How to Ask for Church Funds to Go on Mission Trips

Amazon Mission Trip

Among the more noble callings within the church is that of the commitment to become a missionary--a calling in which one agrees to give freely of his own time to aid those in need. While mission trips to countries such as Africa, India and the Middle East may sound appealing, they are also quite expensive to fund. One of the ways of obtaining necessary funding is through local churches.

Things You'll Need

• Mission purpose statement
• Presentation

Instructions

Long Term

1. Define in two to three sentences the purpose of the mission trip. Mission trips can typically be divided into categories such as medical, aid and relief, or evangelism. A medical mission trip is organized by a particular medical organization and missionaries are sent to places where the people would not otherwise receive necessary medical care. In an aid and relief trip, volunteers fly to a disaster location and help the people in cleaning up and rebuilding. They may also bring food supplies and medical supplies to offer the victims. If an evangelistic missionary, the purpose is to enter a country where Christianity is not a commonly accepted faith and live among the citizens teaching them and helping them build a church. Once this goal is reached, long-term missionaries will typically move to a different location in the country and begin again.

2. Create a presentation. Put together a 15-minute presentation, ideally with visual aids, in which the missionary's purpose and goals are enumerated. This presentation should be informational in nature, explaining to those listening why there is such a need for this particular missionary to be sent out.

3. Locate churches and venues that are willing to listen and consider the presentation. The best place to start is one's local church, where long-standing connections are already established. Consider giving the presentation at church, in Sunday school classes, to Bible studies, and to the church's mission board. Presentations to the mission board may result in a long-term giving or prayer commitment, depending on how the board is being led with regard to its particular mission goals.

4. Create and send out prayer letters to donating churches. This step should begin immediately upon receiving the first commitment from a church. A monthly prayer letter keeps churches and individuals updated on the progress being made in obtaining sponsorship, preparing for ministry, and informs sponsors of current prayer goals and needs.

5. Continue to remain in touch with churches even once on the mission field. Mission boards appreciate receiving a monthly update from their missionaries to determine what progress is being made. When a goal is accomplished, be sure to mention it in the prayer letter, so that sponsoring churches can celebrate the success as well.

Short Term

1. Define in two to three sentences the purpose of the mission trip. Churches are typically less generous with short-term mission trip sponsorship, as it is seen as more of a "vacation" than an actual mission trip. Keeping this in mind, be sure to specify precisely the goal of the trip to ensure maximum donations. Typical goals of short-term trips may include medical, building or evangelism. On a short-term medical trip, volunteers work with an already existing medical missions organization and go for a short time to assist the organization's staff. Building trips tend to be an ongoing mission where multiple organizations are assigned particular portions of a building and each group accomplishes the short standing goal. Evangelism trips tend to lend themselves to younger missionaries such as high school students who go to an already established church and attempt to evangelize to the outlying community through Bible school or other short-term courses.

2. Create a presentation. Place together a 15 minute presentation in which the trip's purpose and goals are enumerated. Explain the need for this particular trip, and what differentiates it from other short-term mission trips that the church offers.

3. Locate venues to give the presentation. Funding will typically come primarily from one's home church, so plan on making the presentation to individual Sunday school or Bible study classes, whose members may be interested or willing to assist with funding.

4. As funding is collected, send out thank you notes to each of the particular donors, and make note of the amount personally raised. Schedule a time to present to the church's mission board and show them the amount of funding personally raised, and through what means it was accomplished. Churches are more likely to donate to missionaries who have raised at least 75 percent of the funding on their own, whether through saving, working or donations.

5. After returning from the trip, give another presentation explaining what was accomplished and thanking the congregation for their support. By keeping a positive final note in the congregation's mind, they will be more likely to sponsor a similar trip the next year.

References

• Steven White, First Baptist Church of Mesa, Mission Board Member