raising money from the field

You could try a mass mail out of a video presentation. The cost of DVDs and DVD mailers is relatively cheap. Recruit some volunteer labor to burn the DVDs and prepare them for mail out. You should be able to get a church to allow you to send them using their bulk mail permit to reduce the cost of postage.

Create a blog site for your ministry and also a personal facebook. Post your prayer letters to the blogsite and link the blog to your facebook notes, you can also create a group that will send your prayer letter via email to everyone in the group. It really helps get exposure for your ministry and these are free services. Post regular updates and keep people informed of what you are doing. In your next hard copy prayer letter, include your blog address and facebook page and let people know that more information about what you are doing is available online. You would be amazed at how many people will forward your e-prayer letter to friends and relatives.

 

Speaking from experience- it is very hard to do but not impossible. The ideal situation is to have a supporting pastor who is willing to try to raise support at home for you. There were some times when we were in the same boat as you and we would let our pastor know and he would make calls to pastor friends recommending us and some did take us on for support until we could get home and meet with them while on deputation. If your pastor has a good "rep" with some pastors who do not already support you that might be a way to go.

The other option is the old standby of prayer. While we were on the field, our mission agency and supporting churches had a split and we lost quite a bit of support. But by God's grace every bit of it was made up. We did have some "lean Months" or as I liked to call 'em- "Lean on the Lord" months.

Be praying for you- these indeed are challenging times for all involved in all facets of ministry.

 

How are y'all at making tents? I'm not trying to be funny, it is a real consideration. You may have to provide for yourselves until this storm blows over, doing what ever it takes to stay afloat.

We had to leave the field several years ago. We lost several of our major supporters because of the ecomony. We had tried to raise support while staying on the field, but it is very difficult. We managed to pick up a few, but not enough to make up the short fall.

In no way am I attempting to add distress to the situation. But I have been reading articles that the State Department is telling foreign embassies to purchase enough local currency to pay expenses for a year. This is because of the fore-casted decline in the dollar. You may have already seen exchange rates affected in your area. Mission dollars given in the US will not buy as much during the coming months. So in addition to missionaries loosing support they are also not able to purchase as much. If you have an emergency fund, you may want to pray about converting it to the local currency.

I have also heard that the SBC's IMB is not sending any new missionaries out this year. Some already quit their jobs and did all the preparation work, and now they are not going. Shortfalls in mission giving to the cooperative program and lottie moon prevented them from appointing anyone this coming year. If things turn around, they may reverse that decision, but that was the last I had heard.

I am truly concerned for you and your family and I know exactly what you are going through with the burn-out and support situations. Our church will be praying for you. Chin-up, God knows your situation, do not loose faith in him.

An important lesson I had to learn while going through the fire is that following God's will for my life and my family is my top priority. Pastors and churches like to believe that they know God's will for your family and they like to tell you what you need to do, even though they are not in your situation. It is always good to get wise council. But if you have prayed something through and know God's will, you must follow him no matter what.

We had to stand and follow God's will, even though it cost us several supporting churches and our sending church. But God was faithful and carried us through and honored our decision to follow him.

 

I recommend against raising support from the field you are going to, and the primary reason for that is what we call the indigenous principle. This is the principle that the nationals on the field you are going to must be able to support their own churches, pastors and missionaries. Your goal upon reaching the field is to win people to Christ and plant a church.

Consider what we call the three selfs: self governing, self support and self propagation. (The communist Chinese government stole this expression for its own purposes, but it was first put forth by a 19th century missionary.) Self support means that the church on the field should not receive funds from America, but should pay its own way. Self propagation means that the believers on the field must learn to win souls, and their church must learn to support missionaries. If you get funds from churches on the field, they will be less able to try to reach the world for themselves.

I know deputation is hard. It's the hardest thing I ever did. But you can make it. Don't be discouraged, just trust and pray and work. I know missionaries that took over five years to reach the field of Japan, but here they are, and have been here many years!

My ideas to raise support: again, trust and pray and work. There are no shortcuts.

 

Oops, I forgot you were already on the field! May God supply all your needs. We went through a similar very rough time back about 14-15 years ago when the dollar fell to its lowest level ever against the yen. Somehow God brought us through and met all our needs as He promised, though looking back I'm not sure how. A military church gave us food showers, and that certainly helped, and God provided in other ways.

 

That is, however unfortunately, usually the best option. I will be praying for you and if you should ever get down to S. Texas along the Mexican border, please PM me. May God bless you and encourage you today!