Today’s Economy and The Fundraising Dilemma

Posted by C. Holland on Nov 04, 2008

For most missionaries, I believe, fundraising/financial support is probably always at the back of their mind. We’ve learned that it is a massive step of faith to have no real idea where your support funding will be at the end of the month. It’s like “Wheel of Fortune,” round and round it goes… And don’t get me started about exchange rates. It’s insane to realise that, even if our support in Dollars were 100% consistent and our expenses in Euro were 100% consistent, the exchange rate trending out of our favour means additional cost on things that we cannot change. Yet, God has absolutely been faithful, and we’ve always had our necessities provided. On paper, I have no idea how that happened, but God does.

But lately our support has consistently plummeted. By 25%. Again, God is providing for us, but we are pointedly aware of what’s happening, both to our support and to the world economy. Traditional wisdom would have us take a furlough of some length back to the States and repeat our Dog and Pony Show to yet another slew of new churches unaware of the desperate need for Christ in our mission field in Western Europe. While that’s not our first choice in normal economic times, we’ve begun to think: is it reasonable to ask for financial support while most regular-types are losing their homes, jobs or both?

It was hard enough to shake the American bootstrapper mindset (make your own way, don’t ask for help, never accept charity) when we began the fundraising process three years ago. As it is, our parents are somewhat embarrassed that we are “begging” for money. We’ve obviously gotten past all of that and have gone to great lengths to communicate what we’re doing and how people’s money is helping. But with churches reporting 30% decline in tithing, we could be viewed as competition for an already-shallow pool of funds.

We’ll have to keep praying about it and see where God leads. If He wants us to furlough and fundraise again, I know He’ll provide the way and bless each step.