Tips For Support Raising In Ministry: The Importance Of An Inner Circle

A number of years ago, I was chatting with a colleague of mine. We served in similar ministries and lived in different cities. As we were catching up, she began to share some of the challenges she was facing in a number of different areas in her life. I had asked her if she had shared this with her inner circle (she had frequently talked about three other women to the point I felt like I knew them even though I had never met them). Sadly, she hadn’t for a number of reasons, some of which included broken relationships and emerging differences in beliefs. She was alone in a pretty difficult time without much support. So, I told her she could borrow my friends and that they would pray for her. I texted them right then, and they did for a while.

That situation made me both burdened/sad and incredibly grateful at the same time. I was burdened for my friend because she was carrying some incredible weight alone, and that was a pretty tough place to be. Alternatively, I was truly grateful for my people–the two of them. We meet together, pray for one another, and celebrate together. I have other friends as well, but these two are my biggest, consistent support.

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I was truly grateful for my people–the two of them. We meet together, pray for one another, and celebrate together.

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When I think of spending time on the mission field and all that you walk through, whether short-term or long-term, it’s a lot! You will be support raising for sure in a financial sense. Many of these people will also be praying for you as well. That is wonderful and amazing, but may I suggest you look at building a support team inside of all of that?

Your supporters are investing in you because they are excited about how God is going to use you and show up in your life, and I believe some would love to be more. Here’s the deal: raising the dollars can have some tough moments, discouragement can creep in, and distractions and personal mess-ups can knock us down as we prepare for our mission. Invite people (I am not suggesting a large group) into this with you because they also will have the chance to see God at work in you and through them.

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Invite people into this with you because they also will have the chance to see God at work in you and through them.

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Practically, they can be praying with you when you hit a tough spot or celebrating with you when you get good news. Oftentimes, these people help you raise support, and they are interested in hearing all your stories when you return.  And I think a lot of that is because they have walked with you through the process of it all. They can sign up for updates from you and your team, or you can give them a list of the things you want people to pray for that you don’t want everyone else to know about. I get that! This support group can look like a mentor, a youth leader, a couple of close friends, or even family members. When you sign up for a Royal Servants Mission Trip we provide resources to equip you and your mentor with tools to help you develop this inner circle kind of relationship.

Jesus had 12 disciples, but out of those 12, he had three that he invited into some different spaces of support. Paul, the apostle, had trusted support people from sending churches and among his ministry team. They traveled with him, visited him in prison, wrote letters when he couldn’t, and met his needs when he needed help. It was not out of the ordinary for Biblical characters because I think they knew that it was through these people God provided His love and care for them. It is no different for us.

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