Missions Training

Missions Training for Everyone

Support Raising

Training on how to raise support

There are no quick fixes when it comes to support raising. I could end this post here but I won’t. There is no magic pill. I get asked all the time by missionaries – “how long does it take to raise support?” Well, that is an extremely hard question to […]

No Quick Fix

December 2, 2016 in Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

There is no such thing as a quick path to support raising. Often times missionaries think that it is about sending out one support letter and sitting back to watch the check flood in. They are always sorely disappointed. If God is calling your to become a full-time missionary you […]

Obstacles to Support Raising

December 2, 2016 in Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

“Don’t ask people to give money; just ask them to pray.” I have encountered many missionaries that deploy this method of support raising. I respect their convictions, assuming they are from the Lord and not from some other reason, and would never seek to persuade them otherwise. However, I get […]

The Osmosis Method of Fundraising

December 2, 2016 in Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

A missions support dinner is a great tool for new and veteran missionaries. If you are a new missionary you might want to schedule a few smaller events at some friends houses or one large event in your churches fellowship hall to gather people together so that you can present (see […]

Missions Support Dinner

December 2, 2016 in Care Team / Communication / Fundraiser Ideas / Missionary Care / Sending Church/Missions Organization / Support Raising / The Missions Pastors Role / Ways to Help On The Field Missionaries by Mike Thiemann

A dessert gathering is a great tool for new and veteran missionaries. If you are a new missionary you might want to schedule a few smaller events at some friends houses or one large event in your churches fellowship hall to gather people together so that you can present (see developing […]

Dessert Gathering

December 1, 2016 in Care Team / Communication / Finances / Fundraiser Ideas / Missionary Care / Sending Church/Missions Organization / Support Raising / The Missions Pastors Role / Ways to Help On The Field Missionaries by Mike Thiemann

As a missionary having an organized contact list is massively important. Initially it is a lot of work to put together but in the long run it will make your life a lot easier when it comes to communication. First off, what is this contact list for? Well, this is […]

Developing a Contact List

December 1, 2016 in Communication / Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

Knowing when to go is one of the trickiest decisions for a missionary to make. If you go to soon you are probably not financially ready and will be back in a few months feeling like a failure and facing the gauntlet of questions from family, friends, donors and pasts. […]

How do I know when to go?

December 1, 2016 in Finances / Sending Church/Missions Organization / Support Raising / The Missions Pastors Role by Mike Thiemann

As a missionary you should be well aware of who your supporters are, how much they give and how much you have in your support account on a monthly basis. This means that you should set aside at least a day out of the month to review your budgets, communicate/thank […]

Managing Monthly Support

December 1, 2016 in Care Team / Finances / Missionary Care / Sending Church/Missions Organization / Support Raising / The Missions Pastors Role / Training by Mike Thiemann

Social media and and our cultures are becoming one and the same. Whatever you opinion is of social media here is the reality – it ain’t going anywhere anytime soon. Instead of kicking against the goods of mainstream cultural media trends why not prayerfully use it for the furtherance of […]

Social Media

December 1, 2016 in Communication / Fundraiser Ideas / Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

One amazing thing about our world today is how easy it is to bring someone from California to a Bible Study in Nepal. With simply your smartphone you can capture a 30 second video that puts someone right in the room where they can heart the singing and see the […]

Videos

December 1, 2016 in Communication / Fundraiser Ideas / Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

The old English Idiom “A picture is worth a thousand words” is absolute true. I cannot stress the importance of the need for high quality pictures as part of your communication repertoire.Case in point, how many of you scroll down Facebook and skip every post that includes just text but […]

Pictures

December 1, 2016 in Communication / Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

The initial support letter is key because it is the “kick-off” of your support raising efforts. This is a letter you want to take your time and draft/design it well. Here are some helpful steps to get you through the task: Goals – The primary goal is to clearly and […]

Initial Support Letter

December 1, 2016 in Communication / Finances / Fundraiser Ideas / Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

The dreaded monthly update letter! It causes missionaries to tremble at just the mention of the task. I would like to discuss the importance of the monthly update letter, the content of the letter and where the letter fits within the grand vision of communication. Importance I have received a […]

Monthly Update Letters

December 1, 2016 in Communication / Fundraiser Ideas / Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

There is a great divide amongst missionaries and the topic of support raising. Some missionaries claim the “George Muller” method and say that they will never talk about money or ask for money. They are simply going to pray and trust God. Or they fall onto the other side and […]

Trust God OR Salesmen Method

November 30, 2016 in Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

Missionaries tend to get what I call “missions tunnels vision” once they get to the mission field. What do I mean by that? I mean that the missionary gets fully engulfed in the ministry (which is not bad) on the mission field and completely forgets everyone/everything else that they left […]

Keeping in Touch with Family, Friends & Donors

November 30, 2016 in Communication / Support Raising by Mike Thiemann

Support Raising is probably the most dreaded task a missionary faces. Asking people for money is a complicated issue. In this post we are talking about raising money. I know we all like to use the cliche phrase, “the most important thing people can do is pray” which is true, […]

Support Raising 101

November 30, 2016 in Support Raising by Mike Thiemann