Support Raising: A Burden or An Open Door?

“When I applied for the missions trip I knew that it was what God wanted me to do—but financially, I didn’t know how I was go to raise the funds.”

Erin Ford

Support-raising. Fundraising. Ministry partnerships. Asking people for money.

Whichever way you word it—it sounds scary.

In fact, the idea of raising money to go on a trip deters many students from even applying. Do you feel this way?

God may place something on your heart, but all these barriers make it seem impossible. Besides, with the financial pressures of being a student (racking up debt, stress in finding a summer job, eating pasta for dinner again), asking a bunch of people to support you financially to go halfway across the world seems like too huge of a burden to bear.

This is how I felt when I applied to go on a summer missions trip with Power to Change.

God had revealed to me his love for the world and his desires for me to share his love with others. I loved talking about Jesus on the university campus but God also wanted to use me internationally.

When I applied for the missions trip I knew that it was what God wanted me to do—but financially, I didn’t know how I was go to raise the funds.

Who Do I Ask? But I Don’t Even Know Them!

I went into the support raising process with small expectations.

I didn’t have a huge network of people to send my financial ask letters to so I decided to send a bunch to my friends, but also a bunch to members of a church that I attend here in my university city that I don’t know. That’s right—strangers.

Every time that I filled an envelope I prayed that God would lay it on their heart to support me if he wanted them too. I prayed a lot when I sent out those letters, and I had my friends praying too. Then… I started to get mail back.

At first it was a couple of envelopes a week. Then a few envelopes a day. Then people were making donations online. All of a sudden in a roughly five week span, I had raised about $4000/$4950. It was completely incredible and blew my mind!

And remember those strangers I sent my letters too? They contributed just over half of what I received. Even though we had never met, God laid it on their hearts to send generous donations and now I have new friends who want to get to know me, pray for me and support me.

Something Hard Is Not Something Bad

God completely blew expectations out of the water through this process. It was like he said, “I want you to serve my people, and this is how I am showing you.” What an honour.

I know that even when God doesn’t make support raising easy, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want you in that mission field. He chooses to speak to us in different ways and at different times. Now that I’m basically finished my support raising, I can help encourage and support my friends as they go through this same process.

God is doing huge things on the university campus, and I am so blessed that he also desires for me to go to the ends of the earth proclaiming his name.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Is The Idea Of Raising Financial Support Stopping You From Trusting God?

Please do not let this stop you! When you apply and are accepted to a P2C-Students mission trip you receive tons of practical help and prayer support as you trust God to raise your finances. I encourage you to trust God, and to take this step of faith. You will see God do something amazing.

If you would like more information about missions trips with Power to Change please see the Mission Trips section.