Starting anything for the first time requires a certain amount of preparation; some are better than others at this and maybe the temptation to ‘just get on with it’ means we don’t fully appreciate what’s involved (anyone who’s attempted flat pack assembly without first reading the instructions will understand the pitfalls).  Support-raising can just as easily fall victim to the need to ‘get on with it’, and over the years we’ve spoken to countless Christian Workers who struggle on low levels of support or exist on ‘just enough’.  The imperative to get on with the work can be at the expense of the right preparation: spending time ensuring that your ministry has strong support – financial, practical and not least, prayer support.  We are convinced that investing time in building a strong support base and using the expertise of Stewardship and others can have a massive impact on any ministry.

Wade Robertson of YWAM came along to the Toolkit for Ministry training in Glasgow and is now advocating it to all his contacts.  Why? Because although Wade has been raising support for 30 years he freely admitted that he might advise his younger self to “take it more seriously”.  And what of Stewardship? “My perception is that they are knowledgeable, they care and they have a lot of good advice to share.”

Mike Frith who heads up OSCAR – the one-stop centre for advice and resources – and partners with Stewardship to deliver training is convinced that good preparation makes all the difference.

“No-one wants to re-invent the wheel, and no-one wants to make fundamental mistakes that could have been avoided … so learning from those with knowledge and experience in the topic is essential. When it comes to finance and support-raising, Stewardship has access to both knowledge and experience from a wide range of experts and practitioners.”

So how can you tap into the wealth of knowledge and advice available?

• Speak to one of the Giving Services Team – they are always there to guide you through how to get the best out of your account.  Phone 0208 502 8566 or email [email protected]
• Check out the Finance for Living papers – each one has been written by an expert who understands the particular challenges you face living on a support basis.
• Visit the OSCAR website www.oscar.org.uk where you can not only find helpful information on finance but a wide array of issues affecting missionaries.
• Come along to one of our training days – what better way to better understand how we can help than face-to-face?

Still stuck and not sure who to ask?  Email us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to help.