incredible concentration
if they are going to get to their ministry
assignment quickly—and fully funded.
In Bill Dillon’s book, People Raising, he
contrasts two different, but true, cases of
support raising—one focused on churches,
the other on individuals:
Case One: Couple Focused on Churches
Support raising training: None
Raised support full time
Churches contacted: 164 (called, info packets sent)
Church meetings: 51
Number of supporting churches: 16
Miles driven: 33,000
Travel expenses: $8,530
Time to get to 100%: 13 months
Case Two: Single Girl Focused on Individuals
Support raising training: 1 day
Raised support part time (had 40 hr week job)
106 initial letters sent to individuals
41 people called for appointments
38 appointments
31 pledged support
14 others called her to pledge, from word of mouth
Time to get to 100%: 10 weeks
I know this is just two cases, but I have
seen this played out many times. I believe
you should ask your home church to anchor
your support team for at least 20% of your
total—and if you have time, approach a few
other key churches. But, if possible, the main
focus of your support raising should be on
individuals. Some denominations like their
missionaries to go from church to church to
raise support because it builds vision in those
congregations, but the wear and tear on that
traveling missionary can be substantial.
Going to people you do know will
almost always bear more fruit than going
to churches you don’t know. Here’s why:
1. The church approach usually takes
longer—Even if you find churches who will
meet with you it takes a lot of time to work
through the maze of church c o m m i t t e e s
and policies.
2. Individuals are more personal—If a
church comes on your team there is usually
no one person that has a heart for tracking
with you. You want to have a personal,
involved team of people to support you, not
just organizations who send a check.
3. Church leaders come and go—I’ve
been a pastor and elder in my local churches.
Turnover seems like a constant for many
churches and if a new pastor or missions
committee chairman comes in that doesn’t
know you, your support may be at risk.
4. Church support usually goes to
their own—The last 15 years churches
have been funneling more and more of their
mission dollars towards launching their
own members into ministry rather than
doling out money to the revolving door of
missionaries constantly passing through.
Churches or individuals. Which will you
focus on? Choose wisely…
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January 2005 |
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In the next issue...
Support Raising Solutions:
Do You Model What You Ask
Others to Do? |
| What is Support Raising Solutions? |
This is a free monthly newsletter focusing on crucial topics in the world of personal support raising. It is not intended for the general public or individual Christian worker, but specifically designed for support raising trainers or policy makers within ministries who focus on fulfilling the Great Commission.
Each issue will highlight a pertinent subject or question which will be followed with a "Second Opinion" from another authority in that field. We do not pretend to have all the answers. Our main goal is simply to get as many new and veteran Christian workers to their assignment quickly - and fully funded! |
| Second Opinion - Your Online Discussion Forum |
Give your feedback.
Read others' feedback.
Yes, many of these viewpoints are from experienced experts, but everyone has a unique perspective. We want our website to act as a sounding board for ministry leaders around the world. What do you agree or disagree with in this article? Share your thoughts with others who are on the same journey. Log on at: www.TheBodyBuilders.net |
| About the Author |
 Steve Shadrach is President
of the BodyBuilders. He and
his team have trained staff
from over 120 organizations
on how to raise their
personal support. He and
his family live in Fayetteville,
Arkansas and have been on
support for 18 years.
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| Subscription Information |
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My wife and I have developed two
support teams since 1975. Our first
team, as a part of a para-church
ministry was composed of 100% individuals. Our
second team, developed several years later for
mission service in Belgium, included 23 supporting
churches and 44 individual team members.
While I heartily endorse seeking individual team
members, our experience may somewhat temper
focusing totally on individuals.
During our first term in Belgium our annual
giving increased by over $20,000. These
dramatic increases came from the churches
rather than the individuals. My experience
shows that churches, though taking longer
to join our team, have continued over many
years and have increased their support. This
was despite changes in staff and mission
committee members.
Since 1996 we have helped train hundreds
of missionaries through our agency and we
encourage them to seek team members from
both churches and individuals. In a recent study
we did of 12 workers ranging from one-year
interns to long term career workers we found:
1. 9.8 months of active support team development
2. 4.8 supporting churches
3. 64.8 individual supporters
4. $51,568.00 annual support given
Some trends are obvious today:
1. Churches are supporting fewer workers but at
larger amounts.
2. Churches are focusing on supporting workers
raised up from within their body.
3. Churches are focusing on unreached people
groups (least reached areas and/or specific
countries) or types of ministry.
4. Individuals want to support someone they
know rather than send funds to an organization’s
headquarters to be disbursed by the organization.
5. Many individuals, and churches, also want to be
personally involved in helping their workers (short
term ministries, visits to the field, member care, etc.).
I affirm that a support team should be
anchored by a significant commitment from
a home church. Alongside this, a team of
partnering churches which share in your
vision and ministry and scores of individuals
who will pray for you, support you financially
and be personally involved will allow for an
effective and fruitful ministry.
So, the question remains, “Churches
or individuals. Which will you focus on?”
Choose wisely, and so, I choose both! |
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| About the Author |
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Steve Doggett spent years
working with college
students through Campus
Crusade for Christ before
heading to the mission field
with the Evangelical Free
Church of America. Now,
he is responsible for EFCA’s
recruitment and training
of all short and long term
workers around the world.
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| Upcoming Boot Camps |
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Plano, TX
January 24-25, 2005
Host: Global Missions Fellowship & American
Missionary Fellowship
Kandern, Germany
February 5 & 7, 2005
Host: Black Forest Academy
(If you know of any Christian workers in Europe
who would benefit from this Boot Camp, please let
them know about this opportunity.)
Pasadena, CA
March 7-8 2005
Host: US Center for World Mission
Guest Spots Available
Go to www.TheBodyBuilders.net to register
If you or your organization is interested in knowing how to host or co-host a Boot Camp, email: info@thebodybuilders.net
or contact us at 800-595-4881.
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