For the next few weeks, I will be posting blog entries that will help you with your support raising.  Raising support is one of the key issues for people going on a mission trip. We are all reluctant to ask for money for many reasons.  It is very important for you to understand that you are giving others the opportunity to invest in missions in a very tangible way. 

God provides for those he calls!

Raising support is a faith building exercise!  Satan will try to make you fearful, nervous even guilty about raising support, he will try to deceive you into thinking that you are begging for something that is not deserved. That is why it is so important to have a clear understanding of the biblical basis for support raising.   Bible verses to encourage you are:

Philippians 4:19  And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

1 Chronicles 29:12-14 Wealth and honor come from you;
       you are the ruler of all things.
       In your hands are strength and power
       to exalt and give strength to all.

 13Now, our God, we give you thanks,
       and praise your glorious name.

 14"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

If God has called you, you can trust Him to provide for your financial needs for your trip. 

To begin in the support raising process the first thing that needs to be done is to Pray.  It is the Holy Spirit who will move the hearts of God's people to give to his work. 

We challenge you to take time each week to pray specifically about your support raising.

  Pray for God to bring to your mind those people He wants to support you.

 Pray for the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of your supporters. 

Pray for God to give you wisdom and clarity as you share about your ministry.

The next important step is to set up a Prayer Team.  

You will need to have 4 to 5 people who know you well that will commit to pray for you each day.  Ask your team to meet and pray together for you if possible.  Prayer is the most vital key to support raising.  

We have listed these and seven other steps, to guide you thru your Support Raising, in your Handbook.  I want to encourage you to follow these steps.  After sending out your support letters you must follow up with phone calls, personal visits, monthly updates of how you are doing, sending out thank you notes and prayer, prayer, prayer!!

We have passed an important deadline last week regarding your support.  Each of you needs to have 20% of your trip costs in your account.  Please check out your account today and see where you are.  I know that some of you have just been accepted and haven't had time to begin raising support so don't be stressed out.  It is just important that everyone kick into high gear to insure that all your funds are raised in time!!   

Please continue to check the blog as we will post more support raising info as we go along. As always please feel free to call or email us anytime that you have any questions.