Why a Year-End Campaign
Last week I launched into what I’ve called a bit of a crazy year-end giving campaign.
It’s a bit crazy in that I’m hoping to raise $10,000 before the middle of this month.
It’s certainly aggressive, but I’ve broken it down in such a way that I feel hopeful.
And I’ve been doing the work! This weekend I was reaching out to people non-stop. Phone calls, instant messages, some hangouts. Basically anyone who knows me, or really anyone who will listen, I’m inviting them to be a part of this.
But why the push? Am I greedy and just randomly asking for money? I can assure you the answer to that question is NO!
Two main reasons for this year end giving campaign.
First…
If you aren’t aware… I’m sort of always fundraising! The nature of the work I do with YWAM is such that I don’t actually receive a salary from YWAM to do the work. Instead, I raise my own support. Friends, family, church, my community… I invite people to see what I am doing and join my finance team and be a part of mobilizing me into this calling I believe I have. It is certainly an outside-the-box way to do it by a lot of North American standards, but globally and historically within the church, it’s not that crazy! I put together a quick video explaining some of the financial model I’m working within.
Second…
The other main reason for doing a year-end campaign like this is I’m looking to “fill the bucket” for my operational expenses. It’s all internal budgeting, but I like to have a budget set aside for the parts of this job that have expenses.
Things like travel (when not paid for by YWAM), paying for client coffees and meals, admin and technology costs, etc…
Another significant expense to doing this pioneering work is that I want to continue to develop and invest in myself! I very much believe in myself and what I have to offer churches and youth ministry workers. Yet at the same time, I want to sharpen my craft and increase my effectiveness as a coach and consultant. Yes, I was a youth pastor for 15 years and believe I am an asset to those I’m coaching. But there is a difference between knowing how to do someone’s job and helping to coach them to do their own job better!
This year, I’ve hired a coach who has been helping me work towards greater clarity on the mission and vision of the work I’m doing, as well as help me get a much clearer sense of what I’m passionate and good at, and perhaps more importantly, what are the things that distract me and deter me from really walking in the vision I feel called to. This experience has been awesome!
When I’m finished this coaching term, my hope is to then go through a certification program which will allow me to actually receive some credentials as a certified coach. I’ve already gone through a few courses on this subject mater, but this one is specifically geared towards Youth Ministry coaching.
Receiving this certification will not only help me sharpen my craft, but will open me up to some significantly influential networks. I’m really excited about it all.
Take a look at the video I made explaining a bit more of this…
Thanks again for checking this out and perhaps being excited to be a part of it all!
So far I’m encouraged with where things are at with this campaign. I’ve got a lot of work to do… so stay tuned more phone calls, text messages, social posts and hang out invitations!
But please, don’t be afraid of me… I try to have a commitment to not be weird about support raising! Of course, I do this imperfectly, but from my end, I try to just be real, be myself, and invite people to be excited about what I feel like Jesus is inviting me to dive into!
