We find numerous examples of raising funds for ministry both in Scripture (3 John 1:5-8; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Timothy 5:18; 1 Corinthians 9:13-14; Matthew 6:19-20) and in the lives of missionaries, ministers, non-profits and short term mission trip participants.
One key to raising funds for ministry is to keep the mission in mind. It’s an honor to invite others to join in supporting kingdom work!
The kingdom work we’re speaking of in Harvest Ministry is the fun and awesome ministry of reaching out to kids and students through camps, conferences and other events. Reaching the next generation with the gospel is a huge part of living out our faith.
I have found that ministry to “church kids” is a need that often is unrecognized. Students who may be a part of children’s ministry or student ministry, attend camps or special events and experience Christ in a way they have never before. Have you ever noticed how many testimonies from adults include having been at a camp or a retreat when Jesus really got a hold of their lives?
It’s an honor to serve and it’s an honor to enthusiastically invite others to join us in going!
Ministry budgets for summer camps, children’s ministry, and student ministry are often tight. Harvest Ministry operates very lean and mean – there isn’t a ton of overhead. We don’t own a building or have lots of expenses, praise the Lord! Though camps provide an honorarium to help fulfill our budget obligations for travel, insurance, team and staff expenses, etc, but we count on people as our main resource to serve, learn and join us in ministry!
As a result, team members are invited to join us as self-supporting ministry leaders for this short-term experience. As you raise funds for this ministry, they will be collected and given to you in the form of an educational scholarship at the end of the summer.
There are different ways to raise funds for ministry… ideas may include hosting a dinner, hosting a party for friends and family and sharing what you will be doing and inviting them to donate, hosting a rummage sale or something other event or doing a web event such as GoFund me or a Facebook fundraiser (to set up a Facebook Fundraiser, you just attached Harvest Ministry Teams, Inc as your specified ministry, share a bit about your coming experience and share the link with others).
LETTERS
However, here’s one plan and these are the steps to accomplish it!
- With a family member in mind, compose a letter about the ministry. Here are a couple samples. And here are some more samples.
- Compile a list of names (and addresses, emails or phone numbers). It would be good to have about 50-60 names. These names can be from your phone contact list, your church, other churches you are involved in, friends, family, neighbors, anyone you can think of.
- Go back to your letter, fine-tune it, then make 50 copies.
- Send these letters (personalized it all possible) to each of the 50-60 people. Your letter should include a small envelope with [your name] Account, Harvest Ministry Teams, 407 Edwardsville Road, Troy, IL 62294.
- Mail the letters out.
- Follow up with the people you are closest to a week later.
- We will update you as money comes into your account.
- You can also send a link to friends and family and as they respond to the giving link, we will update you as well. At times, it works well to send a letter and then follow up with a text or email that says, “I recently sent you a letter describing the mission I am part of this summer! I would love to have your support and partnership for this short-term ministry experience and if you have any questions, I would love to talk with you. Here’s an [online giving link], that I think I also included in the letter. Thanks for your consideration! Blessings!”
