Why Alice Wandered in Wonderland

Too many churches do not have a system for funding ministry. They have systems for everything else: Sunday school; evangelism; music; counseling; aid to the aged, homeless, and poor; youth work and community outreach. When it comes to funding ministry, though, they think that because the church is actively engaged in doing the Lord’s work that contributions will appear like manna from heaven.

Stay with me on this. I’ll get to Alice.

There are clear advantages to a system. A system requires less oversight. A system results in fewer flash fires. A system is more effective and efficient. A system gets more desired results, the occasional story of good-luck-that-brings-success to the contrary notwithstanding. You might say a system does the work for you, or at least it keeps you from doing unnecessary work.

You cannot own a car without a system of manufacturing, sales, fueling, and repair. You cannot buy groceries without a system of distribution, storage, display, and disposal. You cannot own or rent your home without a system of supplies, contracting, design, and construction. We cannot elect a president without a system (draw your own conclusions on this one).

Does God have a system for our salvation? He sure does and it has four major components: faith, repentance, baptism, and eternal life.

The four major components of any system for funding ministry are identify, cultivate, ask, and recognize. If you do not have a system for funding ministry we urge you to put one into place immediately. We’re not speaking of more car washes, more chili suppers, or more candy sales, which work but are incomplete. We’re not speaking of remarks from the pulpit that contributions are falling short of meeting the budget. We’re not speaking of appeals for money after your church has become desperate.

We’re speaking of a system that integrates fundraising activities and stewardship education in your church throughout the year and year-after-year, a system that provides seamless ministries that leaders and members accept as natural parts of church life, as natural as faith, repentance, baptism, and eternal life.

The reason Alice took so long to get out of Wonderland, aside from the writing skills and imagination of Lewis Carroll, was because she did not have a system to guide her. She reacted to events rather than planned for them.

Here are some resources to guide you in developing your system: The Abingdon Guide to Funding Ministry, available in three volumes at $17 each or all three on one CD for $40. The Fundraising Planner: A Working Model for Raising the Dollars You Need, $27.95. Aspen Publishers at www.aspenpublishers.com offers a series of eight paperback books on the fundamentals of fundraising and management at $34 each with a discount when you buy all eight. And, just about everything you want to know about nonprofits is available at www.charitychannel.com including a forum on fundraising for churches and para-church organizations.

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