“…see that you abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7).
This was ten years ago. We had just finished raising $10,000+ to enable a retiring missionary couple to purchase a good used car. Immediately, some began accusing me of knowing how to raise money.
Oh my. What little I know about fund-raising could fill a thimble.
A young pastor moving his family to a distant city to begin a church asked me to advise him on raising support.
Someone suggested I write a book on fund-raising.
Not going to happen.
On the other hand, as any veteran pastor would attest, it’s impossible to log six decades in church leadership and not learn a few lessons on motivating people to give. Some lessons were learned backwards–that is, by violating sound principles–and I have the scars as evidence. Either way, you do learn a few things.
Okay, then. Here are some things I know about inspiring the Lord’s people to give money for causes….
Pray. Make sure the project is of the Lord.
If it isn’t, no amount of religious talk is going to make it holy, make it acceptable, or make it work. So, get your decision-makers on their knees and do not go forward with this project until you are convinced the Father wants it.
People prefer to give to visions, rather than to needs.