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“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here” (Colossians 4:7-9).

Effective donor communication reaches multiple audiences with specific messages through multiple communication channels. Living in the communication age is a definite plus, but we still have difficulty telling our story. Can you imagine the challenges Paul faced keeping his supporters up to date? His strategy can inform our strategies today.

Right Person. Paul realized that the messenger is just as important as the message, so he chose two trusted colleagues to personally deliver the news. He describes Tychicus as a dear brother, a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord; Onesimus was a faithful dear brother from Colossae which gave him instant credibility. When you have important news to share with your constituency, find spokespersons who lend their credibility to your message.

Right Message. Paul had two key messages to communicate: a) to inform the church of everything that was happening, and b) to encourage the Colossian believers. Your communication goals are the same. Tychicus was to tell “all the news about me” (v. 7), “about our circumstances” (v. 8[JM1] ), and “everything that is happening here” (v. 9). You get the idea that Paul wanted Tychicus to overcommunicate about his life and ministry. Paul’s purpose was more than just to inform the church of the facts, he wanted to encourage them in their faith. Are your messages just communicating facts, or are you aiming for your listeners’ hearts?

Right Time. Paul sent his messengers with the “express purpose” (vs. 8) to share current news. Some function under the false narrative that communication automatically flows from the top-down, but communication rarely flows freely. There are too many barriers between your voice and your donors’ ears. One of the key recommendations from the 9/11 Commission was to restructure the Executive Branch from a system of “need to know” to a culture of “need to share.” Make an express purpose to proactively share your clear, concise, and compelling message with your donors.

9/11 Commission’s Recommendations: Hearing Before the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, August 3, 2004

Have a Spirit-led fundraising week,

Ron


Ron Haas has served the Lord as a pastor, the vice president of advancement of a Bible college, a Christian foundation director, a board member and a fundraising consultant. He’s authored two books: Ask for a Fish – Bold Faith-Based Fundraising and Simply Share – Bold, Grace-Based Giving. He regularly presents fundraising workshops at ministry conferences and has written fundraising articles for At the Center magazine and Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes magazine.

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