Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Christian schools have a wonderful opportunity to work together to advance and promote Christian education. Rather than see each other as competitors for a finite number of students, these cooperative schools see each other as partners in communicating the message that a Christian worldview is imperative for our children.
How can schools band together in these joint efforts and what does this have to do with stewardship? The answer to the second question first. When schools come together with one unified voice they save resources (time, talent, and money) as each one contributes to a larger effort. In my role with www.DiscoverChristianSchools.com I am working with 15 schools in the Twin Cities area for a November event. The evening is called Christian Education: A Real Choice for You and is a tribute to the organizers for their willingness to work together to speak to parents.
In this way the schools are being good stewards of their resources; one handles the advertising, another gets the venue, another lines up the speakers. and so on.
In order to partner together schools (and other like ministries for that matter) need to realize that we are not the only solution to a problem, but that the Lord purposes each of our schools with a special mission. Also, we must realize that there are plenty of potential students if we do our job to "raise the level of the pond" so that all boats (schools) float higher.
In short, partnering requires humility that reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Purpose-Driven Fundraiser
Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
In the development world we are always connecting with people and explaining our work. When asked, many of us would answer "I am the development officer for ...." or "I am the fundraiser for ....". True enough, that describes our specific function, but it falls short of the wonderful purpose God has given us to be catalysts for biblical stewardship.
If we see our purpose as larger (dare I say global?) then we may begin to approach our work as more than fulfilling a role in the organizational chart or raising a certain sum of money.
What if you answered the "what do you do" question with "My role is to encourage people to unleash resources from their wealth and plow them into the Kingdom". To which, they would reply (after they chuckled in amusement), "That's a tall order".
Indeed it is and that is why it requires the very word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit.
However, if we let the Spirit do the "heavy lifting" of changing hearts, then our work is one of being an aid to and a messenger of the One who owns all of the resources and our very lives in the palm of His hand. And, according to Scripture, we are to test God in this and see if He does not throw open the floodgates of heaven.
When we look at our work with this bigger view we are better positioned to be a help to the donor. Even if we are part of an effort that causes the donor to give to a ministry other than our own, we can rejoice because the donor was blessed in the act of giving.
"Raising our gaze" gives our work the high calling that it should have.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
In the development world we are always connecting with people and explaining our work. When asked, many of us would answer "I am the development officer for ...." or "I am the fundraiser for ....". True enough, that describes our specific function, but it falls short of the wonderful purpose God has given us to be catalysts for biblical stewardship.
If we see our purpose as larger (dare I say global?) then we may begin to approach our work as more than fulfilling a role in the organizational chart or raising a certain sum of money.
What if you answered the "what do you do" question with "My role is to encourage people to unleash resources from their wealth and plow them into the Kingdom". To which, they would reply (after they chuckled in amusement), "That's a tall order".
Indeed it is and that is why it requires the very word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit.
However, if we let the Spirit do the "heavy lifting" of changing hearts, then our work is one of being an aid to and a messenger of the One who owns all of the resources and our very lives in the palm of His hand. And, according to Scripture, we are to test God in this and see if He does not throw open the floodgates of heaven.
When we look at our work with this bigger view we are better positioned to be a help to the donor. Even if we are part of an effort that causes the donor to give to a ministry other than our own, we can rejoice because the donor was blessed in the act of giving.
"Raising our gaze" gives our work the high calling that it should have.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Multiplying the Stewardship Army
Even the best fundraiser or development officer cannot, and should not, try to marshall all of the resources by himself or herself.
The key to spreading and sharing the story is through multiplying ourselves through staff and other friends of the school.
Our Lord Jesus started with a small band of 12, taught them through intense and regular fellowship and ministry, and they (the disciples) grew and became teachers and multipliers themselves.
What can we learn from the Master Teacher as to how to extend and expand our ministry?
The key to spreading and sharing the story is through multiplying ourselves through staff and other friends of the school.
Our Lord Jesus started with a small band of 12, taught them through intense and regular fellowship and ministry, and they (the disciples) grew and became teachers and multipliers themselves.
What can we learn from the Master Teacher as to how to extend and expand our ministry?
- Close contact - Jesus didn't pontificate from afar and expect his disciples to get it; He was in close regular relationship with them
- Full-orbed relationship - Jesus was always concerned about the whole person
- Repeating the message - None of us get the message the first time; we need to have repeated and taught in many ways
- On-the-job training - Jesus took His disciples with Him as he ministered so they could learn by doing when they were ready
For us, we should always look for those who we can "bring along" in our work so that more relationships can be fostered.
Another advantage of multiplication is that there are supporters of the school or ministry who will connect with someone else better than they will with us. This is natural and we should not be so haughty to think that we are best for every communication.
If we employ this multiplication approach think of how many additional "evangelists" we could have trained!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Development versus Stewardship
Is there a difference between development and stewardship, or is it just semantics?
Development, as it is practiced, focuses on a financial transaction. In other words, we "develop" sources of funds of gifts. Development may imply that it is a process. First, someone is introduced to the school or ministry and they (may) begin as smaller donors and then work up to becoming major donors or ones that name the ministry in their will or estate planning.
Stewardship, as the Bible describes it, is the wise use of our time, talent, and treasure. Isn't stewardship, then, just an expanded definition of giving? Isn't it just saying that that you can give your time and talents if you don't have extra money to contribute?
I would say that the practice of stewardship involves more than assessing the ability to give and then "spending" out of the excess.
Let's try this. What if we (in the business) loved our donors enough to stop long enough to hear their heart? What if we provided a space for them to express their passions for Kingdom work and how they could express their love for Christ if current resources were no object?
What if we asked donors to take an inventory of their God-given gifts, talent and other resources? In this way, we are participating in "whole life" stewardship, not only the spending of financial assets.
Lastly, what if we helped make the connections between their God-placed passions and God-given provisions to accomplish Kingdom purposes. Some of those purposes may actually fall to our school or ministry. If they come to us, that is great. If not, then another ministry is blessed.
The practice of stewardship doesn't necessarily involve raising lots of money. But, don't be surprised if the Lord releases amazing funds when we do our work His way!
Development, as it is practiced, focuses on a financial transaction. In other words, we "develop" sources of funds of gifts. Development may imply that it is a process. First, someone is introduced to the school or ministry and they (may) begin as smaller donors and then work up to becoming major donors or ones that name the ministry in their will or estate planning.
Stewardship, as the Bible describes it, is the wise use of our time, talent, and treasure. Isn't stewardship, then, just an expanded definition of giving? Isn't it just saying that that you can give your time and talents if you don't have extra money to contribute?
I would say that the practice of stewardship involves more than assessing the ability to give and then "spending" out of the excess.
Let's try this. What if we (in the business) loved our donors enough to stop long enough to hear their heart? What if we provided a space for them to express their passions for Kingdom work and how they could express their love for Christ if current resources were no object?
What if we asked donors to take an inventory of their God-given gifts, talent and other resources? In this way, we are participating in "whole life" stewardship, not only the spending of financial assets.
Lastly, what if we helped make the connections between their God-placed passions and God-given provisions to accomplish Kingdom purposes. Some of those purposes may actually fall to our school or ministry. If they come to us, that is great. If not, then another ministry is blessed.
The practice of stewardship doesn't necessarily involve raising lots of money. But, don't be surprised if the Lord releases amazing funds when we do our work His way!
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