We Get To Do This

Recently, I was outside greeting people on a Sunday morning, which is what I do if I am giving the announcements. As I was greeting people coming into our relatively new church, a gentleman walked by and I welcomed him. Many years earlier he had been part of a small group of wealthy individuals we brought together to discuss construction of the new church. Every other person in that group stepped up and supported our project. They gave of their financial resources, they encouraged us, offered good counsel, and advocated for us in the wider community. This particular gentleman did not. He bowed out and said it wasn’t for him.

As he walked through the door, I felt a bit sorry for him. He missed out. He could have played a key part in building a beautiful new church that serves thousands of people each weekend and has a ripple effect throughout the community. Instead, he absented himself from the opportunity. Instead of being able to walk through the doors thinking, “I helped make this happen,” he just walks through the doors and maybe, as our eyes locked for a moment, thought, “I wish I had been a part of this project.”

About a month ago I was on an introductory call with the rector of a seminary. (At Rebuilt, we are forming plans to work with seminaries. We are in this work for the long haul and want to set up seminarians for future success in parish life and as pastors.) On the call, I spoke about my experience at Nativity and our work at Rebuilt to take what we have learned and share with parishes. The rector responded that he knew our church through his uncle. He reported that his uncle had said, “They are different from any other parish I have attended. When they did their capital campaign, they didn’t beg you to give. Instead, they talked about what a privilege it was to give to the project. And I believed them.”

A critical moment from our capital campaign inspired this attitude. As we were getting started, I met with Ken, the salesperson of the construction company we eventually hired. He could see the fear and concern in my eyes about raising so much money for the building project. We had never raised that amount and many people told us we couldn’t do it or that it would take a very long time to accomplish. Part of me loved such a challenge - and part of me was afraid. Ken looked me in the eyes and said, “Tom, you know you don’t have to do this.” I looked at him probably with raised eyebrows and a quizzical look. Having my attention, he said, “You don’t have to do this. You get to do this.”

When it comes to giving to the parish or to ministry causes, we often feel sheepish or like we are bugging people. And I get it. I still feel that way sometimes. My own smallness or insecurity sometimes slips in when I have conversations with major donors. The feeling can intensify when money is tight or the need acute. However, as leaders we need to ask for God’s grace to drive that insecurity out of our hearts. Instead, our attitude needs to be more the opportunity and privilege we offer to people. When we invite people to give, we are inviting people to make an eternal difference in people’s lives. It is the best use of the money God has entrusted to them. Jesus said that when we give, we build treasure in heaven. When we ask wealthy people to give, we are inviting them to build an inexhaustible treasure in heaven for themselves.

Here's another way I have tried to look at talking to major donors that is rooted in Scripture: as brothers and sisters in Christ, we are both serving our heavenly Father. When it comes to individuals who are capable of giving large sums, we can become easily intimidated. They have money and we don’t. Money is power in this world. But in God’s economy and kingdom, money and possessions are gifts to be stewarded. Our heavenly Father has blessed us with different gifts. God blesses some people with financial acumen, opportunity, and an ability to build wealth. While some have inherited wealth, most people I know have worked hard and used the gifts God has given them. As leaders, God blesses us with a vision of what he wants to accomplish. He blesses us with communication skills. We likewise need to continue to develop those gifts. Then he brings us together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Each of us uses our gifts to serve our heavenly Father and to build the kingdom. There is a beautiful idea here that I am struggling to communicate, but hopefully you get it.

If you are a pastor or key leader in your parish, you don’t have to nurture and invite individuals with financial wealth into your work; you get to invite them. You get to invite them into your vision so that they can move the needle financially in your parish.

If you want some help engaging major donors, click this link and we will send you a few tips to get you started.

Rooting for you,
Tom