Custom-designed stewardship

When we see how people came to salvation in the Scriptures it becomes clear that each person's salvation experience was custom-designed for the new convert. Look at how Nicodemus was called, how Jesus drew the disciples, and how perfectly suited Paul's experience was in order that he was met where he was and drawn savingly into a new relationship with Christ.

That is how it is with us in the work of raising funds for our school. Our "stewarding" the steward is to be done in a way that meets each school friend where they are. Think of the different types of friends we interact with.

We will work with current parents, alumni parents, alumni, other relatives, and donors with other connections; a large range of ages and maturity. Each one is on his or her own walk with the Lord; Christian maturity occurs at different rates and on different paths.

By the way, all of this applies to you and me, too.

Some are still wrestling the ownership issue: "I earned it, didn't I?"

Some believers understand ownership, but worry about the future expenses.

Some have thought about legacy, but don't know how to think about leaving money to their children.

Some need some guidance about the tithe and storehouse giving.

Many (most?) of us need to understand and believe the basic stewardship message: God has given many good gifts (material, time, and talent) which reflect God's glory and are to be used for Kingdom purposes. This can be a huge stumbling block, but it must be addressed before we may propose sacrificial giving.

Since most fund raisers are not trained in the "ministry" of stewardship, we tend to resort to shotgun techniques of raising funds; shoot big blasts into the air and see how many birds (coins and bills) fall to the ground.

Broad-based awareness raising (letters, events, etc.) is critical for gaining understanding about the school, but it is not generally where and how the money comes in. The people who send gifts are motivated by something else and our work (calling) is to "get in on" what God is doing in that person's life and encourage them to follow Jesus with vigor and confidence.

When we humbly come alongside our school friends we are doing ministry in a way that reflects the One who sent us.