The ABC's Of Intern Support Raising
Learning To Live And Lead With Purpose

The following are a few helpful tips to help you assess your support needs and develop a solid support partner network.

Please note, once approved interns start their internship they will get ongoing support coaching by attending "Wednesday's With Wayne". Wayne is a key leader on our team and has been raising support for over 20 years.

Why do people give?
A study done by Campus Crusade and The Jesus Film showed that…

• People give to what they know
  
• People give to people backed by a vision
  
• People’s first gift will not be their largest (unless it is their last)
  
• High end donors don’t care about the minute details, but they do care that they have been thought through.

Ask God For Help Daily! It is vital to remember that God created all. (Read Genesis 1) God owns all and we are responsible as stewards. In addition, all people are created in the image of a generous God. It is also very important not to forget that we cannot give beyond God’s abundance. (Malachi 3:7-12)

Budget Your Monthly Expenses! You need to determine what your budget is so you can determine the support you and God will need to raise. You can use our sample budget (link to budget) to help you get started.

Create A Potential Support Partner List! Spend time in prayer thinking about people you know. Try to develop a list of 100 people.

Develop Relationships With Each Support Partner! We highly recommend that you do not use email as your primary source of connection with your support partners. Research shows that the more face time you get, the more financial support they give. Remember, requests are best made in person by one who is known by the prospective support partner. (2 Cor. 8:6,17-18; 9:5)

Extend The Opportunity To Support Your Internship! Once you have made contact with your potential support partners, you will have to extend the opportunity for them to support your internship. Is asking for support easy or hard for you? Remember, what is impossible with man is possible with God…so step out of the boat and ask in faith for God’s blessing. When you extend the opportunity make sure you cast vision for your life and how this internship provides you the needed training and experiences to take steps towards your life mission. Be honest with your financial needs so they can see what you need and how they play a vital role in your success.

Follow-up With Gratitude Continuously! Crown Ministries has shown that expressing appreciation to their support partners is key to lasting support. They point to the book of Philippians as their model for this. Philippians was Paul’s letter to a church in partnership with him. Here are a dozen principles Paul used in his letter which we can use also. Try to include some of them in each contact you make with your support partners during your 2 year internship.

1. Paul expressed his gratitude to them (1:3-5) and specifically mentioned their gifts, past and present (4:10, 15-18).
2. Paul was in partnership with them and let them know it (1:5, 4:15). That partnership was mutual: both were giving and receiving.
3. He reminded them of how God looked on their part and that He would reward them (4:17-19). Partners need to hear often how precious their part is in God’s eyes.
4. He communicated his joy: in his service and situation (1:18, 2:17), for their concern for him (4:10), and for their prayers (1:19). People want to be involved with people who serve God joyfully!
5. He expressed his love and affection for them (1:8, 4:1). For some partners you will be the only person who tells them you love them and long to see them!
6.. He thanked God for them and told them so (1:3,7). Do you systematically thank the Lord for each of those who support you, and then let them know it?
7. He prayed for them and let them know he was praying (1:4, 9-11). You may be the only person who prays regularly for many of your partners.
8. He talked about the relevance of his ministry (1:12-17).
9. He reported on his work and circumstances, and how he felt about these (1:12-18, 20-22).
10. He shared very personally about his growth, struggles, victories, goals and walk with the Lord (1:19-24, 2:17,27, 3:8-14, 4:11-13). Paul certainly didn’t try to put on a façade of being a perfect missionary.
11. He exhorted, taught, encouraged and was a blessing to them.
12. He focused on Jesus, and encouraged them to do so (2:5-11).

As you apply these principles, you will begin to see that a very real purpose of writing your partners is to have a ministry in their lives – a ministry of encouragement, prayer, exhortation and teaching, motivated by gratitude.