Abundance

     The first few months of the new year are always a tricky time for those of us who raise money in the nonprofit sector.  Holiday charitable giving is over.  We are still in the middle of winter which means that everyone still has seasonal heating and utilities bills to deal with.  There are no large influxes of cash that people want to give from.  In short, fundraising is a challenge during this season.

     This can lead to a few different responses.  There is the option filled with fear and anxiety.  There is the option of diving into grants and hoping that there will be an influx of cash to bridge the gap.  There is always the credit card...but that is no fun to talk about.

     Then there is the option that revolves around hope.  This is especially relevant for those of us who work in the faith community.  Hope means trusting that the God that we serve is not in the middle of a budgetary crisis.  He is not wringing his hands hoping to figure out how to make it through the next pay period.  He is a God of abundance.  He is the God who lacks nothing.

     The fear in raising funds is that everyone is fighting for a piece of the same pie.  The same donors, the same grants, the same legislative awards.  There is pressure to have better reportable numbers, a better grant writer, more moving stories in order to win the dollars that your organization needs.  The problem is that if you are winning, some other great organization is losing and the community that we claim to serve is suffering.

     But what if the One who made the universe also made the pie?  What if He has more than enough resources for us?  What if He wants to pour out blessings on those who will pour out blessings on others?  If that is true, if He really is the God of Abundance, then what would change?

     First, giving would be filled with joy and expectation instead of fear and doubt.  Raising funds would be more about finding who God was already inviting into partnership instead of convincing people to donate.  Budgetary shortfalls would be opportunities for discovery instead of ulcer-causing nightmares. If obedience is the primary concern instead of money then there is a lot more freedom to take risks and have a greater impact on the community.

     The administrator in me wants to set up a six-month reserve and then start talking about abundance.  The fanatical believer in me wants to live a life that wildly invests in the youth of this community without worrying about whether God will come through this time.  Depending on the day...depending on the hour, I listen to one more than the other.

     This is an exciting time for Joel's Place.  I am eager to share the joy with as many partners as possible.  If you feel like you are part of God's abundance for Joel's Place in this season, there are lots of giving options on the left side bar.  If not, blessings on you and please continue to lift us up in prayer.

    God is a God of abundance.  Let us celebrate freely and joyfully!