Welcome to Solomon!

Enter the Access Code below

Access code is invalid

Solomon Logo

For assistance, problems or questions, please email us.

solomon@reliant.org

Versions Compared

Old Version 1

changes.mady.by.user Julie Thompson

Saved on

compared with

New Version 2

changes.mady.by.user Travis Isaak

Saved on

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: your home assignment has the capacity, when properly understood and planned for, to breathe new life, courage, and conviction into your soul that enables years of fruitful work. On the flip side, because of poor expectations (dreading it or imagining America will be some new-creation utopia), it has the capacity to disappoint, frustrate, and wear you down as you spend several months away from your new home, living like a nomad, becoming disoriented by how your friends and church have changed. We want the first narrative to be your story, and to that end there are several resources you should check out.

...

UI Expand
titleEstablish Clear Goals

There are two key questions you must answer before embarking on this season of MTD: 1) How much do I need to raise?, and 2) When do I need it?” We are talking about specific, concrete goals. “As much support as we can get,” is true for nearly any missionary, but infinity makes for poor communication and vision as you lead your partners into the next season of ministry.


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 at $1,500 of new financial support and celebrate if it goes even above and beyond that.

Jeff writes, “We have an immediate need for an additional $1,500 in monthly giving in order to sustain our ministry with Reliant and our new church plant.”


Setting a specific date is just as crucial as a specific amount. When do you need it? “Right away! Any time!” These answers may be true, but are just as unhelpful as not communicating a clear dollar amount. A ministry partner needs to know “when?”, if they are to respond with any sort of urgency. 

Back to Jeff. He’s found that he’ll be able to cut away from full-time 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 July 15 as his deadline. This gives an urgent window of time, but leaves enough space so that potential partners don’t delete an old email because they think the date has passed.

Jeff writes further, “In order to return to full-time ministry, we need to meet this goal by July 15.”

Resources

...

UI Expand
titleGame Plan: Who to Contact & When

There are several categories of contacts to consider as you step back in MTD and, depending on the time you plan to give to MTD, prioritizing whom to give priority will be crucial. Here are some categories to consider:

  • Current Partners = current recurring gift financial partners
  • Special Gift Partners = have given/periodically give special gifts
  • Prayer Partners = the wider mailing list; receive regular prayer updates; may give periodic special gifts
  • Former Partners = previously gave on a committed basis but don’t any longer
  • Other Potential Partners = new connections received, new names brainstormed, etc.

Depending on your experience in ministry and your freedom to travel, we recommend the following orders of priority:

Full-time Staff, more than four years since initial

More than Four Years since Initial MTD

  1. Current Partners
  2. Local networking / Connections from Current Partners
  3. Special Gift Partners
  4. Prayer Partners
  5. Former Partners
Full-time Staff, less than four years since initial


Less than Four Years since Initial MTD

  1. All Pending Names from Initial MTD
  2. Revisit Sending Church(es) / New Connections from Sending Church(es)
  3. Current Partners 
  4. Local netoworking networking / Connections connections from Current Partnerscurrent partners
  5. Prayer Partners
  6. Connections from Prayer Partners
  7. Any other names from brainstorming session(s)

Resource

...

UI Expand
titleCommunicate Early, Concretely and Often

We use the term “partner” frequently around here, but the reality is that partners don’t happen automatically but through relationships of trust. And one of the most significant ways to build trust is through consistent communication. Donors passively sit on the sidelines, and we fear that they will withdraw funding if they see ineffectiveness or something they do not like in the ministry. Partners, on the other hand, have a sense of ownership or stake in the ministry. Even though they are not on the frontlines, they see challenges as problems of their own — ones they want to help solve.

A missionary who thinks of their ministry team as “donors” may think of them as the opposing team, to be played with good strategy and a fear of loss. However, thinking of them as “partners” puts them on the same team, and each partner becomes a possible ambassador for our funding. To engage and activate our partners’ participation with the full-time MTD push, we need to communicate early, concretely, and regularly through the process:

  • Write a brief prayer update that stands out, explains the funding shortfall, your plan to return to full-time support raising, and an invitation to pray with you. Keep it very short and noticeable in order to maximize the chances of getting read. Don't feel obligated to give a ministry update at the same time — you’ve done this in other letters.

