Shad-o-nomics 101:
My Six-Step Homemade Plan to Get to Full Support

By Steve Shadrach

Growing up as the son of a businessman in Dallas, Texas, had its advantages and disadvantages. Because Dad had lived through the depression years, he instilled his “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” perspective into his three sons—of which I was the middle. Work hard, provide for your family, get to the top, and retire early were the values he spoke of and modeled to us. My two brothers majored in business with the goal of becoming millionaires by age 30. I was expected to follow suit into the work world to obtain the “American Dream” and the accompanying financial security. But, somewhere along the line I came to Christ and experienced the joy of knowing and serving Him. I felt called into full-time service and, after four years of pastoring at a local church, I launched out to start a new campus ministry organization and, of course…raise my support.

Early on, my dad and I both had to overcome the societal norm that asking for support was really just a form of begging. It didn’t help that we had often observed underfunded Christian workers who appeared to us as impoverished nomads! And as much as I would have benefitted back then from support raising books that could provide me with the training and guidance I needed, none existed to my knowledge. So, with only a calling from the Lord and a vision for ministry, I took stock of my “possessions:” enough money to last us six weeks, a pregnant wife, three young children, plenty of monthly bills, and to put it mildly—a deep, abiding sense of urgency. I wasn’t in a panic, but I was definitely a man on a mission from God!

To say the least, I was highly motivated. All I knew to do was to go to every person I had ever known in life and, face to face, share the vision of our ministry, and to ask them to come onto our monthly support team…and let them answer. So, the six key components of my homemade plan included:
1. Going to every person I knew
2. Meeting face to face
3. Sharing the vision
4. Asking them
5. To join our monthly support team
6. And zipping the lip to let them answer!

Friends, those six simple phrases, in a nutshell, sum up the grand and glorious “secret” to raising your support. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and if you feel strongly enough about anything, you will find a way to accomplish it. Praise the Lord, exactly six weeks later we were at full support, ready to launch our ministry—and pay all our bills! Don’t get me wrong though:
 Did I pray like crazy? Absolutely.
 Did I trust God every step of the way? You bet.
 Did I totally rely on His strength and not my own? As far as I know.
 Did I give Him honor and glory for all the results? No question.

So, since 1986, our family has lived and ministered because of the generous, ongoing investments of others who believe in God—and us. And, looking back, we would not want to live any other way! I’m serious. Sometimes I feel a bit sorry for the Christian workers (especially missionaries) who minister out on their own someplace and do not have a personal, monthly financial support team. Oh, they get the guaranteed “golden check” (i.e. full payroll) each month, but most of them do not get to experience the amazing spiritual, emotional, and psychological support that a team of regular givers and pray-ers can provide. You can experience it, and I believe you too can get to full support (and stay there!) if you will embrace these six simple concepts. So go for it!*

NOVEMBER 2011

Follow Us on Twitter!

@supportraising
@cmtoolbox
@vision7_9






This Month's
SRS Article Writer

Second Opinion by
Micah May

My story begins with the day God asked me if I would follow Him no matter what. I was a youth pastor with tons of students coming, but told God I would obey Him without knowing fully what He had in store for me. I was excited to take a position as a home missionary for a student ministry organization, but after a few months, my supervisor informed me my position would be terminated in 90 days if funding did not change. I never had to worry about raising support while on church staff, but now it was time to start thinking about it.

We tried different ways to raise support: telemarketing, sending appeal letters, even passing out cards at events asking people to join our monthly support team. Despite all our efforts, we only raised a fraction of what was needed. I was frustrated at our failed attempts, but God still had a plan. He provided just enough for me not to lose my position, but not much left over for advancing the ministry. After failing at fund raising, I was not motivated to continue. Deep down, I knew there had to be a better way. Then my answer came. I received a phone call from a friend in the ministry. He raised $30,000 within 60 days of attending The BodyBuilders Boot Camp. I signed up immediately.

The Boot Camp changed my life and ministry. I realized that fundraising was not about the money as much as having partners in ministry. Learning the biblical basis gave me a whole new perspective. I had been dreading fundraising because I didn’t know what I was doing. This training gave me a systematic approach to follow which gave me a big confidence boost. Instead of being afraid, I gained an assurance that Christ wanted me to be in full-time ministry, and that He had partners waiting to join me if I would only ask them face to face. I also learned my ministry was not limited to students, but to my monthly partners also. This Boot Camp was a game changer for me, and within a few months we were fully funded! We were also able to hire an administrative assistant, allowing me up to focus on reaching the lost. We’ve gone from barely surviving to being truly free to minister, advancing the kingdom of God in a powerful way.
 

Micah May is the South Central Arkansas Area Director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was an accomplished student athlete at Arkansas Tech University and youth minister prior to taking on his current role with FCA. Micah lives in Malvern, AR.

Betty Barnett YWAM	Ellis Goldstein Campus Crusade	Scott Morton The Navigators	Mike Riggins North American Mission Board	Steve Shadrach SRS Editor The Bodybuilders

CONTACT US TO
HOST A BOOT CAMP

info@supportraisingsolutions.org or 800.595.4881

Integrated Solutions