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An honest confession about fund raising

This week we are going to Cincinnati, Ohio to hang out with some friends for some R & R and to do some “fundraising” (more about this in a minute). I’m looking forward to spending time with these guys! I was Dan’s youth pastor ten years ago. It’s been awesome to watch him grow as…

This week we are going to Cincinnati, Ohio to hang out with some friends for some R & R and to do some “fundraising” (more about this in a minute). I’m looking forward to spending time with these guys!

I was Dan’s youth pastor ten years ago. It’s been awesome to watch him grow as a man and a follower of Jesus! It’s so cool to see ministry payoff like this!

While we are with our friends, we will be going to their church to present the vision of what God has called us to do… start a church that will connect disconnected people to God, the church, each other, and the world. After presenting this vision we will be asking for their financial and prayer support as we give our lives to this cause.

One of the toughest… no, the toughest part of this whole journey for me has been the “fundraising” part. I am a strong, educated man with five ladies looking to me for support… financial, spiritual, emotional, etc.  I have strong convictions about what a man should be/do in the home and one of them is to provide for his family, hence my struggle.

I want to provide through my own strength and/or knowledge and it appears as if God is calling me to provide through faith. GRRRRRR…

As we listen to God and wise counsel it is clear to us that my time is best invested in this church-planting residency, and therefore I should give it as MUCH time as possible. That simply means this… my “work” for this next year is learning how to plant a church; to do anything else will compromise the learning experience.

Studies show that 80% of church plants fail within the first year because of a lack of “know-how.” This next year of our lives is an investment in a healthy, successful church plant. 

Honestly, asking people to support us financially over this year has been crazy for me from a whole bunch of different perspectives. A few reasons why it’s been so tough:

  • I’m strong and can paint
  • I’m educated and can teach
  • I’m proud and don’t want to depend

And yet I cannot escape the fact that I am not here in Georgia to paint, teach, or be proud.

I am here to be learn and be humble, and so I continue writing letters, making calls, and visiting churches to raise funds to support our family as we learn how to most effectively start a church that will connect people to God, the church, other people, and the world.

So there it is… an honest take on fundraising.

Someday I will look back on this blog article (which I will print out and put in my journal) and celebrate the lessons God taught me/us… but until then I will continue raising funds.

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Responses to “An honest confession about fund raising”

  1. bigcreekbill

    I understand the tensions and struggles. I truly can say that I understand. I raised my support for my family and I for 17 years with Campus Crusade. Support raising was the school of faith…no wait…it was the boot camp of faith and it always kicked my butt.

    But I always realized that the same God who kept providing all the needed support (because of either him using my efforts or despite my efforts) was the same God who I was going to be trusting in order to see students lives transformed by the Gospel. I remember God saying to me that I couldn’t say to Him that I could trust Him to see him work in students’ lives but that somehow He was unable to work in mine by providing my support.

    I used to think and dream of a day, when I wouldn’t have to trust him to provide. Then one summer the Lord led me in my reading to Deut. 8. This passage struck me square between the eyes. It is Moses reminding the Israelites not to forget to trust the Lord as they are about to enter into the promise land. When they were in the dessert, they saw the naked hand of God provide by sending manna from heaven and water from rocks. But now they are going to be in a rich and bountiful land. And they are going to be tempted to say that the work of their own hands would be providing for them. vs. 17 “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’”

    But he gave them a reminder…18″But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.”

    What the Word reminded me that day and ingrained into my heart, is that no matter if I am raising support or drawing a paycheck from a church or a business – it is the Lord who provides and I am to trust in Him. I don’t graduate from a walk of faith that requires me to trust in Him.

    I had 17 years with Campus Crusade to learn and re-learn that lesson. And I am still learning it as I am in ministry, where I don’t raise support for the first time.

    Thanks for your honest confession about support raising.

    BTW, tell me what your monthly needs are and how I could be involved.

    Reply
  2. northgatejeff

    Hey guy!
    It came to me, while reading the words through this blog entry, that the majority of your thinking process on fundraising is that you are fundraising for your support. Try to get rid of that type of thought process while doing this. Get your brain wrapped around the concept that you are gathering money for kingdom purposes, and that it really has little to do with the Peterson family and the personal needs of the family. (Even though it does indirectly.) God will take care of you…no problem. You are raising funds for His purposes and His work and His church. The future of the ministry you will be in charge of depends on this early concept.

    I used to HATE fundraising, but then changed my way of thinking about it, and it made such a difference. When I switched it around and made it for HIM alone, my “everything” changed while doing the fundraising, and the response was huge. People responded because a new excitement built up inside of me. I was doing this COMPLETELY for HIM! God blessed that, and $20,000 was raised in one 6 month period because God was going to be lifted up in the process!

    God is going to use you in such a powerful way. Thanks for allowing us to walk along side of you during the process.

    Love ya, guy.

    Jeff

    Reply
  3. rindy

    I agree with Jeff–how many things have you done that you have not wanted to do, yet felt that it’s what God is asking you to do. I hated speaking in front of people–yet God called. I hated the thought of mentioning the name Jesus to others–yet God called. I hated sharing—yet God called. Now it is incredible because I see how it is all part of the big picture. I love it and will do whatever it takes to do what he asks. You have been called to do this—for Him. You are right that you will look back and see what you have learned…and see it is all part of the big picture! Struggle with it, stretch with it–as Jeff said, God is going to use you in such a powerful way.

    And a little note to all who I keep hearing say how much Paul changed your thoughts on ‘church’ and how he impacted your life… and it’s crazy ’cause I keep hearing it over and over!!! 😉 …you know how God working through one person can impact so many. Paul is not doing this alone—and you can help!!! He believed in you…do you believe in him?

    Reply
  4. It’s not about me… « paulpetersonlive.com

    […] This has been an amazing growing point for me. I’ve written before about this (click here to read “An honest confession about fundraising”). God has been pointing out to me that if I allow my pride to get in the way here, specifically by […]

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