Discipleship Through Direct Mail |
Nov 9, 2010 |
Did you ever think of discipling believers through your direct mail program? Probably not. Our goal in sending direct mail is usually to get a financial response – a gift to our organization. For those of us managing fund raising programs for our non-profit organizations, our focus has been on “the prize.” The higher response rate, the increase in average gift size, the number of new donors and the total amount raised.
Fortunately, for those of us working in Christian ministry, we see from Eph. 4:12 that we are called “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Now, that’s what I call THE PRIZE!
The discipleship opportunities are exciting, as we prepare Gods’ people for works of service. The church is engaged in this type of discipleship too, but we can’t think it should be left up to them alone. Why has God placed you in your ministry role? Might it be so that you can help champions grow in their spiritual maturity, as stated in the Ephesians passage?
One primary way of communicating with our champions (donors and volunteers) is through direct mail. But it can be so much more than just a request for a financial gift. As we look to disciple champions in the area of giving, as a way to grow them in spiritual maturity, we need to take to heart what Paul tells Timothy in I Tim. 6:17-19, which is to “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up their treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Well, there’s your letter. Paul wrote it for you 2,000 years ago. It’s not about the money raised, the average gift or response rate, it’s about laying up treasure for ourselves as a firm foundation for the coming age. Giving is a command and most Christians are not following it very well.
Learn more about discipling your champions through direct mail at our November workshops. See our website for more information and workshop locations near you.
