I am a young adult who worked full time for over a year with a steady salary, benefits and PTO. One of my toughest obstacles when transitioning to become a goer was swallowing the support raised paycheck pill. But, the fear behind support raising, that people won't give or they will think of you less, it's most likely a lie from the enemy. Even if somebody doesn't give or somebody does think differently of you I want you to remember, and I say this with love, it is not about you. Support raising is a way for the Lord to show His power over finances and for your supporters to be sacrificial and generous what the Lord has given them!
Here is my support raising story. It started off well with a few generous donations and encouraging conversations. Then the struggles came and my insurance fell through. As someone with a pre-existing condition, this is really bad news. I knew that my monthly goal would increase and with fear and lack of trust I took matters into my own hands. After a month and a half of trying and failing I decided to sign up for the organizations insurance, I would've done this immediately had it not been $850 a month! By this point in the support raising process I had reached 97% of my monthly goal and this set me back to almost 65%. Discouraged and tired, I decided to accept it and move on. Stuff like this happens, support raising is hardly smooth sailing but it is always life giving and you'll see why.
For context, the goal increase occurred on a Tuesday, the following Sunday I had planned to give my presentation to a small group at my home church. This would by my second small group presentation, my first one was met with encouragement and warmth but I got no donation sign ups and no newsletter sign ups. I was not hopeful. I finished my presentation, I made it short and sweet mentioning my need for my medical expenses to be covered in order to reach 100% of my goal. Soon after I finished, a small lady with a pixie hair cut pulled me aside in the hallway. She had left the room during my presentation and her husband followed after her. She began to share that she knew the spirit was prompting her to give because in order for goers to meet the needs of the unreached around the world, they have to have their needs met as well. She asked what my medical expenses would be monthly and I told her the truth, $850. She looked at her husband, he nodded back at her with reassurance. They had decided that was what they wanted to give to me!
I didn't want to share this story to preach that if you say these magical words in your presentation than people will want to give, I am also not guaranteeing someone will give to you in this way. I want to simply encourage you that if the Lord wants you to go, He will get you there! You may have a medical condition that makes your insurance more expensive like me, this is nothing to God, He is a mountain mover! Don't treat battles such as this as a burden but an opportunity to glorify Him!