“The primary purpose of Relationship Development Ministry is not to achieve full prayer and financial support. Rather the primary purposes are to encourage faithful stewardship and participation in the Great Commission. Getting to full support is the byproduct and a secondary goal…
Christ-followers should be faithful stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us. We should be good managers, not greedy or have undisciplined debt. We should be generous and rich towards God with our giving. Before we ask others to pray for us and support us in ministry, we should be doing the same for others…
How can you practice and teach sharing and generosity? If you are not yet supporting another missionary, please ask God for discernment. Ask SIM country directors or treasurers if there is someone lacking support. There are special needs among missionaries from new sending contexts where you could make a difference.
If you have excess support or ministry funds, please consider sharing with others who have needs. Many SIM missionaries and retirees are already doing this. If you are struggling with money management or debt, seek counsel from a trusted friend or counselor. Once you become a joyful giver, it is easier to encourage others to be rich toward God and invest in the ministries that God has called you to do.”
Doug Christensen, Director of Relationship Development Ministry and Missionary Budgets for SIM in “RDM Tips: Encouraging Generosity and Stewardship while Doing RDM” in July/August SIM US Family News email dated 1 July 2014.
I met Doug at the Christian Leadership Alliance conference in Dallas in April 2014, and it is exciting to see how he is inspiring the missionaries of SIM. This excerpt from their internal family communication was a blessing for me to read. It provides a model for leaders of other mission agencies or anyone engaging in ministry partner development.
Rather than encouraging staff to exhibit possessive attitudes linked to “their” supporters or saying nothing when they urge people to support “their” ministry, he’s following a higher course. He is urging missionaries to model generous sharing with other missionaries in need while inspiring everyone to grow as givers who are rich toward God. Well done, Doug!