Fundraising or Kingdom Raising?

"Let us see that we keep God before our eyes; 

that we walk in His ways 

and seek to please and glorify Him in everything, great and small. 

Depend upon it, God's work, done in God's way, 

will never lack God's supplies."

-Hudson Taylor

Fundraising.

One of the most stressful and intimidating words to nearly anyone in some form of ministry. And nearly every missionary I've ever spoken with agree that we would rather take a cheese grater to our heads than ask people for money.

Why is this? If we are dedicating our entire lives to full-time service, to help bring God's message of hope and healing to a broken world, and to minister to the poor and afflicted, why is it so hard to ask others to join in the ministry? Is it because we don't really believe in what we're doing? or Does it humiliate us and make us feel like beggars? or Are we afraid of being a burden to others?

There are really so many reasons why fundraising is difficult, but I suppose the heart of any reason for it comes down to this: We think of it as our personal ministry rather than a partnership with others. ...At least that's my hangup.

But what does God say about people financially supporting others?

In the Book of Numbers we learn a few things about that.

“To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting, so that the people of Israel do not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance. For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.”

-Numbers 18:21-24 (ESV)

In Nehemiah 13:10-13, we learn that Israel was not supporting the Levites, forcing them to have to labor in the fields instead of ministering to the people. Because the Levites had no inheritance, it was the responsibility of the other 11 tribes to help support and provide for them through their own labor and income. By doing this, the other tribes were not only enabling the Levites to serve in full time ministry, but also became a part of that ministry.  For without the other tribes support, the Levites could not serve God's Kingdom effectively.

Full time ministry is not an exclusive calling for each individual. Rather, it is a joint calling for many to serve together as one body with many parts. And without each one functioning together the body cannot do the work of the Kingdom.

I've been asked numerous times why I choose to serve with YWAM and be responsible for raising my own support instead of choosing an organization that pays me. My answer?
1. No mission organization functions without support. Some raise money and distribute among their missionaries. But, if enough funds are not raised, they usually pull the missionaries from their field.
2. Organizations that offer salaries send their missionaries where they want them to serve and in what service they need to be filled.

-There's nothing wrong with this, but it does create many limitations.

When God led Loren Cunningham to found YWAM, He also told Loren that every individual would be responsible for their own financial support. Why?
1. This requires each individual to rely entirely on God for support, and not the organization.
2. You can go where the Lord is leading, for however long He wants you there.
3. No one is limited to a fixed salary, but is able to do whatever the Lord provides for them to do, wherever the Lord wants them to be.
4. Most important: It allows the other 11 tribes (the laborers) to be a part of full time ministry.

There are more reasons, but #4 is the most important. Not everyone in the world is called to be a Levite. We are a 'kingdom of priests,' but many are called to serve at home, and in various careers. But we are all still 'one body.' We need each other to function and to serve well. A Levite might be considered to be the hands and feet (ministering and traveling), but without the arms and legs, they cannot function. Our supporters make up that part of the body which enables the hands and feet to go and serve throughout the world. They are as much a part of the Levitical ministry as we are.

Even Jesus had His supporters (Luke 8:2-3). Without them, He would not have been able to minister and teach as He did. He and His disciples needed food, clothing, and shelter.

The truth is, my supporters are partners in ministry. Whether they send financial funds, care packages, help raise funds, send letters of encouragement, organize speaking opportunities, or are a part of the prayer team, they are a part of everything that I do in ministry.

When I go to Greece in a couple of weeks to serve on the streets and with refugees, every person who has provided the money, prayed for me, provided food or shelter for me, is a part of that. Their spirit is with me. We are serving together. We are one body. Nothing that I do can be set apart from others, as we are partners in ministry and prayer. It isn't about the money. It's about the opportunity for God's children to serve together in ministry.

I'm a Levite, and I have no worldly inheritance anymore. But I am also an Israelite, a son of Abraham and a child of God. Therefore I am a small part of a large body of Christian's. And together, we are bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to a lost a broken world. No one's in this alone. This is all of us.

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, 

I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

-Matt 28:18-20 (NKJV)

"Let us see that we keep God before our eyes; 

that we walk in His ways 

and seek to please and glorify Him in everything, great and small. 

Depend upon it, God's work, done in God's way, 

will never lack God's supplies."

-Hudson Taylor

As for Kingdom raising here in England, I recently had the opportunity to serve the local community in the YWAM Harpenden annual Summer Fete. We began with a community work day cleaning up the base and setting up the tents and booths. And after everything was ready, hundreds of locals came to participate in the 5k race, and enjoyed all the games, festivities, and food! I was in the face painting booth for the first half, and then I wandered around helping in various places and making sure everyone was hydrated. (The British sun may not shine often, but when it does it is intense.) 

At the end of the day we were all exhausted after also taking everything down. But it was a delightful evening as we all ate dinner together picnic style. Several of us acquired some very lovely sunburns! It is funny to think of getting sunburned in England, but it does happen! ;)

I think the highlight of this week was visiting with a young lady who has cancer. I had seen her around the base, and spoken with her briefly, but Saturday evening was the first time I had a conversation with her. I must say that I was completely amazed by this young woman. She just recently found out about her cancer, had her first chemo treatment, but she has a positive attitude regarding it. She both humbled and inspired me. 

But not once did I feel sorry for her, and I told her so. She was very grateful for that. No one wants to be the object of pity. Everyone has some kind of burden in their life, and we shouldn't be awkward with each other because someone is sick. On the contrary, we praised God for the opportunity in ministry her cancer has given her. I do encourage others to be praying for this young woman as she returns home for further treatment, for her family, and for her fiance. She does have a difficult road ahead of her, but I have no doubt that she is able to walk it. And after she gets more adjusted to the treatments and in healing, she will continue to serve in ministry. 

After all, she is a Levite too!