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RETURNING TO FULLTIME MTD
Freed up to return to fulltime full-time support raising? Here’s some key advice to make the most of it.
Checklist
THE CHECKLIST
- Renew your mind on your call to ministry and MTD
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- Set your attitude: boldness
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- Establish two clear goals: a dollar amount and a date
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- Prep! Get new photos, scrub your data, more
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- Game plan: chose who to contact
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- and in what order
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- Communicate
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- early,
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- concretely and often
- Know which ask is appropriate and refresh
- Know how to ask for an increase
- Decide how much in-person MTD you need to do
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- Get current with the digital world
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Renew your mind
Let’s face it: it’s It’s been a while since you’ve really turned all your focus toward fulltime full-time MTD, and many of us, when we think of picking up that phone, have a few buried fears. They are, in some ways, the same fears we faced when we raised our initial support. But they also have the potential to be more insidious , because now they can be compounded by the memories of our past experience.
If you’re here, you’re not alone. We’ve spoken to fulltime full-time missionaries who have lived on financial support with families for twenty years who still find themselves with some foolish fears floating in their hearts, un-confronted unconfronted while their focus was on fulltime full-time ministry elsewhere.
Even if we are confident, it behooves us to return to some of the basics. These questions can help:•
- There are many godly vocations. Do I reaffirm that God has called me to this ministry at this time and in this place?
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- There are many biblical models of obtaining financial resources. Do I believe that God has called me to Ministry Team
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- Development — living in dependence on the greater body of Christ?
You may find it helpful to review some of the available materials on the biblical examples of missionary fundraising in scripture , and the practical advantages of MTD in today’s world.
Contact Reliant for additional resources on the Biblical and spiritual dimensions of MTD.SET YOUR ATTITUDE: BOLDNESS.Resources: ???
Set your attitude: Boldness
In addition to refreshing our hearts and minds on our call to ministry, the appropriateness of MTD , and our call to do MTD—a MTD, a return to MTD is an opportunity to review the things that God has done over the last years. What is are the effect effects of your ministry efforts? What stories have moved you? What experiences have challenged you? What important tasks are still undone and people unreached; what ? What needs drive us to seek the power of Jesus to do more?
Reflection will help us report to our donors well , and revive a spirit of celebration and gratitude that will show through. Importantly , our experience should also give us a boldness as we approach current and potential ministry partners. “This is what God is doing: will Will you join us?” is a statement that is as true as ever. A fulltime full-time ministry worker has an established track record that is important for donors to see. Don’t be afraid to share positively about your own great ability to impact others as you’ve matured.
“With five years of campus ministry under my belt, we’ve found our Christian character and ministry skills increase with every gospel moment or challenge. We are having a greater impact than we have ever had, and this thought has convinced us to be bold in asking for your increased financial support. This is the right time.”ESTABLISH TWO CLEAR GOALS: A DOLLAR AMOUNT AND A DATE.
Establish two clear goals: a dollar amount and a date
The questions of “how much do you need to raise” and “when do you need it?” are key. We need concrete goals here. “As much support as we can get,” get” is true for nearly any missionary, but infinity makes for poor communication and vision as we lead ourselves and our ministry partners into the next phase of our ministry.
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Let's look at an example. Jeff has a current support goal of |
$6,514 but is showing only about |
$4,950 in active recurring giving each month. He’s getting by, but there is not room for ministry expenses. And because of the lower funding, Jeff hasn’t taken his last offered raise, which would increase his support goal even more. The shortfall is |
$1,564. After prayer, Jeff decides to set his intermediate goal |
$1500
at $1,500 of new financial support |
and celebrate if it goes even above and beyond that. |
Setting a date is crucial too. When do we need it? Right away! Any time! But these answers are as indefinite as not communicating a clear dollar goal. A donor needs to know “when.”
Jeff has found that he’ll be able to cut away from fulltime ministry responsibilities in mid-April, and has most of the summer set-aside for MTD. He’s hoping he can meet his goals by the end of June, but isn’t sure. In order to communicate a clear deadline for donors, however, he chooses 15 July as his deadline. This leaves enough space so that donors don’t delete an old e-mail just because they think the date has passed. Jeff writes further, “In order to return to fulltime ministry, we need to meet this goal by July 15.”
Contact Reliant for a MTD Goal Worksheet
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