“Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank” (Exodus 24:9-10).
Imagine receiving a personal invitation to experience God. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders were called specifically to the mountain to eat and drink in God’s presence. This was no ordinary dinner. It was the most exclusive event you could imagine. This encounter offers four applications as you plan your major donor events.
Special Invitation
“Nobles” means “corner pegs,” the structural supports holding everything together. Your ministry has corner pegs. You may have twenty of them. You may have five. These are the donors who anchor your mission. They deserve a personal invitation to an insider event. The ask begins long before the ask. The ask begins with the invitation itself.
Special Place
The setting God chose was breathtaking. Under His feet was what appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, clear as the heavens themselves. Your major donors can go to the finest restaurants and the most exclusive resorts. You probably can’t outspend their personal standards. What you can offer is something money cannot buy: a front-row seat to what God is doing through your ministry. Find an appropriate venue, even if modest. What happens inside the room matters far more than the room itself.
Special Speaker
The elders saw a glimpse of God. Your event does not need to produce a complete picture of your ministry. It needs to move hearts. Outside speakers can draw a crowd, but showcasing changed lives is much more effective. One Christian high school asked three graduating seniors to deliver the main address together, each taking ten minutes. They were well-scripted and well-rehearsed, and no guest speaker could have matched what they communicated. Your ministry’s stories, told well, are your greatest platform.
Special Outcome
The elders did not see God face to face, but they saw enough of His glory to strengthen their confidence in His leadership through Moses. What outcomes are you planning for your next major donor event? Identification? Cultivation? A campaign solicitation? Each of these requires a different design. A cultivation event that accidentally feels like a solicitation can set a relationship back months. Know your purpose before you plan a single detail.
Do not overlook this: God wanted them to eat and drink in His presence. Fellowship was part of the agenda. Some of your most important conversations will happen around the table, not from the podium. Build time for it.
Think About This: The elders went back as eyewitnesses. Imagine their conversations around the campfire: “I cannot fully describe it. But I was there. And it was real.” Your most faithful donors, when moved and inspired, become your most credible advocates. Design your event to create witnesses, not just attendees.
Response: Lord, help us create gatherings where our donors see You moving in the lives of those we serve. Make our events less about us and more about You. Amen.
