A Ministry of Fundraising?
A few years ago, in the midst of a capital campaign meeting in another setting, we on the campaign team were asked to read a book that changed my whole outlook on what I was doing. The book was by Henri Nouwen, a professor, speaker, and author I had long admired for his deep wisdom about prayer and the spiritual life. Though only about 50 pages long, The Spirituality of Fundraising helped me understand fundraising in the church as a vital part of our life together.
Nouwen describes fundraising as “a very rich and beautiful activity.” Candidly, those weren’t the words I had most often associated with campaigning! How about you? I now see the chance for all of us at Yates to find out, as we walk together through our campaign this Spring. I want to share some of Nouwen’s insights that have challenged me to a deeper faith and trust in God as I consider my place in such important work (excerpts from his book are italicized below).
The work we undertake can look quite different if we take Nouwen’s challenge seriously and see fundraising as ministry.
“Fundraising is, first and foremost, a form of ministry. It is a way of announcing our vision and inviting other people into our mission. Vision and mission are so central to the life of God’s people that without vision we perish and without mission we lose our way (Prov 29:18, 2 Kings 21:1-9). Vision brings together needs and resources to meet those needs (Acts 9:1-19)…Vision gives us courage to speak when we might want to remain silent (Acts 18:9)…Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission.”
Fundraising as ministry? Yes — ministry! If fundraising is ministry, it becomes a renewed call to conversion. If fundraising is ministry, it is a call to join in God’s work together. If it is ministry, then it is not begging, cajoling, or manipulating. All ministry, Jesus tells us, is about relationships: with God, with neighbor, and with ourselves. Our vision grows from joining God’s kingdom work. Our fundraising flows from people in relationship with us and with God.
So, as we engage in this ministry together, be prayerful!
“From beginning to end, fundraising as ministry is grounded in prayer and undertaken in gratitude.”
Be inspired!
“I ask for money standing up, not bowing down because I believe in what I am about. I believe I have something important to offer…We do not need to worry about the money. Rather, we need to worry about whether, through the invitation we offer them (the donor) and the relationship we develop with them, they will come closer to God.”
Be challenged!
“We will never be able to ask for money if we do not know how we ourselves relate to money. What is the place of money in our lives?”
Be converted!
“Fundraising is also always a call to conversion. And this comes to both those who seek funds and those who have funds. Whether we are asking for money or giving money we are drawn together by God, who is about to do a new thing through our collaboration.”
Be encouraged!
“[Fundraising] is a confident, joyful and hope-filled expression of ministry.”
Fundraising, undertaken prayerfully in a grateful spirit, with clear vision of God’s work and with deep love of God, neighbor, and self, is a powerful ministry. Through it, we may glimpse where it all points: “In ministering to each other, each from the riches that he or she possesses, we work together for the full coming of God’s kingdom.”
That is work I am so happy to be about!
Grace and Peace,