Fundraising Is Ministry (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)
If we’re honest, most of us don’t naturally associate fundraising with something sacred.
It can feel awkward. Transactional. Like we’re asking for something instead of offering something.
But what if that’s not actually what’s happening?
In A Spirituality of Fundraising, Henri J. M. Nouwen gently challenges that tension. He reframes fundraising not as a necessary burden, but as a form of ministry—an invitation into something deeper.
Not a transaction.
A relationship.
Not pressure.
An opportunity.
Not about money.
About participation in God’s work.
An Invitation, Not an Ask
At its core, fundraising is simply this: inviting people to be part of what God is already doing.
It’s easy to think we’re asking someone to give something up.
But in reality, we’re inviting them to step into something eternal.
When we share stories of transformation—lives changed, hope restored, communities renewed—we’re not selling a cause.
We’re opening a door.
And when someone walks through it, they’re not just writing a check.
They’re saying yes to being part of the story God is writing.
Why It Feels So Hard
If fundraising feels uncomfortable, it’s often because we’ve believed something untrue about it.
Maybe we’ve thought:
- “I’m bothering people.”
- “They’re going to say no.”
- “This is about money, not ministry.”
But Nouwen reminds us that these thoughts miss the heart of it.
Fundraising is grounded in the belief that:
- God is already at work.
- People want to live with purpose and generosity.
- We get to connect the two.
That’s not pressure—that’s partnership.
Ministry Happens on Both Sides
One of the most beautiful ideas Nouwen shares is that fundraising doesn’t just bless the ministry—it blesses the giver.
Because giving is never just about the resource.
It’s about transformation.
When someone gives, they’re aligning their heart with what matters most.
They’re choosing faith over fear.
They’re investing in something that lasts.
That’s spiritual formation.
That’s discipleship.
That’s ministry.
And sometimes, this invitation isn’t just something we extend—it’s something we step into ourselves.
For Those Preparing to Go
And sometimes, this invitation isn’t just something we extend—it’s something we step into ourselves.
If you’re getting ready to step onto a Global Team, this might be the part that feels the hardest.
Raising support can feel vulnerable.
You might wonder:
- What if people say no?
- What if I don’t raise enough?
- What if this feels… uncomfortable?
But what if fundraising isn’t standing on the outside, asking people to send you?
What if it’s standing in the middle of what God is doing—and inviting others to come with you?
You’re not asking people to fund a trip.
You’re inviting them to take part in ministry they may never physically step into—but can still be deeply part of.
So We Keep Inviting
At Christ For the City International, we’ve seen this firsthand.
Every trip taken.
Every ministry launched.
Every life impacted.
None of it happens alone.
It happens because people say yes—yes to going, yes to serving, and yes to giving.
So we keep inviting.
Because fundraising was never just about provision.
It’s about participation in the work of God.
Whether you’re called to go or to give, there’s a place for you in this story.
