Finances: Where Does The Money Come From?
How To Raise Money For Your Centers.
Each Center must be self-supporting.
Funding is not available from the Minneapolis Center
in any form. We supply information and prayers for you.
It is important that you secure funds before any monitary commitments are made.
SUGESTIONS FROM DIRECTORS
ABOUT HOW TO RAISE FINANCES FOR THEIR CENTRES
1. Dan Morstad attends the local businessmen’s meetings. He has made friends with them and subsequently often receives donations from them. After establishing a personal relationship with business people, Tanya Prikozchikov from Ukraine, asks them how she can pray for them. As she ministers to their needs, the Lord frequently touches their hearts and they have given substantial donations.
2. Francis Jackson from Bangalore, India approaches both Christian and Non Christian businessmen. In a social setting he shares the purpose of assisting people in crisis by way of the telephone follows up in ways of practical help. He asks them to “Please help us to help others.” He gives 2 or 3 examples of personal testimonies and then promises that he will pray for their business. He puts these people on his mailing list and communicates with them regularly. He always thanks each one for their gifts.
3. A direct mailing list of those who are interested in the work of the centre is a main source of income for one director, Dan Morstad, who sends monthly letters telling about the ministry and needs of the centre.
4. Many directors request support from local church congregations.
5. Gertrude Abrahams from South Africa has gotten substantial grants from both the American and British embassies, and assistance from the South African government. Don’t forget local social agencies.
6. Eben Jeya Roy from Pondicherry, India makes the following suggestions: Have a clear vision, be a giver yourself, keep clean records and controls, give a unique factor, approach people of influence and capacity, remember that people give to people, give an opportunity not just ask for money, say thank you again and again, tell the giver what the gift has accomplished, and minister to the giver.
7. Several directors are taking advantage of supermarkets that are appearing in many countries. Food-give-aways are being organized with the local store. A representative from the crisis center stands at the door of the store and tells those coming to buy groceries the plan about giving food to the needy. Gifts of food and finances from the shoppers majorly support the food-give-away. When local business people see that you are assisting the needy in this manner, they want to contribute to the work of your centre as well.
8. Dan Morstad organizes sporting events such as bowling, walking and golf. The participants get sponsors to commit a sum of money to the persons engaged in that sporting contest.
9. Dan Morstad has a yearly banquet in honor of the work of Love Lines. Pledges are taken as a one time gift or for monthly support.
10. Tanya Prikozchikov in Ukraine says that people who receive help often want to know what they can do for the centre. One wealthy woman was even raised from the dead. In gratitude, she gave the centre facilities in which to operate. Business people have donated space for advertising on buses and subways. They have given free advertisement in newspapers, periodicals, and other printed material. She says that “Money follows ministry.”
11. As directors share the vision of their center in local churches people often respond by becoming volunteers and/or contributing financially. See the Directors Training Manual for more information.
12. Mickey Okeyo in Kenya organizes a yearly sport event called the Jericho Hall of Fame for around 10,000 people. He says that this event alone has made his centre a household name in their locality. People have been saved, volunteers have been acquired and finances were generated. Contributors give to those involved in the sport event. See the Training Manual for more ideas.
13. Tanya Prikazchikov in Ukraine has established a publishing company. This can be a way to significantly share the gospel in printed form, advertise the work of the center, and help pay for the costs. They have already published well over 10,000 books and gross around $36,000.00 US per year.
14. Tonnie Mzulumba in Malawi combines a “big walk” with a choir festival.
15. Stephane Gnon in Togo sells local items and develops internet commercials at Cyber Cafes.
16. Silas Harris in Liberia had a Gospel musical concert with artists from a wide range of denominations.
17. Augusto Chameia in Angola has a pharmacy besides his crisis centre.
This has provided a special contact with the community and the revenue helps pay the bills. He gives medicine to people too poor to buy it.
18. Pastor David Mohan in Chennai, India was led of the Lord to request that all the ladies in the church give of their gold jewelry for the building of their new massive church. The expense of the church was covered with the gold.
19. Alwisho Mweni in Zambia makes bricks to sell. He also used the bricks to build a poultry house so he can raise chickens to sell.
20. Lloyd Ndhovu in Zambia opened a carpentry shop to raise money for the centre. He has been given 3 vehicles to help with transportation.
21. Michael Mbwambo in Tanzania handed out brochures to people of the community indicating the type of services offered to the public at his center. When asking for donations, people then responded with finances.
22. Bishop Simeon Nzishura in Burundi has a business that supplies enough finances to pay the bills for the centre. People work for money in the village to pay transportation for the volunteers.
23. Reuben Zivagwe in Zimbabwe gets support through offering training in the form of workshops, seminars, and courses. “We offer biblical counseling courses to Christians who pay for the training. Churches in our association support us also.”
24. Steve Onyema in Nigeria says, “I believe one of the ways to overcome financial difficulty is to sow financial seeds of faith to others.”
25. Teralyn Thompson-Bossio from Pennsylvania sells donated items at a flea market.
26. Bishop Nason Musonda from Zambia, “Financially we are not complaining because every vision has provision. God is providing accordingly.”
27. James Abedingo from Ghana, “I am looking to the Lord who is able to supply ALL my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. The telephone ministry belongs to God and I am His servant. When our centre needed money, I went to talk radio and made an appeal. The next day the finances came in.”
28. Seydou Badini from Burkina Faso, “At the moment that I thought it was all finished, when the center was going to close because I had no financial resources, God revealed Himself to me. The Lord showed me a strategy for generating funds. I have opened a public secretarial service and also planted two hectares of green beans. Now I have an office of three rooms and parlor for the center.. We should think about giving instead of expecting someone else to give to our work for God. He makes us a source of blessing to others with his attitude.”
29. Elizabeth Fosu writes from Ghana, “Our phones have been disconnected several times due to lack of finances. It is really hard financially for us but we trust the One who brought us this far to see us through. I had been praying for some miracle money to clear the bills but my attention had been more on the problem than on God who solves all problems. I became very heavy in my spirit and sad because we had just started an advertising drive. I had an interview on the radio to publicize the work of the center, but since our phones were disconnected, people could not call. Then suddenly the miracle happened. The money came from an unexpected source.”
30. There is a great temptation to look to people in other countries to send money. The Lord has given a divine plan to raise finances in your own country. “Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me. ‘What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?’ You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due to me…Your whole nation has been robbing me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you! Your crops will be large, for I will guard them from insects and plagues. Your grapes won’t shrivel away before they ripen,” says the Lord Almighty. “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land sparkling with happiness.”
These are the promises of the Lord Almighty.
Malachi 3:8-12 (The Living Bible)
