The Sower 2

As mentioned in a previous blog, The Sower, is an excellent book if you are interested in having your paradigm of fundraising turned upside down!

In effort to look at a biblical worldview for raising resources, the book is based on 3 assumptions:

1. Generous giving is not predicted solely on the work of an individual or an organization’s efforts, but rather on God’s work in people.  1Corinthians 3:6-9
2. Generosity flows from transformed hearts as they conform to the image of Christ, who is generous. Acts 4:32-37, Acts 5:1-11
3. Christian resource-raising is not solely about securing transactions or gifts; rather it is encouraging spiritual transformation – helping people become givers rich toward God.

I don’t know about you, but the idea of my job being about seeing the heart of a donor transformed by God versus dollars tallied is encouraging indeed.  Remember Jesus was in the people business – so we are in good company.  I am convinced that as our focus becomes the heart of givers the dollars will follow.

The Sower

I have been reading a great book published by Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).  As an aside, if you are ministry leader and are not familiar with ECFA and their Seven Standards to Responsible Stewardship^TM, I encourage you to visit their website at www.ecfa.org.  ECFA is an essential and valuable resource for all Christian ministries regardless of size.

The book, The Sower; Redefining the Ministry of Raising Kingdom Resources is authored by R. Scott Rodin and Gary C. Hoag, true veterans of the Christian nonprofit and fundraising world.

The premise for the book revolves around the fact that Christian ministries have been using secular fundraising techniques with little attention given to whether the practices were consistent with God’s word.

In Finding God in Unexpected Places, author Philip Yancey recalls how he saved every fundraising appeal he received for a month’s time and then analyzed the 62 appeals.  As a result, he concluded that appeals from Christian organizations used the same transactional techniques (underlining, PS, focus on urgency, etc) as everyone else and not a single appeal from a Christian organization focused on Yancey’s need as a Christian to honor and obey God through his giving.

The book challenges us to look at the primary purpose of fundraising as raising people to be rich toward God.

READ PART 2 of Connie’s thoughts on The Sower.