How to raise $2,000 in a day-
1. Make an extremely encouraging friend in a coffee shop.
2. Ask for help from a few wise and supportive mentors.
3. Pray and trust in God’s provision.
Since my last post, I have witnessed a beautiful wedding, felt the effects of a tragic death, changed jobs, and moved to a new apartment. Whatever happens though, a life changing experience is looming on the horizon- a mere 6 months away. The most intimidating part of the whole thing was fundraising until a recent paradigm shift. The change in my outlook resulted from two $1,000 donations and a single book.
Raising $16,250 a daunting task, and for a while I pushed it to the back of my mind like an inconvenience to be dealt with later. In, “A Spirituality of Fundraising,” Henri J. M. Nouwen talks about an entirely different approach to fundraising where the fundraising itself is a form of ministry.
I figured I could apologetically grovel about 16,000 times, with an “ends justifies the means” type of mentality, in order to finally go on this amazing trip around the world. That did not get me very far. Fundraising is an opportunity to share in this journey, not just my 11 month journey, but this whole journey of a spiritual life.
Nouwen defines ministry as follows-
“Ministry is, first of all, receiving God’s blessing from those to whom we minister. What is this blessing? It is a glimpse of the face of God.”
Romantic and a little cheesy, sure, but I like it a lot.
So we get to share this experience. An experience that’s more than just me asking for money. It’s me inviting a person to invest in something deeper than the day to day routine that many of us get so comfortable in.
“19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mathew 6:19-21
We are called in any practice of spirituality to dive deeper than the surface of things. The investment I am drawn to make is in loving others. I am not always great at it, but I feel it in my bones that it’s more important than anything else I have to offer. I want to get better at it. I want to work at it in a radical way- a way that I could not even fathom two or three years ago.
“7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7
This is my vision. I want to spread love like a hippie in the 60’s. I have this crazy opportunity to do so around the world, and I want people to have the chance to share in this experience. I want to invite everyone to be a part of this with me.
11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;” 1 Corinthians 9:11
I was blessed by a couple of large donation and cannot express how grateful I was to receive $2,000 last week. I will be reaching out to many people, but feel free to get a hold of me if you have any questions, want to chat, or just grab some coffee.
Pray for me, donate money, talk with me, let me pray for you or encourage you somehow. I want to build relationships, whatever they look like. Consider yourself invited to join me.
