When I first read Henri Nouwen’s A Spirituality of Fundraising, something changed in the way I understood my work. I realized that fundraising is, first and foremost, a form of ministry.
That realization made me less afraid of asking.
When we invite people to give to our church or school, we are not simply asking for money. We are inviting people into a mission. We are proclaiming something we believe is beautiful, important, and worthy of their participation. We are saying, Come, be part of what God is doing here.
And that is the opposite of begging.
As Nouwen shares, we are not saying, “Could you please help us because things are difficult?” Instead, we are saying, “We have a vision that is exciting and life-giving! We invite you to invest the gifts God has entrusted to you; your prayers, your time, your talents, your energy, and your resources; in this work to which He has called us.”
I have to admit, there have been plenty of moments when I have been scared to ask. Moments when I have wondered if I am asking too much. And yet, time and time again, God has surprised me through the generosity of our parish and school families.
I have witnessed people give sacrificially, not simply because they were asked, but because giving brought them closer to Christ and allowed them to participate in something bigger than themselves. What a blessing it is to witness that.
So I will continue to invite you into this mission. And if you tell me “no,” I will respect that, too. But I will never stop inviting, because I believe deeply in the work we are doing together.
May God bless you and inspire each of us to be generous with whatever He has entrusted to us; our prayers, our time, our talents, and our resources.
Because, in the end, all that we have is His.
Amen.
— Emily Hagen, Director of Stewardship