5 Keys to Personal
Support Raising

Dr. Steve Shadrach has a passion for developing laborers for Christ to reach the world. He has been involved with many different collegiate ministries, and has served as Pastor of Students and Missions at University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, AR. He is also the founder of Student Mobilization, which focuses on evangelizing and discipling college students in the U.S. and abroad, The Traveling Team, and The Bodybuilders ministry, seeking to “build up the body of Christ”. He also served as the Director of Mobilization for the U.S. Center for World Mission, overseeing the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement program. Dr. Shadrach has a Masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry in Church and Parachurch Executive Leadership from Denver Seminary. He has written three books, The Fuel and the Flame: Ten Keys to Ignite Your Campus for Jesus Christ, Brown Like Coffee: For Students Who Think Outside the Box, and ViewPoints: Fresh Perspectives on Personal Support Raising. Steve and his family reside in Fayetteville, AR, where he serves as the Executive Director of The Center for Mission Mobilization. (www.mobilization.org)

1. Understand the Biblical Basis
Take some time to study the Scriptures for yourself so you will know exactly what God thinks about asking others to give to you and to your ministry. Some choose to just pray and trust God to bring the funds in. The great George Muller did this to support orphanages in 19th century London. But it is just as biblical and requires as much or more faith to personally invite others to invest. Either way, we have to understand that God is the source of the funds, not the donors, our plans, or hard work.

2. Kill the Giants in Your Own Mind
Remember the twelve Hebrew spies who went into the Promised Land to take a look before the whole nation was to enter and claim what God had given them? Only Joshua and Caleb came back ready to invade. The other ten spies were so terrified of the giants that they saw in the land that they confessed, "we became like grasshoppers in our own sight" (Exodus 13:33). Instead of trusting God and moving out with courage, they let fear paralyze them. All of us have different "giants" in our minds that will keep us from beginning and persevering in the process of assembling a full support team. Regardless of what they are, you must kill the giants one at a time as you fill your mind with the Scriptures and believe what God has said about you and your calling. Then you can courageously march in and take the land!

3. Pray and Plan Well
Pray--God will go before you. He will also build a love for your donors as you pray for them individually.
Create Your Budget--Seek to balance a lifestyle that will allow you to maximize your effectiveness, but also be above reproach.
Namestorm--Write down every person that you have ever known during your lifetime, and let God do the work.
Map Out a Plan--Divide up all the names according to where they live and decide on an amount for which to ask each person.
Plan Out a Map--Figure out what city you'll go to first, second, third, and so on. Make a schedule and call for appointments.

4. Ask Them Face to Face
This is the key. James 4:2 says, "we have not because we ask not." The word "ask" is used in the gospels 113 times. God wants to teach us about asking: Him and others. It is good, biblical, and faithbuilding to ask. Let's not hide behind our fears. Let's walk toward them and render them powerless! The worst thing they could say is "No."

5. Cultivate the Relationship
Consider tithing your ministry time to your support team. Thank before you bank. Regularly send well-written newsletters.
Win, Keep, Lift