“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3).
In 1948, Bob Arrol bought a small-town drugstore. Every morning, he made coffee for his friend Horace Clark. To save on dishwashing, Bob wrote Horace’s name on a cup. Word spread fast. Soon, everyone in town wanted their name on a cup too. Bob set a rule: drink 100 cups of coffee first. At a nickel per cup, that’s five bucks and a lot of mornings showing up. Eventually, 162 named cups filled a cabinet Bob built himself. The coffee club became so popular that the only way to join was if someone moved away or died.
Bob Arrol’s drugstore became the beating heart of Arcola. Twenty people packed into 13 stools and surrounding booths every morning. They read newspapers, discussed community news, and caught up on life. Bob and his wife Betty “fostered a sense of belonging.” People didn’t come just for coffee. They came because they had a place where somebody knew their name.
Know Your Donors’ Names
In Romans 16, Paul mentions at least 26 people by name. Phoebe, the letter carrier. Priscilla and Aquila, who risked their necks for him. Mary, who worked hard. Andronicus and Junia, outstanding among the apostles. Urbanus, his fellow worker. Stachys, his dear friend. Apelles, who stood the test. Paul named individuals and highlighted what made each person special. Why? Because people aren’t interchangeable. Because names matter. Because belonging matters. Because when someone takes the time to know you specifically, it transforms everything.
Use Your Donors’ Names
Bob Arrol stumbled onto brilliant marketing, but that wasn’t his goal. It wasn’t just the downtown destination of the store. It was the people you’d see and visit with, the conversations you’d have and the welcoming atmosphere. That’s exactly what Paul created in his letters. And it’s exactly what we’re called to create in our fundraising work.
Donors aren’t ATM machines. They’re Horace Clark waiting for someone to know their name. They’re Mary who works hard. They’re Apelles who stands the test. They’re real people who long to belong somewhere that matters. When we send mass emails addressed to “Dear Friend,” we’re missing the point. When we thank “our generous supporters” instead of thanking Jennifer, Michael, and the Thompson family, we’re washing the cup instead of putting a name on it.
Remember Your Donors’ Names
Paul’s list is revolutionary. In a world where most people were nameless slaves or faceless crowds, Paul said: You matter enough for me to write your name. You’re not just “the church.” You’re Phoebe, Priscilla, and Urbanus. Bob Arrol’s coffee club ended when he closed the drugstore in 1984. But the cups that remain at the Arcola Chamber of Commerce tell a story that’s good to the last drop: People will show up, stick around, and invest deeply in something when they know they belong, when someone knows their name.
Think About This: Here’s your assignment this week: Pick up your donor list. Pray their names out loud. Remember they’re not just giving, they’re longing to belong to something bigger than themselves. Just like Paul knew. Just like Bob knew.
Response: Lord, thank you for remembering my name. Help me know, use, and remember the names of our ministry partners.
