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Person sitting alone at the end of a dock overlooking a calm lake surrounded by mountains at sunset, with the words “WIIFM Donors” and a Bible reference displayed in the sky above.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

WIIFM Donors

by Ron Haas
May 28, 2025

The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness” (2 Samuel 16:2).

WIIFM stands for “What’s In It For Me?” Sales professionals know that WIIFM drives most buying decisions, so they create an emotional link that compels a person to purchase their product or service. Should fundraisers pursue WIIFM donors?

David wanted to honor Jonathan by showing grace to one of his relatives. So, he blessed Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, with Saul’s estate and invited him to eat at his table (see 2 Sam. 9). He also assigned Ziba to serve as Mephibosheth’s steward. Fast forward to Absalom’s rebellion. David and his household fled Jerusalem for their lives. Ziba went to the wilderness with a gift to refresh David. On the surface, this seemed like an act of selfless generosity, but was it? Ziba demonstrates how difficult it is to identify WIIFM donors.

Personal Benefit
As manager of Mephibosheth’s inheritance, Ziba controlled incredible wealth. “You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for” (2 Sam. 9:10). Ziba’s betrayal of Mephibosheth reveals his greed. He wasn’t satisfied with just serving, he wanted to own. His story seemed to work because David said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours” (2 Sam. 16:4). Ziba clearly had a conflict of interest. Sometimes your donors also have conflicts of interest. Perhaps their gift awards them with a building contract or a sale of their product or service. Perhaps they hope to leverage their gift to use your donor base for their marketing. Be wary of donors who give hoping to get.

Family Benefit
2 Samuel 9:10 reveals an interesting detail, “Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.” That’s a lot of mouths to feed. Ziba had much to gain from David’s generosity toward Mephibosheth. WIIFM donors are transactional donors. Christian school parents often say, “I’m giving because I want my child to benefit from this new building,” or “I’m not giving because my child is graduating and won’t be able to enjoy it.” That’s a difficult attitude to overcome. No doubt you have a few WIIFM donors. Thank them graciously and ask God to transform their hearts.

Kingdom Benefit
Search for kingdom-focused donors. These men and women are motivated by the eternal impact of your mission—whether they benefit or not. They understand the spiritual rewards of generosity and are not looking for earthly rewards. They give generously to “lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:19).

Think About This: Mephibosheth finally shared his side of the story with David (see 2 Samuel 19:24-30) but it was too confusing. David told him and Ziba to split the property. It’s difficult to read a donor’s motivations, so don’t try. Simply be grateful for every gift.

Response: Lord, help me motivate my WIIFM donors by What’s In It For You!

Open stone tomb with a white burial cloth on a rock ledge, looking out toward a bright sunrise and three crosses on a hill, with the text "Reviving Dead Donors – John 11:39,44" on the right side.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Reviving Dead Donors

by Ron Haas
April 15, 2025

“Take away the stone… take off the grave clothes and let him go” (John 11:39, 44).

Lazarus fell sick and died so Jesus and his disciples traveled to Bethany to comfort Martha and Mary. Jesus loved Lazarus. When they showed him where they laid him, he wept (John 11:35). Mary wondered why he didn’t come in time to heal him, but Jesus had much bigger plans. Jesus brings new life. How can he bring new life to your donor base?

Take away the stone
On Easter Sunday morning Jesus rose from the dead and an angel rolled the stone away, but at Lazarus’ tomb Jesus asked for help. Jesus can supply all the resources for your ministry, but he has given you the assignment. What stones are preventing your past donors from giving again? The list of possible barriers is endless. Perhaps someone in your organization offended them by something they said or didn’t say. When you know of an offense, take the initiative to remove that stone and re-win your friend.

But, Lord
Martha objected because Lazarus had been dead for four days. Sometimes our donor list is not just stale, it stinks. At one time your key donor was a vital part of your ministry, but something happened, and you’ve not talked to him or her for decades. It’s easy to find excuses of why that person would never give again. We assume they’ve moved on or got interested in another ministry. Breathing life back into dead mailing lists is challenging. But if you had a personal relationship with your donor, there is hope.