  • Send in “multiple dimensions.” If you typically email your prayer letter, recruit some stateside help (like an Advocacy Team or missions team at your Sending Church) to send a postal mail copy to everyone as a follow up. If you typically use postal mail, send an email with the identical letter attached. (“I just recently sent this in the mail, but wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it, so I’ve attached it to this email.”) Handwrite intros or p.s. on the postal letter.

  • Promise to call every letter recipient, then do it. This will take a lot of time, but it’s worth it to build a true partner team to sustain you for years. Depending on the circumstances, set up a time to meet in person, via Zoom, or a phone call at minimum.

  • Consider sending funding updates every few weeks and continue to invite partners to follow along and pray with you as you pursue your goal! Create a visual graph; a concrete date and dollar number make this possible.

...

UI Expand
titleInvitations to Partnership

Prioritize your ask according to your needs and who you are contacting.

Financial: Increase Giving

“I am so thankful for your partnership these past two years, and wanted to see if you would consider doubling your current monthly giving to Reliant?”

Financial:
New Giving

“We’ve loved sending you our prayer updates these past two years, and I wonder if you would consider becoming a regular monthly financial partner?”

Financial: Special Gift 

“Your special gifts in the past have been such a blessing, and we have an upcoming need of $1500 for a Furlough Debrief. Would you be willing to consider giving to Reliant to cover that cost?”

Connections: Re-asking for Names

“You were instrumental in connecting us to a number of people to share about our ministry prior to us launching. Thank you! Now that we’re back to full-time support raising, this would be a crucial way to help again.”

Referrals: First-time Names Ask

“It’s great we’re getting to speak again because there is a really key way you can help that we haven’t been able to talk about before…”



UI Expand
titleIncrease Ask: Aim High!

The people most committed to your ministry are those who have already invested time, money, or emotional energy to it. The partners who are committed to financially supporting your ministry every month are invested in you, want to see you flourish, and therefore are unlikely to be offended by a strong ask. If they can’t say yes, they likely wish they could.

Therefore, aim high when you invite a current partner to increase their giving. Don’t begin with an ask to increase by $10 each month; this is too low. For instance, consider your total goal. If you have a 50% yes rate for current partners, this would be not nearly enough. Of course, consider past increases as this may not be effective for a partner who has already increased in the last year or two.

Recommended: Ask all partners to double their currently current monthly commitment. Not all will be able to consider this, but you can always graciously ask for a lower amount. Many will say yes, especially if they understand your total need and the date you need it by.  

“In order to meet this goal, would you consider doubling your monthly gift to Reliant? You have been a valuable part of this ministry team, and rather than continue to expand the team I would love to invest more deeply. In whatever way God leads, I have been thrilled to see the fruit that has abounded from our partnership together, and look forward to continuing that in the years to come!”

...

UI Expand
titleNames Re-Ask

When asking for connections with those you have previously asked this, be sure to:

  • Acknowledge your previous invitation. “A couple of years ago you helped us meet a few other people to tell about our ministry. Thank you! Now that we’re back to full-time support raising, this might be a key way you could help again.”

  • Report back on the results of a previous request. If you were able to share with someone, or especially if someone became a partner, lead with this story! “Your connection to Mike last year was such a blessing to our ministry! Not only was he thrilled about what God was doing in London, but he joined as a monthly financial partner!”

  • Remember the basics of getting connected: cast vision for why; brainstorm through potential categories; collect contact info; clarify how to get in touch

  • Invite them to feel ownership of adding people to the partner team. “You and others on our current financial team will be able to cover some of the increased need for Reliant, but if we work together we can add others to the team who care about this ministry as well…”

  • Ask about previous referrals that never seemed to pan out. “Does it make sense for me to try them again?”

Resource

“Getting Connected to Others” course in LEARN

...