Can You Raise Funds?

How to raise funds for building and budget pro­grams is a question that has plagued our ministry through the years and has become one of the greatest problems fac­ing the churches today.

WILLIAM J. HUBERT, Director, General Conference Church Development Service

[Note: W. J. Hubert came to the General Conference from the Southwestern Union Conference, where he directed the work of fundraising. Under his leadership several hundred thousand dollars was raised in our churches for church build­ing. Previous to connecting with the Southwestern Union, brother Hubert spent a number of years in this specialized work, and he is eminently qualified to give this help and to direct in this field of endeavor.—C. L. Torrey.]

How to raise funds for building and budget pro­grams is a question that has plagued our ministry through the years and has become one of the greatest problems fac­ing the churches today. Rec­ognizing this need, the 1958 Autumn Council session voted that a fund­raising counsel and direction service be established in the union conferences throughout the North American Division, to give fund-raising assistance to our churches.

In order to provide counsel and guidance to the union conferences in the training of men as directors, the General Conference has established a fund-raising office. The writer, having served as fund-raising di­rector of the Southwestern Union for sev­eral years, has accepted the call to connect with the General Conference in this capac­ity. At the 1959 Spring Council the General Conference Committee adopted the title of "Seventh-day Adventist Church Develop­ment Service" for this counsel and direc­tion service. Some unions have already se­cured men for this work, and others will be selected in the near future.

It was also recommended at the Autumn Council session that this service be made available to our churches without charge (with the exception, of course, of any local expenses such as printing, stamps, et cet­era). The churches look upon this as an outstanding example of good will on the part of the conference—in helping them to help themselves. This, together with the fact that the canvass director is a denomi­national worker, eliminates the bitter and controversial factions that exist in various degrees in fund-raising programs con­ducted by professional firms.

The Direction Service: On each "di­rected" canvass the church is provided for several weeks with an on-the-job director from the Church Development Service of the union office, where one has been ap­pointed. He is a highly trained technician, a denominational worker whose ministry is dedicated not only to raising funds for our churches but also through the dynamics of stewardship to bringing about a spiritual revival among the members.

The director helps organize all activities of the fund-raising campaign. He is re­sponsible for the technical supervision and management of the canvass. He provides the lay leaders and the pastor with addi­tional know-how in organizing and con­ducting a canvass program.

The Canvass: Every canvass program in­cludes three separate stages: initial con­tact, operations, and follow-up. They might be described as follows:

1. Initial Contact: After arrangements are made with the director by a district pastor through his conference president in regard to the fund-raising program in a local church, the director meets with the church board or congregation in business session, to analyze their potential, discuss fund-raising concepts, and explain the ben­efits of an every-member canvass.

2. Operations: The actual canvass pro­gram begins with the director's arrival for the intensive phase of the canvass, which consists of two to five weeks, depending on the size of the church and the campaign goal. This intensive period of the canvass includes four separate phases:

a. Preparation: The preparation of the mimeographed materials used by the vari­ous committees. The printing of the bro­chure, pledge cards, etc.

b. Organization: The congregation is or­ganized into committees that function throughout this intensive period. Getting the right people into the right position of leadership on these committees is one of the important factors in the success of the canvass.

c. Education The educational program begins with the very first meeting or confer­ence of the canvass and continues in every meeting until every family has been visited for their subscription. A fellowship dinner is held as an educational meeting for the entire congregation—it is not a fund-rais­ing dinner.

d. Solicitation: The solicitation of the congregation does not begin until the church is well along in the canvass pro­gram. It is completed rapidly by a highly organized group of dedicated laymen.

3. Follow-up: An adequate follow-up or­ganization must be established and main­tained as an essential factor in the ultimate success of the campaign. The director, therefore, keeps in touch with the local church throughout the collections period.

A spiritual impact upon and within a congregation can be the by-product of a fund-raising campaign. This can happen, however, only if the program is successful financially. The best way to gain both fi­nancial and spiritual objectives is through an intensive, every-member canvass. It has been demonstrated over and over again that the right kind of fund-raising drive will meet both needs. The two interact—a spirit of devotion inspires giving and the act of giving increases the spirit of devotion.

This unique service has a great future in the denomination. The potential in church and school building programs, in church expense programs, and in church school budget programs has just been tapped. It will lift a mighty load from the pastor's shoulders, and take a great step in serving the spiritual needs of the congregation.

WILLIAM J. HUBERT, Director, General Conference Church Development Service

November 1959

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