by Tim Mares - CMDA Support Raising Coach
Let’s do the word association game, shall we? What’s the first word that comes to your mind when I say “fundraising?” Let’s try it again with a different answer. “Fundraising.” For many, it’s like Billy Crystal’s character Miracle Max in The Princess Bride when his wife Valerie says the name Humperdinck. “Humperdinck. Humperdinck. Humperdinck.” Miracle Max immediately responds, “Aaaaagrh! I’m not listening.”
I’m sorry, but CMDA provides no miracle pill with “the chocolate coating makes it go down easier. But you have to wait 15 minutes for full potency.” And no swimming the first 15 minutes, or you’ll get fundraising cramps.
Sometimes I identify with George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life. Financial troubles. Fearing negative consequences. Rejection. Shame and embarrassment. Security and competence being threatened. George felt humbled, and if he was diving for pearls, he knew he would only come up with handfuls of sand. He felt cornered and hopeless.
But he had a few aces up his sleeve he had forgotten. One, his resourceful wife Mary. She alerted friends in the community. “George is in financial trouble.’ George had selflessness served and sacrificed for his neighbors. Secondly, his friends started praying for George. And thirdly, without a need to ask for details, their neighbors came with pocketfuls of money. One neighbor cabled an old friend, Sam Wainwright, in London, who became a major donor with a gift of $25k. George was originally short $8k ($100k in today’s value), and more than 3x his need came in.
This crisis set the stage for such transformation in all their lives! So many of them had been financial partners with George and his bank as he loaned them money over the years. Their response was just an extension of their relationship.
In 2007 I drove my pregnant wife and 17-month-old son Gabriel to the London hospital for a final checkup. She started experiencing discomfort on the way there. Since our unborn son Salem was riding right side up, the doctors decided to do the C-section first thing the next morning. I dropped her off and took my son home. At about midnight, my wife called, “The doctor decided not to wait. You better come now if you want to see your son born.” I couldn’t bring our 17-month-old, so I called Javid, my Muslim friend from across the street. “Can you come immediately and stay with my son?” Even though he’d need to go to work early the following day, he cheerfully and quickly entered our home. After I returned home, I thanked him for helping me. He replied, “Of course. You’d done the same for me.” Of course, I would.
And how much more for the believer. Again, today’s letter is the letter P. God’s presence. His promises. His power. He promises to supply all our needs according to our excellent presentation? Our appealing newsletters? Our oratory skills and command of Mail Chimp and MPDX donor software? All these things are wonderful skill sets and tasks, but He provides according to His riches. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Phil. 4:13) His Spirit works in us, our partners and our circumstances. Our hope and trust is in our Lord to care for His children and advance His kingdom. It truly is a wonderful life!
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
