Refresh: Just keep networking

"Good news refreshes the bones." - Proverbs 15:30b

This is part of an ongoing series called "Refresh" which highlight tales of God providing, especially in amazing, fun and unexpected ways. Details may be modified to protect privacy. May this tale help refresh your bones!

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I attended a really solid church while in college. I loved it! It was the kind you’re excited to bring lots of friends to. Lots of others felt the same way, so when I went into full-time ministry and began fundraising, I expected to meet a ton of eager supporters there!

However... without going into the details, no one in the church gave despite my very best efforts. (The church itself didn't give either.) It took me several months before I finally realized that nothing there was panning out, which of course was ridiculously discouraging to say the least.

However... I had met one encouraging couple there who seemed interested (though they never gave), and they introduced me to a lady at another church who received me warmly when I followed up. I had an appointment, asked her to give, and several weeks later got my answer: no.

However... that lady did end up giving me the number of a pastor she knew. I was excited about getting into another church network, but - you guessed it - neither the pastor nor anyone in that church ever gave even a dollar.

However... that pastor referred me to a foundation that support missionaries.

That foundation now gives fully one-sixth of my total support need every month.

Today's lesson?  Just... keep... networking!!!

Submitted by "Rebecca"

Making the best use of the time

The world seems to slow down quite a bit between Christmas and New Year's. I get about 7% of the email I usually do. The blogosphere is full of recycled "top ten" posts. Fundraising appointments seem non-existent. You probably relax a bit more, eat a bit more and sleep a bit more.

There's a season for everything under the sun so that's all fine. The problem arises, however, when the season is over but you keep living as though it's December 26.

Perhaps that isn't a struggle for you, but it sure was for me during my full-time fundraising! My first fundraising stint took 15 months which spanned two Christmases. In both cases, I hadn't made calls in a while, momentum had slowed down and I'd fully bought into the popular myth that "no one wants to meet around the holidays." So when the time came to hang up my new wall calendar, I kept up the seasonal pattern by finding a dozen other things to do other than fundraising... and not all of those things were particularly wholesome. Where much distraction is, sin is not absent.

Looking back, a lot of that trouble was entirely avoidable. Much of it stemmed from the fact that I'd forgotten my mission. The rest of it was because I'd forgotten the gospel.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)

My time, much like my own heart, is not naturally good. Rather, both need to be redeemed by grace. If you, like me, tend to squander time that you should be redeeming, repent and believe the gospel! The Lord Jesus came to this earth as our Redeemer, voluntarily substituting His righteousness for our unrighteousness, His glory for our brokenness and His perfect use of time for our imperfect use.

After you've repented and are ready to get back at it, here are a few practical ideas to get you started:

1. Write some thank-you notes: One of the best ways to remind yourself of your mission is to remind others. Thank your donors for helping you on the mission!
2. Plan out the week: Do you know what you'll be doing the rest of the week? If you don't have specific goals, plans and names written down, you're not looking carefully how you walk. Choose wisdom instead!
3. Take the first step: Know what's even better than planning? Doing! The first step often seems daunting, but it can easily serve as a catalyst for future productivity. You'll be making the best use of the time before you know it. The Lord has already gone before you in whatever task you pick. He knows what you need and He's eager to see you finish!

By God's grace, this is the year you'll finish your fundraising. What are you waiting for?

Don't waste your hurricane!

I can currently hear Sandy whipping against the walls of my house. Already the power has flickered a number of times, and I won't be surprised if we lose power any moment.

While Jesus and His disciples didn't have to worry about power outages, they sure knew what it was like to be in the middle of a fierce storm:

On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:35-41 ESV)

While it's entirely possible that Jesus will speak into this storm to calm it in an instant, history shows us that most of the time He simply has us ride out the storms. Thankfully, like the storm Mark records, Jesus is with us now as well. He's resting just as easily as He was then, calling us to do the same by faith.

With that in mind, don't waste your hurricane! Even if the power goes out, here are a few practical ideas for how you can respond in faith even in your fundraising:

• Write some thank yous to your donor team. For many years thank-yous were written by candlelight. I hear it's still possible.
• Spend time in Scripture. If you find it hard to read by candlelight, use this time right now to charge up your phone or back-lit Nook to spend some time with Jesus in His Word.
• Pray: James 4:2 says, "You do not have, because you do not ask." Have you asked God for help in your fundraising recently? (To my shame, that's often my second or third resort after exhausting my own efforts!) Pray boldly. Pray specifically. Pray for your donors, your remaining need and your sanctification.
• Be still: At the risk of being overly metaphorical, fundraising tends to create storms within our hearts as well. Jesus's words are just as powerful: Peace! Be still! Consider the power of the storm outside, and consider that Jesus calmed it with but a word. Consider, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" Consider that He did indeed care that we were perishing, and He chose to perish in our stead. Be still, and know that He alone is God. (Psalm 46:10)

If it takes a hurricane for me to slow down, recognized my dependency and trust Jesus, let's take full advantage of it. 

Don't waste your hurricane!