Many times, after people discover that we are supported by individual donations, they want to know why they have never heard us ask for money. I’m not sure if it is because they are shocked that we have never hit them up for the $$ (I mean doesn’t everyone need money?) or disappointed that we haven’t given them the opportunity to share in the work God has given us. Regardless, this is the long answer to the question, “Why don’t you raise support?”
1. The main reason why we choose not to raise support is because we are very much a mom-and-pop organization. Being small certainly has it advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, we are able to keep very low overhead. On the other, we have limited manpower and resources. When it comes to fundraising it can easily consume a lot of time. It is common for ministries today to spend 40% to 50% of their time soliciting new potential supporters, keeping supporters happy, having fund raisers, etc. We already find it hard enough to keep up with ministry updates and the overwhelming amount of ministry opportunities. We did not start this ministry as a support-raising ministry and it is certainly our goal to spend as much time as possible preaching the gospel.
2. Culturally speaking in today’s world it seems that most churches, para-church ministries, and missionaries have their hands out all the time when it comes to financial support. This has certainly caused much skepticism in the eyes of believers and non-believers throughout the world. This is more a valid observation of today’s church rather than a judgement. Part of our decision to not ask for financial support is because we never want those who we help and minister to, to ever have to question our motive in doing so. Instead, we want the transforming love of Christ to be the overwhelming message that is left on their hearts and minds. It is our goal to help believers experience the freedom that they have in Christ from false guilt and/or compulsion and free them to enjoy giving from a cheerful heart.
3. It’s not that we believe that asking for financial support is Biblically wrong. In fact, when we first stepped out in ministry in 1998 we raised support. Since 1998 we have had many supporters come and go. When Christ leads us to ask for support, only then do we do so. Scripturally speaking, there is much to find about those in the ministry receiving financial support and the generosity of the church in both the Old and New Testament. In fact, in 1 Cor 9:14 Paul states that, “The Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” Again in Gal 6:6 he says, “The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.”
Some examples of those who received support for their work in the ministry include the Levites (Num 18:24; Neh 13:10-13) and Jesus and the twelve apostles (Luke 8:1-3). Saint Paul received support (Phil 4:15-20,2 Cor 11:9) as well as defended his right to be supported by those to whom he ministered (1 Cor 9:1-7, 2 Cor 11:5-10).
While we find plenty of examples of those who received support in the New Testament, Scripture does not say whether or not they solicited others for that support. Many ministries use these same verses to explain why they ask for support. The only example of asking for support that we do see (and must I say we still have much to learn from God about His word) is in Romans 15:24 where Paul mentioned to them, “Whenever I go to Spain– for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while.” It is reasonable to believe that Paul’s asking the Romans for help could have included financial help.
We find plenty of Scriptural support that those preaching the gospel are many times supported by those who they minister to as well as non-local churches when support may not be available in the area ministered to for one reason or another. We also find that asking for support is rarely found and making a method out of soliciting support from others is not found at all. Nor can we find a mandate in Scripture that says we should solicit support.
One of my favorite stories in Scripture is one that my wife shared with me about the Levites. The Lord was giving an inheritance to each of the twelve tribes of Israel and when He got to the Levites (Royal priesthood) He said, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.” The words, “I am your share,” have certainly been our experience over the years in ministry. Whether lacking, or in abundance, we have learned to trust the Lord with what He has given to us. And we trust Him to put us on the hearts of the Saints to donate to the work that He has called us to do.