Lazarus, come out!
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead because he was the Son of God. He called him by name because he was his friend. God has the power to rekindle an old relationship, he can “open doors that no one can shut” (Rev. 3:8). If your lapsed donor won’t respond to your emails or voicemails, ask a mutual friend to reach out to your lost donor on your behalf. Perhaps your friend can make the connection.

Take off the grave clothes and let him go
When God blesses you with a renewed ministry partner, start fresh with new communication. Most donor relationships deteriorate because of poor communication. You keep major donors interested by increasing the frequency and quality of your personal communications. Donor retention is like building a friendship. You contact your friends in a variety of ways—handwritten notes, letters or cards, emails, texts, and phone calls. Treat your long-lost friends as brand new friends.

Think About This: A school in Canada launched a capital campaign but soon realized they had neglected their alumni for years. They researched old lists and began reconnecting with their grads. The development director called on a lady who graduated 50 years earlier and was now living in New York. He explained the opportunity and asked if she would like to learn more. She responded positively and eventually gave $2 million—all because of a phone call.

Response: Lord, you are “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being the things that were not” (Romans 4:17). Please breathe new life into our donor base and open doors to our past friends.

Several neatly wrapped black gift boxes with matching black ribbons are arranged against a dark background. The bold white text overlay reads, "The Gift That Keeps on Giving," conveying a message of lasting generosity and impact.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

by Ron Haas
April 8, 2025

“She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mark 14:8-9).

The most remembered gift ever given lasted for only a moment. Six days before Passover, Simon the Leper invited Jesus to his home for supper. The guest list included the disciples, his recently resurrected friend Lazarus, along with Martha and Mary. As they reclined around the table, Mary approached Jesus with a bottle of expensive perfume, broke it, and poured it on his head and feet. Her act of worship is a beautiful lesson in generosity. Donors give estate and endowed gifts because they want their legacy to last for generations. We still remember Mary’s extravagant gift and everyone’s reactions to her generosity.

The Disciples Questioned
Sacrificial giving sparks opinions and everyone has one. All the disciples criticized Mary, not just Judas (see Matt. 26:8). They felt her extravagance could have been used in better ways like giving to the poor. Giving is spiritual warfare. Satan hates generosity and will throw flaming arrows (even comments from friends) to discourage donors from giving. Pray for your ministry partners as they consider significant gifts, because others will try to talk them out of it.

Judas Coveted
Judas voiced his opposition, but he didn’t care about the poor. He was looking out for himself as he held the bag and had embezzled many times (see John 12:6). Sadly, some adult children don’t want their parents or grandparents to be generous because more money for ministry means less for them. Encourage your ministry partners as they navigate difficult family dynamics. Be wise when you sense opposition from family members and encourage your donors to include their own attorney in any gift decisions.

Jesus Defended
Jesus rebuked his disciples for criticizing Mary’s extravagant gift. “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me” (Matt. 28:6). Some donors give because you offer to name something in their honor. Mary wasn’t looking for praise, she gave lavishly because she realized how much God had lavished on her (1 John 3:1). Inspire your donors to give beautiful gifts that will last beyond their lifetimes.

Simon Worshipped
Simon the Leper hosted Jesus in his home. That’s unusual because lepers lost all their possessions and were forced to live outside the city. Jesus healed Simon and restored every aspect of his life. One of the side effects of leprosy is the loss of smell. When Mary broke her perfume flask, the house was filled with its fragrance (John 12:3). Simon could smell and enjoy her generous gift. Help your donors realize all the lives they touch through their generosity.

Think About This: “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial” (John 12:7). Mary saved this special gift for this special occasion. Donors are saving to give a special gift. Why will they give it to you?

Response: Father, help me communicate our ministry story in such a compelling way that our ministry partners will be motivated to give an extravagant gift.

