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Funding Your Ministry: Whether You're Gifted or Not

Funding Your Ministry: Whether You're Gifted or Not

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $16.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Very American maybe, but very unBiblical
Review: First of all I need to say, I do have great respect for the author as a Christian brother and I know that he is well intentioned. I am also writing this reiew as a missionary serving in an expensive country like Japan and as one who knows the stress and difficulties of support raising.

The book certainly has a good number of helpful things from which I was encouraged. However, my main problem with the book is the main theme or thrust of philosophy of fund-raising. The author argues that as missionaries we have to engage in face-to-face support raising i.e. asking people directly to consider supporting us or make pledges to do so.

This is very unBiblical. Although the author uses the Bible at times, he fails to show how this practice has any precedent in the Bible. We do not see at any time in the ministry of Jesus, Paul, or other Apostles where they personally asked people to support their ministries financially. They were indeed financially supported, but not because they went out and asked people for money.

I think this over-emphasis on asking people to give you money defeats one of the author's claim that it is God who is the giver and not men.

Sorry, did not mean to be negative. However, although this philosophy of fund-raising is very American and can work in some American circles, it certainly is very unBiblical. In the end it might work. But it is not because something works that it is from God. I will rather choose the Bible than pragmatism.

Dependence on God does work.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Some good but...
Review: I, also, have been a misisonary for 25 years. We have served in a foreign country and in the US. We have always had our needs met and we have never had to ask someone face to face for support. I cannot agree with his methods. I would feel extremely uncomfortable if someone confronted me the way he wants me to confront others!

There are some good things in the book. He has some very good tips on writing prayer letters; what to do and what not to do. There are many good ideas on how to treat your supporters and I am keeping my book because of these good points, but I am ignoring the parts about raising support!

I am glad this method of support-raising works for the author, but I do not see it as being the way God wants us or, anyone for that matter, to raise support. It seems to me to be very much like a business and not a ministry! I would encourage you instead, to read a good biography on George Meuller who NEVER asked anyone but God for money and support!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Very American maybe, but very unBiblical
Review: Our ministry: TheBodyBuilders.net trains Christian workers around the world how to raise their support. There are other excellent books out there on support raising, but i have all of our trainees read (and do all the exercises and Bible studies in the back) Funding Your Ministry by Morton. It's a great one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Biblical and Practical
Review: Our ministry: TheBodyBuilders.net trains Christian workers around the world how to raise their support. There are other excellent books out there on support raising, but i have all of our trainees read (and do all the exercises and Bible studies in the back) Funding Your Ministry by Morton. It's a great one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One of the best books I've read on the subject
Review: This is a very helpful resource in how to raise financial support for your ministry. Though Morton's suggestions of face-to-face meetings may make some missionaries uncomfortable, it allows you to share your passion for whatever you've been called to in greater depth. It also makes it hard for people to ignore your request for support. The idea of giving money to missionaries makes many people uncomfortable. They reason, "I tithe; isn't that enough?" In the Bible, we see people giving tithes AND offerings.

That said, Morton isn't advocating strong-arming people into giving. That's the Holy Spirit's job. Often, if you simply send a letter to someone asking for support, good-meaning people who'd like to give simply forget to respond! Morton's method emphasizes caring about people as individuals.

As a missionary, I simply can't agree with some of the other reviewers. I think reading this book alongside "Friend Raising" and "Daring to Live on the Edge" will give you a very balanced and Biblical view of support-raising.


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