Chris Bean

One of the most difficult but faith-stretching challenges in our transition to campus ministry with the CCO has been in the area of raising support. Fortunately, the CCO has provided excellent training and ongoing support for this new part of our ministry, and because the CCO does such a great job of partnering with churches, colleges, and organizations to create campus staff positions our support raising need is lower than it would be with other campus ministry organizations.

About a week ago I met a friend of a friend who had been part of one of these other campus ministries (we’ll leave the ministry un-named) for several years. He commented on how bad the experience was in the area of support raising. As we talked, I got the impression that he disengaged from that ministry mainly over this difficult task. And for some, it’s not just the difficulty of the task but a basic belief that one shouldn’t have to raise financial support in order to fulfill a calling to minister with students.

We have so much mental baggage when it comes to money! And I am no exception to that. In order to correct much of this head trash I keep turning to Scripture. The biblical perspective on this aspect of ministry continues to open my eyes and stretch my faith. Here are just a few examples which have really helped shaped my view of raising support for ministry.

• It’s NOT Christian Begging.  (This is discussed in a Cru article which you can find here) When Jesus entered a new town, he regularly accepted the hospitality of others and instructed his disciples to do the same (Matt. 10:11)  Paul had a similar approach with the churches he planted and visited.
• Support Raising IS Ministry. I had to learn this principle and now it’s so obvious to me when other campus ministers (or missionaries) talk about raising support as the non-ministry they have to do in order to DO ministry. In Philippians 4:14-17 Paul commends the Philippians for their generous support and role that they played in his ministry. By being generous and supporting Paul, several of the churches got to play a significant role in Paul’s life and ministry. Even in the short time that we have been raising support for ministry, it is obvious that we have significant ministry (communication, prayer, encouragement, etc) to those who are partnering with us financially.
• The Mission is Worth the Effort. I sometimes have to just get over the awkwardness and my own level of discomfort. The mission of seeing college students transformed so that they can then transform the world is worth a little pre-phone-call anxiety! In the third epistle of John, he encourages the support of those who are going out for the sake of the Name.

There are, of course, many Christians who don’t respond well to this notion of support raising. The stories I’ve heard already from dozens of ministry peers become almost comical. Again, I think this is a result of the baggage and head trash most people have over money talk and not because they think it’s morally or biblically wrong. Paul had the Philippians to balance out the carnality of the  Corinthians…and He is likely to make the same sort of provision for today’s missionaries and church planters.

For those campus ministers who are raising support…what are the lessons you have learned? How has raising support become a positive part of your ministry?

For those campus ministers who are “fully” funded by a church, denomination, or other institution…be generous to your support raising friends! What an encouragement it was for me to have a fellow campus minister partner with us financially. Regardless of the amount, it will be a great source of inspiration and blessing to that ‘co-worker’ in campus missionary.