A peaceful rural landscape featuring a vast field with golden-brown grass, bordered by a dense tree line under a partly cloudy sky. The text "More Fundraising Lessons from Farming" is prominently displayed in a bold, earthy font, with a reference to James 5:7 underneath. The image conveys themes of patience, growth, and stewardship, drawing a parallel between farming and fundraising principles.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

More Fundraising Lessons from Farming

by Ron Haas
March 26, 2025

“See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7).

Fundraisers can learn valuable lessons from farmers. Both occupations require hard work to prepare the ground, sow seed, and wait patiently for the harvest. Consider these applications:

Patience
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” Sowing and reaping take time. Fundraisers have urgency because of the great ministry needs or budget pressures, but a wise fundraiser is patient and realizes that it takes time for donors to consider your gift request. Fundraising is like a marriage between your ministry partner and your mission. Most people don’t propose to their future spouse on the first date. Likewise, you shouldn’t ask for a six or seven figure gift on your first visit. Slow down and build a strong relationship. Be faithful to sow the seeds of how your ministry is making an eternal difference.

Hard Work
Paul encouraged Timothy to learn ministry work ethic from the “the hardworking farmer” (2 Tim. 2:6). Farmers work from sunrise to sunset in all kinds of weather. Lazy farmers don’t last long. Solomon observed, “A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall” (Prov. 20:4 MSG). Farming is not a 9 to 5 job and neither is fundraising. It takes discipline to keep calling donors who don’t return your calls. It’s much easier to make excuses than to invest in the hard work of identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors. All too often, we give up too soon. Keep sowing the seed if you hope to reap a harvest.

First to Receive
Paul continues his lesson to Timothy, “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops” (2 Tim. 2:6). The farmer works for the benefit of everyone else, and he should reap some of the benefits first. If he is not strong and healthy from the food he produces, he will be unable to share future harvests with others. This has an interesting application to fundraising. Your ministry should make the development department a budget priority, not an afterthought. If you don’t provide your fundraising team with the tools and resources to be successful, your entire ministry will suffer.

Faith
Farmers plant and trust God for the results. You are not just trusting God for the right moment to ask your prospective donor; you are also trusting him for the autumn and spring rains that soften hearts. When you wait on the Lord for his harvest, he promises abundance. “The time will come,” says the Lord, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested” (Amos 9:13 NLT). Pray that the Lord will bless you with more gifts that you can handle!

Think About This: “For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations” (Isa. 61:11). As fundraisers we must work hard, but ultimately it is the Lord who produces the harvest.

Response: Lord, help me sow faithfully and wait patiently for your harvest.

Close-up of a sturdy brass padlock securing a bright blue metal door. Text overlay reads 'The Major Gift Lockpicking Tool,' suggesting a metaphor for unlocking opportunities. Simple, bold design with a focus on the lock.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

The Major Gift Lockpicking Tool

by Ron Haas
February 6, 2025

“A gift opens the way to the giver and ushers the giver into the presence of the great” (Proverbs 18:16).

The Lockpicking Lawyer, a YouTube content creator who opens “unpickable” locks, received an interesting challenge. A viewer, whose local locksmith had resorted to using an angle grinder to open a lock, sparked a heated debate. The viewer insisted the Lockpicking Lawyer could have picked it, while the locksmith dismissed his videos as fake. The challenge was set: if the Lockpicking Lawyer could pick the lock faster than the time it took to cut it with an angle grinder, the locksmith would refund the viewer $75. While the angle grinder took two minutes and fourteen seconds, the Lockpicking Lawyer needed only 28 seconds to pick the lock.

One frustrating reality for every fundraiser is the inability to open a major donor door. Every attempt to reach a prospect feels more difficult than breaking into Fort Knox. Solomon reveals the key to connecting with any major donor prospect is to offer a gift.

