Ministry Tip of the Week
by Seth Evangelho
Last week I briefly highlighted five general goals for ministry, stressing the need to be intentional with our time and recognize the different goals we seek to achieve through various things we do. This week I want to give a prime example:
Nothing is ever simply a fundraiser.
Are fundraisers helpful? They certainly can be. Are we in this for the money? Definitely not. Is it enough that the money we raise will help fund important aspects of ministry? Yes... but we can still be intentional and make fundraisers far more fruitful.
Nothing is ever simply a fundraiser.
Are fundraisers helpful? They certainly can be. Are we in this for the money? Definitely not. Is it enough that the money we raise will help fund important aspects of ministry? Yes... but we can still be intentional and make fundraisers far more fruitful.
A fundraiser can serve at least two of the five goals mentioned last week, especially when the people involved are intentional about it. In most cases, a fundraiser provides some sort of service, so focus on it. Be sure and use your fundraising opportunities to emphasize the generous service of those involved. Point out the beauty of teamwork and the wonderful fruit that comes from the Body of Christ working together (this is also evangelization, by the way!).
A second element present in (most) fundraisers is fellowship (also evangelization!). Be sure and foster the relationships between those helping out. Be intentional about building friendships as you go about completing your tasks. Maybe even celebrate together a job well done when it's all over.
A concrete example at our parish is the pancake breakfasts put on by the youth ministry over the past few years. We raise money to fund various activities, but our number one goal is the service we provide: the opportunity for our parish family to grow in community.
A concrete example at our parish is the pancake breakfasts put on by the youth ministry over the past few years. We raise money to fund various activities, but our number one goal is the service we provide: the opportunity for our parish family to grow in community.
Fellowship is a primary concern, both for the parishioners who will enjoy our breakfasts as well as for the high school youth and adult volunteers who serve. In addition to the community building, these breakfasts also provide opportunities for our high school students (and our amazing kitchen crew) to serve. Service and fellowship are the primary goals, and we raise some funds as well. (Case in point: there are ways in which we could make more money at our breakfasts, but which would risk sacrificing our primary goals of service and fellowship. So we make less money.) Three birds, one stone.
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