Fundraising in a Financial Crisis
Fundraising wasn’t a problem when my wife and I prepared for the mission field in 2005. We were sent out by three generous churches, family and friends rallied around us, and, along the way, I met a professional baseball player who chased me down the aisle to hand me a $50,000 check. People were amazed that this young couple with two boys younger than 2 years old (one just born) was moving to Africa.
I would confidently—on further reflection, pridefully—tell people God was going to fund our work because we were being obedient to his calling. I also learned during seminary a thing or two about raising money. To supplement my income as a youth pastor, I sold cell phones out of my computer bag (back when flip phones were the latest technology!). Fundraising and sales, of course, empl...