“Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now” (2 Kings 8:6).
Every nonprofit database is filled with SYBUNT donors (Some Year But Unfortunately Not This Year). These are people who once gave generously and then stopped. Is there any hope of winning these former partners? Or do we simply move on? The Shunammite woman’s remarkable journey back home gives us four lessons worth considering.
Remember Why They Were Engaged
The Shunammite’s encounter with Elisha was lifechanging (see 2 Kings 4:8-37). She was a woman of means who showed great kindness to the prophet by regularly inviting him for meals and even building him a private room on her roof. In gratitude, Elisha promised her a son even though she was childless and her husband was old. The boy was born a year later. When the child suddenly died years later, her unshakable faith led her to rush straight to Elisha. Through prayer and a miraculous act, Elisha restored the boy to life. Your key donors were once deeply engaged with your ministry because your work touched their family in a real and personal way. Never forget that the connection mattered.
Understand Their Reasons for Leaving
Elisha warned the Shunammite that a famine was coming and advised her to leave for her family’s safety. She was gone for seven years. Donors leave for all kinds of reasons. Perhaps they had a bad experience with a staff member. If you lead a K-12 school, their interest naturally moved on when their children graduated. Sometimes life circumstances simply prevent them from giving. A health crisis. A business downturn. A season of personal hardship. Understanding the reason matters before you reach out.
Trust God for a Divine Appointment
When the woman returned, she discovered her land had been taken over by others who assumed she was never coming back. She went directly to the king to appeal for what was rightfully hers. Meanwhile, inside the palace, Elisha’s servant Gehazi was telling the king about the miracles God had done through Elisha, including the story of the widow’s son being raised to life. And right at that instant, she walked through the door. That was no coincidence. There are no coincidences in God’s plan. He orchestrates divine appointments, and He can bring a lapsed donor right back into your world.
Ask the Lord for Full Restoration
The woman’s land was restored completely. The king assigned an official to her case and said, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left until now.” Two applications stand out in this detail. First, assign your key lapsed donors to a portfolio and follow up intentionally. Second, notice that her restoration was both financial and relational. God can uncover lapsed donors and lead them back to partner with you again.
Think About This: You need to cultivate and maintain close relationships with your top donors because relationships left untended quietly drift away.
Response: Lord, thank you for your divine appointments that help us re-engage with our key donors. Restore what has been lost, for your glory and the advancement of your ministry.
