My Story of Raising Support

Raising financial support was a huge mountain before me when I needed to raise support to attend Bible College in the UK in 1996. I was a high school teacher and financially independent for 9 years! Help Lord! How was I going to raise R50 000 for 1 year of study? God had a plan.

I was introduced to Elizabeth who trained me in support-raising. An important lesson was: I was not begging; I was giving people the opportunity to serve in God’s kingdom. This was not about me; it was about God. I needed to be sure that God had called me to this work so that I knew I was being obedient to what God wanted me to do. Having to humble myself before others was about extending God’s kingdom not about what people thought of me. I approached people not as a stranger but as one who had been actively involved in my local church. I had the credibility to share the calling God had placed upon my life.

Elizabeth kept me accountable regularly. We set goals and I had to work towards that goal. That helped because I could have found many excuses to not do what I needed to do at that time. God made the impossible, possible. I was able to raise 50% of what I needed and for the rest I received a bursary. I believe God wanted to see how committed I was to fulfilling God’s call on my life; there were lessons I needed to learn. Support-raising is a journey with God; trusting Him and experiencing His faithfulness. The supporters for college provided the foundation for my support team when I joined AIM in 1999.

Support-raising is not only about receiving it is largely about giving; giving of your time, gifts and expertise into the life of your sending and supporting churches. An important building block was the willingness to serve my sending church as best I could. I gave not in order to receive. I gave because I wanted to serve the local church. Credibility is gained by building relationships with supporters and serving them as they are serving us in God’s kingdom. I have learnt the importance of being a good steward of all that God has given me. Up to now, I have not lacked anything I needed. “God’s work done God’s way, will never lack God’s provision”.

Marlene