This week is almost over and it's been my first week of following-up with potential supporters. While everyone I've talked with so far knows me pretty well, it's still really hard and incredibly humbling to ask them to support me financially.
A fellow intern has some great thoughts in his blog about raising support.
I agree with him that it does feel like a burden on people. For some, the giving might be pocket change. For many, though, the money they give is cutting into their budget and there is a sense of sacrifice. My hope is that those who truly believe in the ministry of RUF and want to help me reach college students with the Gospel will see the sacrifice as a worthwhile investment.
Justifying what I'm doing as a worthy cause to give to can be difficult. Some people might look at it as if I'm asking them to give up their hard-earned money so I can essentially go hang out with college students. What I want people to understand is why my job, and campus ministry in general, is so important.
For one, college ministry creates purposeful and intentional community. So many college students are lost and lonely and living unfulfilled lives. Campus ministry strives to give students the emotional and mental support they long for, as well as enrich their lives with community that's grounded in the love of Christ.
RUF also aims to connect students with a local church, believing it vital for spiritual growth. I completely agree. It is very, very hard to grow in faith if you're trying to live life on your own. God created us to need other people, and the perfect context to fulfill that need is often within a church community.
Now, here is the realization I've come to when asking others to consider supporting me financially:
Not everyone is capable of going out and ministering to college students. I'm setting out to commit two years of my life solely to investing in the lives of college students. My hope is that, through such intentional time with students, they will grow in their faith and be equipped to share it with others. Since all my time is committed to the ministry, I don't have time to work another job. I'm willing and training to go, but I can't go unless others are willing to back me up financially so that I have enough money to subsist.
$29,000 is a lot of money to raise, but only half of that goes to my salary (I'll technically be below the poverty line). The rest goes to general administration and ministry expenses (conferences, training, meeting with students, etc.).
I'm starting to see how asking others to join me in my ministry is a privilege for myself and for those who give. One of my supporters told me they seeing giving as a blessing; they are happy to contribute their money since they can't feasibly contribute their time by going directly to the students.
I am so grateful for those who are able and willing to give me the financial support I need to make this internship happen. I'm also grateful for those who can't give money but still faithfully pray for my financial support. My internship is a team effort, and a beautiful picture of how the Body of Christ works together to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
A fellow intern has some great thoughts in his blog about raising support.
I agree with him that it does feel like a burden on people. For some, the giving might be pocket change. For many, though, the money they give is cutting into their budget and there is a sense of sacrifice. My hope is that those who truly believe in the ministry of RUF and want to help me reach college students with the Gospel will see the sacrifice as a worthwhile investment.
Justifying what I'm doing as a worthy cause to give to can be difficult. Some people might look at it as if I'm asking them to give up their hard-earned money so I can essentially go hang out with college students. What I want people to understand is why my job, and campus ministry in general, is so important.
For one, college ministry creates purposeful and intentional community. So many college students are lost and lonely and living unfulfilled lives. Campus ministry strives to give students the emotional and mental support they long for, as well as enrich their lives with community that's grounded in the love of Christ.
RUF also aims to connect students with a local church, believing it vital for spiritual growth. I completely agree. It is very, very hard to grow in faith if you're trying to live life on your own. God created us to need other people, and the perfect context to fulfill that need is often within a church community.
Now, here is the realization I've come to when asking others to consider supporting me financially:
Not everyone is capable of going out and ministering to college students. I'm setting out to commit two years of my life solely to investing in the lives of college students. My hope is that, through such intentional time with students, they will grow in their faith and be equipped to share it with others. Since all my time is committed to the ministry, I don't have time to work another job. I'm willing and training to go, but I can't go unless others are willing to back me up financially so that I have enough money to subsist.
$29,000 is a lot of money to raise, but only half of that goes to my salary (I'll technically be below the poverty line). The rest goes to general administration and ministry expenses (conferences, training, meeting with students, etc.).
I'm starting to see how asking others to join me in my ministry is a privilege for myself and for those who give. One of my supporters told me they seeing giving as a blessing; they are happy to contribute their money since they can't feasibly contribute their time by going directly to the students.
I am so grateful for those who are able and willing to give me the financial support I need to make this internship happen. I'm also grateful for those who can't give money but still faithfully pray for my financial support. My internship is a team effort, and a beautiful picture of how the Body of Christ works together to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
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