Most people I talk to have massive misunderstandings about what it means to raise support. They do not understand why someone would do it. They are not sure if if it is biblical. They wonder if it is more humble or spiritual to be a bi-vocational “tentmaker.” They do not understand what exactly it takes to make it work. They do not understand the proven processes that have worked for thousands of missionaries around the world.
Taking some time to get proper training alleviates all of these problems and answers all of these questions. If you are even considering raising missionary support, I would highly recommend taking some time to engage in a season of study and training on this topic.
Study & Training Are Vital
I personally took a multi-faceted approach to training and did everything I could to get adequately prepared for what God had called me to do. One of the things I did when I started raising support was to talk to a missionary who was fully-funded, healthy and happy. They provided invaluable perspective and wisdom for me and kept me going when things were hard. I read multiple books on the topic. I paid to go through the training provided by my missions agency. I have subscribed to multiple email lists and blogs that provide ongoing training and reminders about support raising principles.
Many missions agencies provide some of kind of training for their missionaries, and I would encourage you to take advantage of those training opportunities if you have them. For those that do not, thankfully, some amazing resources have been developed over the last few years. At this point, there is no excuse for being ignorant or untrained when it comes to raising support and funding your ministry. If you have a vision from God, then take the time to get trained in a biblical and sustainable funding approach.
Here are four resources that you could consider if you need to get training.
SendGo
Please note: since originally writing this article, SendGo has unfortunately shut down.
SendGo is a unique online training program developed by a friend of mine from Pittsburgh who served as a missionary for years. It is a three month program that includes video tutorials, an online community for support and other resources (templates, samples, etc.).
The God Ask
As I have shared in my book review, The God Ask is one of the best books written on the topic of building a missionary partnership team. Steve Shadrach is the founder of Support Raising Solutions and the ultimate support raising guru. Since I have already written a review of this book, I will not say much more here. But I would definitely suggest getting a copy of this book, even if you also pursue other training options.
Fully Funded Missionary
Fully Funded Missionary is written by Rob Parker from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. IHOP-KC is one of the largest missions bases in the world, and Rob has helped trained thousands of intercessory missionaries over the years. This book may be particularly attractive to those who are wanting to serve in worship/prayer ministries such as houses of prayer or Burn 24-7 furnaces, because of Rob’s unique history of successfully training these kinds of workers. Like The God Ask, Fully Funded Missionary is a comprehensive manual for raising support and becoming fully funded. It is both biblical and practical. Some of the details of Rob’s approach are slightly different than Steve Shadrach, but the underlying principles are the same.
SRS Bootcamp
Support Raising Solutions, the organization started by Steven Shadrach, hosts “bootcamp” events for missionaries and workers who need training. These are two day intensives, and seem to be extremely effective. SRS bootcamp event happen all over the country, but you still may need to take a bit of a trip to find one that works well. The price is also a bit steep, but any good training will require a financial investment. It is worth making a small up front investment to get the tools and motivation to help you fund your ministry for years and decades!