Fully-funded faith - eBook E-Book

Rafael Bandeira

• Herausgeber: Editora Esperança
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 93

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

The principles laid out in this book by my dear friend and brother, Rafael Bandeira, are solid foundations anchored in eternal truths for those who desire to leave behind a legacy of life and transformed society. By following these principles, you will see your dreams come true and find fulfillment in your vocation. By ignoring them, despite the use of well-honed methods, you will fail to see your ideals realized. Rafael's book fills in a missing element in the formation of leaders, missionaries and Christian social entrepreneurs. How many projects have failed for lack of vision, solid foundations and proper tools for fundraising? This book has come at the right time for Christian entrepreneurs—to eliminate headaches and ease their biggest worries—furnishing all that is needed to make the dream of transformation come to life and grow to fulfill its mission. In this book, Rafael brings together many years of experience having traveled throughout the country as a fundraising consultant for Christian social projects, leaving in his wake a legacy for social entrepreneurs.

Leseprobe

Rafael Bandeira

Fully-funded Faith

Biblical principles on fundraising for transformative projects

Editorial coordination: Claudio Beckert Jr.

Translation: Nedra Ann Dugan

Cover: Rafael Bandeira, Josiane Zanon Moreschi, canva.com

Illustrations: Rafael Bandeira

Layout: Josiane Zanon Moreschi

International Cataloging Data in Publication (CIP)

Sueli Costa CRB-8/5213

Bandeira, Rafael

Fully-funded Faith: Biblical principles on fundraising for transformative projects / [text and illustrations] Rafael Bandeira. - Curitiba, PR : Editora Evangélica Esperança, 2020.

112 p.

ISBN 978-65-87285-13-9

1. Biblical principles 2. Projects 3. Fundraising 4. Christian organizations 5. Management 5. Missions I. Title

CDD-260

Indexes for systematic catalog:

1. Christian organization : fund-raising 260

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from New King James Version (NKJV) [Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 Thomas Nelson].

All rights reserved.

Total and partial reproduction without written permission from the editors is prohibited.

Editora Evangélica Esperança

Rua Aviador Vicente Wolski, 353 - CEP 82510-420 Curitiba - PR

Phone: [phone]

[email protected]

www.editoraesperanca.com.br

For all Christian organizations who, because of their calling, face the daily challenge of finding the necessary funds to complete the mission given by their heavenly Father.

For missionaries inspired by God who find themselves face-to-face with the great challenge to achieve and fulfill the divine call to preach the Good News and promote the integral transformation of man in the most adverse social contexts of their country.

For businessmen and investors who serve God with their talents, acknowledging that He owns all things and has given them the responsibility of cooperating in diverse Kingdom initiatives.

Acknowledgments

To the Lord Jesus, for finding and transforming me, redeeming me by His blood and permitting me to see this world through the eyes of faith and the Word of God.

To my parents, Lucio and Tereza Bandeira, who dedicated years of their life to my formation as a servant of God and minister in His kingdom. Without them, I wouldn’t have known God’s ways. I can now say that their God is my God.

To my local church whom I serve and commune with, developing loving relationships, edifying and being edified.

To the Editora Esperança staff and the ALEF Mission for believing in me and investing in this project—the first of many to come.

To my friends who have accompanied me on this adventure, who listen, counsel and intercede for me. Without you, this journey would have been very difficult.

And especially to my loving family who has unconditionally supported me in this ministry journey even when it implied sacrifices, knowing they would be rewarded in glory.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Starting from Zero

Chapter 2 - Characteristics of a Fundraiser

Chapter 3 - Organizational Cycle for Fundraising

Chapter 4 - Managing the Lord’s Resources

Chapter 5 - Putting our trust in God

Chapter 6 - All resources come from the Lord

Final Remarks

Preface

More than 30 years ago I received a call to missions and have since devoted my life to developing transformational social projects. I saw a faith project birthed by believing that “God is our source” and have rejoiced in His faithfulness year after year. Together with my team and Rafael Bandeira himself, we have worked together to strengthen hundreds of Christian social entrepreneurs, nourishing a great movement for social transformation that has impacted thousands of lives.

The principles laid out in this book by my dear friend and brother, Rafael Bandeira, are solid foundations anchored in eternal truths for those who desire to leave behind a legacy of life and transformed society. By following these principles, you will see your dreams come true and find fulfillment in your vocation. By ignoring them, despite the use of well-honed methods, you will fail to see your ideals realized.

Rafael’s book fills in a missing element in the formation of leaders, missionaries and Christian social entrepreneurs. How many projects have failed for lack of vision, solid foundations and proper tools for fundraising? This book has come at the right time for Christian entrepreneurs—to eliminate headaches and ease their biggest worries—furnishing all that is needed to make the dream of transformation come to life and grow to fulfill its mission.