A Personal Gift
Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? When choosing a gift, don’t default to SWAG (Stuff We All Get) you hand out at a conference. Get more creative than pens emblazoned with your logo. Consider your prospect’s interests. What unique gift would your potential donor appreciate that reminds them of your ministry whenever they see it? Perhaps you could share something special from one of your noteworthy alumni.

An Opportunity Gift
Pay attention to your prospective donor’s unique interests and expertise, then create opportunities for them to share their knowledge. Business professionals might appreciate invitations to lead workshops, teach classes, or deliver keynote speeches. A prospective donor with a passion for Revolutionary War history brings history to life in full George Washington attire. A perceptive school principal invites him to captivate elementary students with his presentations. For this donor, the opportunity to share his enthusiasm for history is itself a meaningful gift.

An Honor Gift
Pay attention and acknowledge news about your prospective donor. It could be as simple as sending a note of congratulations about their business success, job promotion, or personal accomplishment like a hole-in-one or being featured in the media. One college invites their prospective donors to a banquet in their honor and presents them with an award acknowledging their contributions to the community.

The Gift of Prayer
One simple way to make a meaningful connection is to offer to pray for your prospective donors. You may never have met that person but offering to pray may open a door for a future conversation. Perhaps they or a family member have experienced a personal tragedy and your offer to pray brings comfort and encouragement. Perhaps they’ve experienced great success and your prayers will remind them to give glory to God. The key is connecting with them spiritually.

Think About This: The greatest gift you could ever give your prospective donor is the gift of the Good News. Perhaps you could share a book, music, or video from your ministry that includes a gospel presentation.

Response: Father, please give me wisdom to choose the best gift that will open major donor doors. Thank you for sharing the greatest gift, your Son, Jesus Christ.

Two snails crawling on a tree branch with a soft, blurred green and yellow background. The text "Slow Down—Donors Ahead" is displayed in bold, playful letters, emphasizing patience and careful engagement.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Slow Down – Donors Ahead

by Ron Haas
January 29, 2025

“Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good. If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake.” (Proverbs 19:2 NCV).

Absalom orchestrated a coup against his father and started a civil war. David sent Joab and his army to crush the uprising (see 2 Samuel 18:1-33). As Absalom was fleeing for his life, he rode under an oak tree and caught his long flowing hair in the thick branches, but his mule kept on going. He hung there helplessly until Joab came and plunged three javelins into his heart killing him and ending the war.

Then an interesting event happened. Ahimaaz volunteered to run take the news to David, but Joab refused saying, “You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today” (2 Sam. 18:20). Instead, Joab assigned a Cushite to run with the message to David. Ahimaaz loved to run so much, he begged Joab for permission to go, so Joab relented. Ahimaaz took the route through the plain, outran the Cushite, and reached David first. Unfortunately, he had no message to share. David told him to step aside as they waited for the Cushite to arrive with the bad news that Absalom was dead. We can learn four fundraising lessons from this account.

Enthusiasm isn’t Enough
Ahimaaz loved to run just for the sake of running. Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 9:26, “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly.” Some fundraisers are full of zeal but don’t have focus or a purpose for their donor meetings. Determine the outcomes you want to achieve for each major donor. What information do you want to learn? What messages do you want to convey and what call to action will you propose? If you don’t aim at anything, you will hit it every time.

Clarify Your Message
Ahimaaz arrived first but had nothing to say. It doesn’t matter if you are the first ministry to connect with a major donor; if your message is unclear, you will miss the opportunity. Donors give to ministries that have a clear vision of what they intend to accomplish. Fine tune your message to make sure it’s compelling.

Don’t Act Too Quickly
Slow down. A rookie fundraiser in her zeal submitted an initial grant application to a foundation for $2 million. The foundation had given grants of that size but had no relationship with her organization. She jumped the gun and missed the relationship-building step. Unfortunately, the foundation director moved her application to the circular file.

Avoid Mistakes
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Sometimes you may never get a second chance to connect with a potential major donor. Be intentional with your major donor strategy. Make sure the right person in your ministry shares the right message at the right time.

