support raising Archives

The Business Secret Every Missionary Knows

Following God into new situations and cultures will very likely catapult you into a VUCA environment. What does that mean for a missionary's journey? Photo by TEAM

Aug 10 2017

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” That’s the proverb we quote when it comes to making something good out of a bad situation — something sweet out of something sour. But what about intentionally picking lemons so you can make lemonade? Global corporations do that! The international market environment is described as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA). In other words, it hands out lemons and demands leaders who can make lemonade. And it turns out that the best way to develop those demanded abilities is to work in a situation that demands those abilities. Some large corporations are…

Missionary, does the thought of public speaking make your palms sweat? To help, here are eight public speaking tips to help you rock your next presentation.

May 15 2017

As a missionary, a big part of your job is building relationships with supporters. Public speaking is a great way to share your story and invite a large number of people into partnership with your ministry at one time. It’s also a great way to make even the most outgoing person break a sweat! Public speaking is one of the biggest fears people face. In fact, 74 percent of people admit to getting nervous before giving a speech. Whether you get a few butterflies or downright freeze in front of people, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to let…

ways for missionaries to connect with supporters

Maintaining relationships across many miles is no easy feat. But with a little creativity, missionaries can continue to connect with the supporters who sent them. Photo by TEAM

Aug 03 2016

No missionary is sent out on their own; behind each one is a selfless group of churches and individuals who have mentored, prayed and given so the missionary could cross cultural barriers to share the gospel. Because of the busy nature of ministry life, it can be hard for missionaries to connect with supporters while they serve on the field. Fortunately, with some creativity and a bit of technology, there are many ways you can stay connected with your supporters, even when you are thousands of miles away. Here are some favorites. 1. Display the Names and Faces of Your…

You don't have to be a graphic designer to design a beautiful missionary newsletter. Apply these 5 tips to create an appealing newsletter your supporters will love to read.

Jul 21 2016

In a previous post, we shared our 10 step process to writing a memorable missionary newsletter. Now, your polished copy deserves a design that’s just as clean and appealing. Thankfully, with email services like Mailchimp or Constant Contact, sending a beautiful missionary newsletter is easier than ever. With those resources in hand, here are my favorite tips for creating a delightful email newsletter. How can they read it, if they can’t read it? As a graphic designer, the biggest problem I’ve noticed with poorly designed email newsletters is that they’re just too much work to read. You might have the…

Staring at a blank screen when you sit down to write your missionary newsletter? Try out these time-tested tips to make updating your supporters a joy.

Jul 19 2016

This is part one of two-part series on missionary newsletters. Read part two, “How to Design a Beautiful Missionary Newsletter,” here. It was the kind of moment every ministry worker on a support trip looks forward to: The woman shared how excited she always got to see my blue newsletter envelope in the mail. Then she took me to the church sanctuary and told her friend, You’ve got to meet Beth. She’s been to Asia and Africa and all over the place! It was great. Except that I’d been to Asia once, my missions organization didn’t send people to Africa…

When Jennifer Hylton asked God for peace about her future, she got far more than she could have imagined. Photos by TEAM.

Jul 07 2016

When TEAM missionary Jennifer Hylton shares how God called her to France, she gets straight to the point, with no effort to impress: “I felt God speak right to my heart: ‘You have a future in missions.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t even know what that means.’” As a first-generation Christian in her 20s, Hylton didn’t know a single missionary, much less how God would call one. She had been praying for peace about her future, thinking she might go to medical school or relocate, but mission work was nowhere on her list. When she sensed God speaking to…

If you're stuck staring at a blank screen, here are some tips and tricks to help you write an effective support letter.

May 23 2016

Writing a support letter can seem like the highest hurdle to overcome in the support-raising journey — until you have the right tools in hand. Here are some great tips and tricks to writing a fantastic letter with all the key components that will make “the ask” for support a success. And once you’ve written your awesome support letter, be sure to download this Excel template to keep track of your support team’s contact information and your financial progress. Less is more. Fit all the necessary information on one page, front and back. Period. Being clear and concise is key. Attention will…

Your supporting church is spiritually and financially investing in your short-term missions trip. Here's tips on how you can support them, too. Photo by TEAM

Jan 26 2016

As a logistics coordinator for short-term missions, I am constantly encouraged by the faith of the missionaries I work with. Recently, a short-term missionary I am working with came to me with one of the most beautiful questions I’ve been asked during my time with TEAM: “How can I bless my supporting church through my mission trip?” My heart soared. Here at TEAM, one of our highest values is the church from beginning to end. We engage existing churches in cooperative efforts to establish new reproducing churches worldwide. It is encouraging to know our short-term missionaries are just as passionate about strengthening the church as we are….

Fundraising for your short-term missions trip can be difficult. Here are seven tips to make fundraising for mission trips a blessing instead of a burden.

Jan 25 2016

So, you’re ready to go on a short-term mission trip. Awesome! You’ve done your research, completed your application and gotten your immunizations. Now comes the best part: fundraising. For many, raising support is the toughest part of going on a mission trip. There are so many myths and falsehoods surrounding support raising, (Fundraising is asking for handouts. It will alienate my friends. It’s another step I have to do before I can start my real ministry.…) that it’s easy to lose sight of the blessing fundraising brings to all who are involved. You’re not just asking people to write a check,…

One column or two? Resist the temptation to create your regular multi-column masterpiece, and go with one column instead.

Aug 04 2015

Producing a regular ministry newsletter is a struggle and triumph few can fully appreciate if they haven’t endured it themselves. You rack your brain for ideas in a slow month, or make painful cuts in a full one. You spend hours finding the perfect words and pictures. Maybe you even try to emulate the design elements from another missionary’s newsletter. Finally, you stand back with pride and hit “send” — only to have your supporters open your newsletter on a smartphone, turning your hard-earned glory into a mess of tiny fonts on an oversized layout. The good news about living…

Tag - support raising

The Business Secret Every Missionary Knows

8 Public Speaking Tips for Missionaries

7 Creative Ways for Missionaries to Connect with Supporters

How to Design a Beautiful Missionary Newsletter in 5 Steps

10 Steps to Writing a Memorable Missionary Newsletter

Finding Out What a Future in Missions Means

How to Write an Awesome Support Letter

How to Support Your Supporting Church

7 Fundraising Tips for Your Short-Term Mission Trip

Is Your Newsletter Mobile-Ready?