In this book, Rafael brings together many years of experience having traveled throughout the country as a fundraising consultant for Christian social projects, leaving in his wake a legacy for social entrepreneurs.

Have a great read!

Mauricio Cunha

President of CADI Brasil1

Introduction

After a missionary trip to Mozambique, Africa in 2014, I felt called to help missionaries get the support they needed for their institutions, social movements and projects. (How I made that decision I will certainly tell in another book). My calling involves equipping leaders and organizations in the area of management, and in this book, I will deal specifically with fundraising—an activity I confess I didn’t even know existed in times past.

Since the beginning, I have worked in a context where developing social initiatives is based on Christian values and faith—and my specific contribution reflects this reality. As such, I’ve noticed a large gap in what institutions, directors, leaders and development agents know about fundraising and mobilizing resources for transformative initiatives.

I was happy to dedicate myself to research this theme. By sharing experiences and knowledge gleaned in my profession as a fundraiser in Brazil, I seek to assist other entities that are doing relevant and socially-impacting missionary work in their communities.

This book does not intend to be the last word on the subject nor promote a thorough and profound exegeses on fundraising. I understand that more technical, detailed books have been published that the reader can investigate if he so desires. However, I sincerely believe that the Holy Bible is the true manual of human behavior—a rich source of instruction on all themes that man desires to understand. The Scriptures are the starting point for understanding the world and human relationships.

Almighty God is the One who has in His hands the riches, power and control over history and the universe. I believe this and the Bible affirms it. What does this God have to say about fundraising, so important for growing our mission?

My reflections on this theme are found in the following pages and just as I’ve gleaned fundraising instructions and principles from Scripture, my prayer is for the Holy Spirit to also speak to your heart, edifying your ministry and organization.

I am not a theologian (yet), but the son of one. My father always emphasized the value of the Holy Scriptures. Even though I have been a business administrator for many years, I have also dedicated myself to finding ways for missionaries and organizations to work toward excellence and efficiency in their mission of wholistic transformation.

You have in your hands the fruit of many devotional moments this fundraiser has spent with God—the God of all resources.

Enjoy your reading!

Chapter 1

Starting from Zero

What is fundraising? I confess I didn’t know such a thing existed, but in 2015, while praying one day, the Lord gave me specific instructions, directing me to take on the role of fundraiser. I had just resigned from a federal public service job in order to dedicate myself full time to helping organizations in the area of administration, but hadn’t yet discovered my specific role. I didn’t know this noble profession existed—one that allows me to motivate people and organizations to direct their resources toward the completion of a mission.

Maybe like me, you are hearing about this for the first time and don’t know where to start, what to do, or where to get information. Don’t worry, you are taking a first step in the right direction. I can’t promise you that the learning curve will be quick, easy or simple, but I can assure you that you are starting out with the right perspective—the perspective of God’s Word. We will examine Biblical passages and discover which texts can be applied to funding the creation of transformational projects.

I would not be able to start this book without beginning at creation. I don’t consider starting at creation a cliché or a mere attempt to follow the chronological order of the books of the Bible, for when I read Genesis one, I recognize situations I’ve experienced while helping organizations start fundraising efforts. In fact, an identical situation of total chaos described in the first book of the Bible—no direction or organization, no vision or plan for implementing fundraising—is where many organizations and social or mission projects find themselves (if this is not your case, pardon my frankness): they are “without form and void.” But I have good news for you: The Spirit of God is hovering over this situation. He is very close and will certainly bring order out of this, just as He did at creation. And, just between us, if He was able to organize all of creation, bringing into existence what did not exist, why would He not be able to help you in your project? Let’s analyze, then, this important passage of Scripture and see what it can tell us about mobilizing our resources for transformative projects.

Recognize that the situation may not be ideal.

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2 NKJV).

That’s a fact: the earth was a shapeless, chaotic mass. I can only imagine this in the context of undefined darkness.

Many organizations, churches and mission projects have dreams and good intentions, but would have to confess that when they take a closer look at themselves, they can’t find a basic strategic plan—a plan of action for the current year. Their project is not written down, not structured and ready to go. They only have dreams without content or structure and with no reference points to give a basic foundation. In other words, they are void. Even the simplest plan needs to be written down on paper; it needs a committee, volunteers, a well-defined goal, a knowledge of strengths and weaknesses, and an awareness of obstacles one might encounter along the way. I am talking about having not only a clear idea in your mind, but getting out your notebook or computer to write down what God has put on your heart. Get everything organized!

Most organizations I have talked with have many future dreams. They are able to visualize wonderful projects being carried out, lives transformed and the Kingdom of God incredibly expanding. When I ask if they have anything written down—a spreadsheet, a slide presentation or document—the answer I most hear is no. When the question is sustainability or the financial viability of these dreams, a negative response is almost unanimous. Many of these organizations have never even heard of mobilizing resources.