Think About This: The speed-accuracy trade-off is a behavioral science theory that proposes decisions made slowly have high accuracy while decisions made fast have a high error rate. Don’t rush your donor relationships but don’t procrastinate either. John Wooden, famed UCLA basketball coach, taught his players, “Be Quick, But Don’t Hurry.”

Response: Father, give our team zeal and wisdom to make the greatest impact for you as we engage major donors.

An image featuring a barren, cracked desert landscape under a clear blue sky. The text on the image reads, "Beware of the boasting donor" in large, bold lettering, with "Proverbs 25:14" written below in smaller text. The design conveys a cautionary and reflective
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Beware of the Boasting Donor

by Ron Haas
January 22, 2025

“Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given” (Proverbs 25:14).

Occasionally, you meet a major donor who checks all your qualifying boxes. They have a link to your organization. They are interested in your projects and they seem to have the ability and willingness to give. They even talk about how much they love your ministry—yet they never give. Solomon illustrates this person as “a cloud without rain.” This prospect gives you hope for a refreshing gift but never delivers. Texans describe this person as, “All hat but no cattle.” This potential donor is full of big talk but lacks action. Unfortunately, he or she is a pretender.

How can you identify and avoid this non-giver? Following Solomon’s warning about boastful behavior, James describes four distinct ways pride manifests itself in people’s speech (James 4:13-16).

Success
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money’” (James 4:13). Boasters have big ideas and big plans. They think they control their calendars, travels, businesses, and profits but they fail to realize that they don’t control anything. The Lord blesses a person with “the ability to produce wealth” (Deut. 8:18).

Strength
Arrogant people think they will live forever. “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). The rich farmer decided to build bigger barns to store his surplus grain. Giving some of his bounty to others didn’t even cross his mind. Little did he realize that his life would be demanded from him that night (Luke 12:17-20). “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20).

Self
“Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). People who are filled with pride don’t have room in their vocabulary for God or his will. They are too focused on their plans and never ask the Lord what he would have them do. Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Schemes
“As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:16). Jim was a very successful entrepreneur who talked of giving “big.” He was always chasing the next deal and needed all his cash to make it happen. He made several promises to give even more when the next deal closed but he never gave. Paul taught, “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have” (2 Cor. 8:12).

Think About This: James makes a sobering conclusion, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17). The person who boasts of a gift never given is sinning.

Response: Lord, please give me insight to hear if my donor’s heart is focused on your will or their own. Give me wisdom to challenge this type of donor in truth and love about their gift commitment.

An image of a long, empty road stretching into the horizon with a sunset in the background. The sky is orange and yellow with scattered clouds. On the left side, vertical white text reads "Galatians 6:9." On the right, bold white text says "Don't STOP Asking," with the word "STOP" highlighted in red.
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Don’t Stop Asking

by Ron Haas
December 18, 2024

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Fundraising is good work but hard work—travel, planning events, creating marketing materials, scheduling newsletters and appeals, writing proposals, submitting grant applications, managing staff and volunteers, preparing reports and presentations, and on top of all —the constant concern about making your fundraising goals looms over your head like the sword of Damocles. Are you tired yet? This verse can encourage you at the end of a long day, month, or year. Take heart in the promise all your work will pay off if you just keep doing good. Now read this verse from your donors’ perspective.

Weary
Giving is also good work but hard work. Your ministry partners have many giving choices and are burdened with the responsibility of making good stewardship decisions. They are also troubled by the cares of life: health struggles, financial challenges, church problems, and kids or grandkids drifting from the faith. How can you encourage them? Consider Isaiah 50:4, “The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary.” You can lift your donors when they are discouraged. “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (Prov. 12:25).

