RAISING FUNDS

Sometimes we say, “I’ll do this if I get the money.” But how can we let money decide whether we will or won’t obey God? A better starting point is to ask, “God, is this what you want for me?”

If God is leading you to attend DTS, then commit in faith to the process before you know where the money will come from. God is your source, and walking with him while trusting him to provide is its own discipleship adventure! And remember, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).”

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray (Luke 11) the biggest lesson he gave them was to be persistent in their asking. He taught them to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, and knock and keep on knocking. Sometimes we hit obstacles and assume God is saying we shouldn't do this. Obstacles are actually those moments when we get to lean on God more and ask for His help. Believe that God is FOR you as you keep knocking on doors until God makes a way.

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Do a little math and figure out how much money you still need for your DTS. Since God is your provider, you can go to him every day – starting today! Start knocking and see what God does to open the door.

God’s call on your life is worth any hard work you can do to earn the tuition. So get your hands dirty! If you already have a job, start saving as much as you can. If you don’t have a job, consider getting one and giving it your all, even if it’s temporary. God will bless your effort and you will value your upcoming DTS all the more.

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Hard work is valuable in and of itself, but also, others will be more likely to contribute to your DTS if they see you are willing to invest your time and energy as well.

Tell everyone you know about your upcoming DTS. Share your exciting new venture with your family, friends, coworkers, people from your church, and anyone else. Don’t be afraid to invite them to partner with you - most people are not asked individually to support missionaries- it's usually just a part of churches budgets. Individuals find meaning in being able to personally invest in you and what God is calling you to do.

You may have family members who are excited for you, and they could host a dessert time where you can share your vision with their friends, and you can invite their friends to partner with you financially.

We know it’s popular. It’s also simple and free to use online tools and promote them through social media. And when you see others raking in the cash through something like GoFundMe, it could be tempting to go that route for your DTS.

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Trust us: it’s unlikely to be effective. Our years of experience have taught us that online crowdfunding campaigns can be great for certain projects and not so good for others – including something like DTS. Unless you already have a huge following on social media, most fundraising campaigns on social media really fall short. You won’t regret sticking to face-to-face communication for your support raising. 

You may be surprised how many people there are in your life who would love to help you get to DTS. If your parents or relatives or your church know you have a need, they may consider contributing. So don’t be afraid to ask! Be humble and gracious, but be straightforward: don’t just vaguely mention your need, ask someone to pray about investing in your mission. And don’t take the easy way out! These conversations are best done face to face- maybe at a local coffee shop. Stick with the follow up too- set a time when you are going to call back after they have had a few days to pray about it. 

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We’ve frequently seen churches take offerings or family members make contributions towards DTS tuition. It just might not occur to them if you don’t ask.

DTS is powerful, and may very well be the most life-changing decision you make. Don’t let something like the lack of money hold you back! God is the God of the impossible. He loves you. He is good. And DTS is going to be worth the fight to get here. So whatever you do, don’t quit! So many times we have students hit a wall, and the tears come as they feel defeated, but if they don't quit, then they get to experience God's incredible provision. 

We have coached many through the process of raising funds for the mission God has called them to. We have more ideas and encouragement than we could list here, so call us and explain your current situation; we would LOVE to give you some specific input – and we’ll pray for you, too! Get in touch with us at ben@ywamcrosswind.org, or call the office at 620-327-2700.