Balancing the Imminent with the Eminent

In our work as fundraisers, development or stewardship officers we can get caught up in the immediate, or imminent part of our work. Those are things like planning for events, getting our mailings out, working on newsletters, etc. These tasks, when part of a comprehensive and cohesive whole, are good to work on. This is "the stuff" of advancement and getting out the message about our school.

Then, there are those aspects of our work which are not pressing from a scheduling perspective, but are every bit as important because they are the most significant. Websters defines eminent as high, lofty, towering or prominent. These are the items that may not make it to the daily planner, but are those where life happens. A family needs a word of encouragement, another development officer needs a shoulder to lean on, a volunteer would be blessed with a little recognition, etc.

Balancing these two competing priorities is the mark of maturity in our world. We should have a game plan that keeps us on track while we build in unscheduled time for unexpected opportunities to bless others and to think out of the box.

How do we do this? First, recognize that the work of advancement is never done; there is always someone else we want to introduce to the school. Second, find a mentor who will walk alongside you, who will pray for you, and will help hold you accountable to balancing competing priorities.

Critical Success Factors for Development

Proverbs 15:22
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

What makes a development officer successful in their work and ministry? Is it their previous experience? Probably not, unless they came from a similar institution. Is it specific training? Again, probably not since few people go to school to become fundraisers. Is it their personality? Personality is important especially if the development person is outgoing and gregarious.

However, having guidance and support from several others may be the most important factor in "raising the fundraiser". First, if you are looking for a new development person, look for these characteristics:

1. Passion - for Jesus and for the school


2. Discipling - a desire to see God's people grow in the grace of giving


3. Teachable - A wise person knows what they don't know - willing to take direction


4. Innate skills - such as writing, organizing, recruiting, motivating


5. A bias for action - if "nothing is happening", then he or she makes something happen

Now, how to help this person be successful:

1. A clear position description including general and specific goals


2. Besides the head of school (the direct supervisor), the development officer needs a board member who has a keen interest in development and who can be a helpful sounding board.


3. A mature outside mentor can be extremely helpful in training and for on-going accountability.


4. Continuing education - reading and workshops and coaching will help keep the ideas and initiatives flowing

Development is often a lonely role. It is not in the mainstream of school operations, but critical for the school's health. Take care to choose this leader well. Then, invest in their success.

Prayer and Practice: A Summer Stewardship Project

I have been blessed to meet many other Christian school administrators over the past decade. God has raised up godly and capable men and women who have much to contribute to their schools and local communities. They have taught me and supported me in growing into the position I hold in my school. I suspect many of you have done this for the "youngsters" who move into leadership roles.

Here is an idea to consider for this summer: find a "prayer and practice" friend with whom you can spend time.

Recently, I was approached by a long-time friend in Christian schooling to do some "visioning" together. He has lots of experience that is different than mine and I have some background that could be useful to him. In our first meeting we ranged over a number of issues and we were able to find a few areas where we could be helpful to each other. We agreed to come back together on a regular basis to discuss further how we could begin to enhance our respective schools.

How can you do this? Think of a person who you respect and who you could meet with on a regular basis. Summers are less structured times; we can think a little more creatively without the normal pressing schedules. Call and meet for coffee; a non-school venue is conducive to out-of-the-box thinking.

Lastly, pray with and for your friend asking the Lord to reveal His ideas to both of you. No need to worry about competition. There are plenty of students available if our parents get the big idea of Christian schooling.

Knowing What We Don't Know

Proverbs 1:1-7


The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-- let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.


Throughout the scriptures we are taught to seek wisdom. Wisdom is a precursor and companion of knowledge and understanding, all of which is critical for life.

From Proverbs 2


My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.


The wisest people I know are the ones who are keenly aware of the fact that they have not "arrived" at wisdom. In fact, the more they learn and grow, the more they realize how much there is left to learn.


This attitude is so critical for us in leadership. We must have a healthy respect for what we do not know and then to seek wisdom and knowledge from those who will came alongside us.


This week I met such an individual, one who is well thought of and accomplished. However, he will not accept mediocrity and he fully acknowledges that other perspectives can and will help him improve his school in a way that he cannot by himself.


Praise the Lord for humility. If we can all realize that we do not have all of the answers and can agree that this declaration is not a sign of weakness, then our schools are poised to become premier institutions of redemptive grace.

Saving Your Way to Prosperity

I know a company that was very good at centralizing common functions (accounting, personnel, etc.) between business units so that it could wring out redundancies; a practice also known as gaining synergies. This practice works for a period of time as the head counts and the corresponding costs are reduced. After awhile, the business must grow on its own merits to stay competitive.

Christian schools and other ministries have leaders who have business backgrounds and, when the financial times get difficult, tend to move quickly to the "slash expenses" mode to balance the budget.

Cutting expenses is easier and faster than raising funds or improving the "product". However, when we reduce expenses we are also eliminating some of the program or capabilities that caused people to come to the school in the first place. After all, we didn't intentionally hire non-productive overhead just so that it could be eliminated when the economic times get tough.

Here are a few questions that you might ask as you consider plans to "hunker down" or "circle the wagons" to achieve financial viability:

1. Is this a short-term or a long-term reduction? Do you plan to add this program or function back in the near future? Could it cost more to add later?
2. Is the current situation a statistical aberration? Or, is this a trend that you do not know how to correct?
3. How aware are the stakeholders? Have they been brought to the table to brainstorm ideas other than straight cost reduction?
4. Have you discussed this with other schools who seem to be strong and flourishing? Would you be willing to ask them for advice or counsel or prayer or help? Could you even partner with another school to combine a program, such as athletics, rather than eliminate it all together?
5. What if there is another school that needs something that you have? Would you be willing to help them?

Admittedly, these financial situations often seem to come up rather quickly. There may not be enough time to look at the more creative and complex ideas.

But, for the long-term good of the school (including morale), please look at solutions that do not cut out muscle from the school.

We can't save our way to prosperity every year.

Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

The Mentor: Get one or Be one

Acts 11:19-26 The Church in Antioch - How God used Barnabas to advance the kingdom

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.


Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

This looks like mentoring to me; coming alongside, encouraging, and being true to the message he had been given. Also, Barnabas and Saul were meeting with the church for a "whole year" indicating that teaching was occurring throughout. It takes time to change culture.

Have you been called to be a mentor to a "younger" leader, someone who can call on you to be a safe place to exchange ideas and try them on. If the Lord has laid this on your heart, be a good steward of your time and volunteer to go on the journey with someone. You will be a blessing and you will be blessed as well.

Do you need a mentor? If so, find someone who has the maturity and wisdom to give good counsel. He or she will not give you the "answer" to all of the questions or challenges, but he (or she) will help you with maintaining your principles while you explore other avenues of your work.

Giving generously and receiving graciously; both sound biblical to me.