Proper Time
Giving is almost always a timing issue. Your donor might love your ministry and your project but can’t give right now. Most donors aren’t motivated by your calendar; they have financial pressures and priorities of their own. You are eager to reap a harvest, but your donors are also eager to reap a harvest. Some may be waiting on a literal harvest of crops, a quarterly interest payment, or the sale of a property. Be bold and ask but be patient and wait for the proper timing.

Reap a Harvest
Your ministry has a monthly budget to meet which requires a certain amount of donor calls to achieve your goals. If you don’t have inputs (number of asks), you won’t achieve outcomes (number of gifts). Focus on sowing seed and the harvest will follow. Learn to see giving through your donor’s eyes. What will their gift accomplish for eternity? Pray your donors’ generosity will reap a harvest of righteousness for your ministry and for them (see 2 Cor. 9:10).

Don’t Give Up
Galatians 6:9 is a spiritual pep talk to keep us going when things get tough. Isaiah said it like this:

God strengthens the weary
    and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.
Young people will get tired;
    strapping young men will stumble and fall.
 But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength.
    They will soar on wings as eagles.
They will run—never winded, never weary.
    They will walk—never tired, never faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31, VOICE)

Perhaps you need this encouragement. Your ministry partners definitely do.

Think About This: When you are tired, everything seems overwhelming. Encourage yourself and your ministry partners with Proverbs 30:1, “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.”

Response: Lord, you are the one who gives me strength to serve you. Help me encourage my ministry partners to continue being generous.

Hands holding a red heart against a pink background with the text "Effective Donor Follow-up" and "2 Corinthians 9:3".
Fundraising Verse of the Week

Effective Donor Follow-Up

by Ron Haas
December 4, 2024

“But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.” (2 Corinthians 9:3)

What do you say to donors who pledge but never give? Perhaps the most difficult concept Paul addresses in 2 Corinthians 8–9 is accountability. Paul had approached the Corinthian church the year before about giving to the believers in Jerusalem who were suffering from persecution and poverty. The church immediately responded with a gift and enthu­siastically promised more. Paul was so pleased with their initial generosity he shared their story everywhere he went. Many other churches were motivated to give because of the Corinthians’ leadership pledge but they never got around to sending their gift. This was unacceptable to Paul. He was counting on their gift, the church in Jerusalem was counting on their gift, and now the churches in Macedonia who gave because of their example were paying attention. Paul writes to prompt the Corinthians to keep their promise.

Action or Inaction
The Corinthians’ good intentions didn’t translate into actions. If your donor doesn’t follow through, should you just forget the pledge? Paul sent a pledge reminder letter to follow up, but then he sent the brothers to check on their gift. John taught, “let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Your donor’s inaction toward you speaks of their character. Your actions to hold your donor accountable demonstrate your love toward them.

Pride or Embarrassment
Paul had told everyone about the Corinthians’ generosity. Paul was proud of their initial leadership, (2 Cor. 8:24), but their reputation and his reputation were in jeopardy if they reneged on their pledge. Now was the time to finish what they started (2 Cor. 8:11). How often you follow-up with these donors is up to you, but it’s important to stay on top of these ministry partners in a kind and caring way.

Urgent or Optional
Two times Paul mentions he was sending the brothers. He was so urgent because he had already counted their gift. Help your donors realize your ministry’s key initiatives won’t happen if they don’t follow through with their promise. When you visit them, be respectful, empathetic, and sensitive to the fact that life happens, occasionally causing donors to fall behind on their commitments.

Obedience or Disobedience
Don’t focus on the negative. Focus on the positive things which will be accomplished when your ministry partner is able to fulfill their pledge. Remind your donors of the people who will be changed for eternity because of their generosity. “Others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them” (2 Cor. 9:13).

Think About This: Paul emphasized we should give generously and cheerfully, not grudgingly, reluctantly, or under compulsion. This means Titus and the brothers did not twist anyone’s arms, but they did share Paul’s message face to face. Perhaps the brothers’ very presence made the difference.

Response: Father, please give me the words to say as I visit our ministry partners who are behind on their pledge.

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