Busy? 10 Easy Ways to Keep Up With Donors While On The Field

~ Jenn Fortner ~ 4 Comments

This past month I traveled for the majority of the month, visiting various christian workers I had previously coached. Those workers are now on the field in active their respective ministry roles. In almost every conversation I had with them, they touched on the need for help connecting with their financial partners while leading very busy lives on the field.

Thus I wanted to take a little time to share on my post on this topic again and update it with a few new ideas. (If you have read the old post, this one will have a few new ideas – so please read again.)

If you are a worker already in your field of ministry – this post is for you! And now for the post:

Here’s a statistic that Bill Dillon, a guru in the support raising world and author of People Raising, has that I think you’ll find potent:

For every 100 people that stop supporting you:

66% of people stop giving because they think you don’t care about them

15% are unhappy with your organization

15% transfer their giving somewhere else

4% move away or die

Woah.

Investments that Count

When I train missionaries on how to raise their budgets I tend to stay away from the word “fundraising” for many reasons, and when I really think about it — this statistic is at the heart of all of my reasons.

No one wants to invest in something that yields no return.

If the people/church giving a christian worker funds every single month feel as though the worker could care less about their giving, they will go somewhere else with their giving dollars.

And in my opinion, they should.

Ouch! Why you ask? Because the reason donors are investing in the Great Commission is because they are called to be a vital part of the Great Commission, too. And if they are called to be a part of the Great Commission, why should they be made to feel as though their vital part is on the sidelines?

I believe that one reason we forget to invest ourselves into the relationships we have with our financial partners is because we forget (or perhaps don’t have the paradigm) that they are as vital to the work that we are doing as we (as ministers) are. (Side Note: I call “donors” by the term “partners” or “financial partners” because donors also give blood – look up the definition – you’ll be surprised)

That being said, many christian workers on financial support struggle in the area of continually connecting with their financial partners even they have a high value for their relationships with them.

It makes sense. We are all busy. Ministers are typically very busy.

As much as I understand, I also believe it isn’t a valid excuse. There are so many easy ways to connect across continents in our world. As such, I would like to offer up 10 suggestions on how ministers on financial support can continually – and easily – connect with churches and individuals who financially invest in the kingdom work they are doing.

Minister to Partner: Ways to Connect

1. The Quarterly Newsletter

Here’s a no-brainer: Send your newsletters. You should do a minimum of four a year. Keep them short, and talk more about ministry than personal things. Include pictures of active ministry and not vacation spots.

Here are two “do not’s” with newsletters:

The Vacationer Newsletter

I recently got a newsletter that made me jealous. And not in a good way. There were pictures of vacation spots all over it, making me wonder (from my desk in the middle of a rainy Missouri day) why I couldn’t go myself? I want to go to these wonderful, beautiful, far off destinations to do “ministry” instead of supporting someone else as they take these paid looking vacations; however, I know my job, and my calling is here.

Sure I knew that they were active ministers, or else I wouldn’t have started supporting them in the first place. However, there was something as I was reading that felt just a twinge off and left me wondering. Let’s not put the people that are giving us the opportunity to minister in that place of wondering. Let’s keep our newsletters active in ministry.

The Negative Newsletter

I have read a lot of newsletters over the years. And can I say one thing I see over and over again? A negative outlook. I believe I’m with the majority when I say positive newsletters win verses negative newsletters all day, every day. Sure prayer requests are important, and of course there is the need to be honest. However, the general feel of your newsletter should be one of a positive outlook and experiences. No whining. No complaining about how hard it is to raise your finances. Keep your newsletters vision based and focused.

2. The Digital Hello

When you get on the field, pick 5 – 10 financial partners each month and email them a short personal hello/touch base. For example:

“Hi Sally, just wanted to touch base with you and see how you have been doing. You and Chuck are, of course, on our prayer list and we are wondering if you have any updates or requests. Things here are going wonderful! We just finished with our building project and couldn’t be more excited to receive students this coming fall. I am really looking forward to getting back into teaching. Anyhow, hope you all are well and let us know how we can be in prayer for you.” – Jenn

See…how painful is that? It took me all of one minute to write that… You may be saying, but what happens when they write back? Then, take another minute of your day to promptly reply to those who responded to your email. If all 10 respond it will take you around 10 minutes to respond to all of the emails. Then, take the time to mention them in your prayers and follow up with that as you have time. Keep a simple notebook. Write them down. It will make all of the difference and mean so much to the people spending so much time praying for you.

Once you have gone through your 5 – 10 partners each month, circle back around your list. Put these on some sort of white board in your room or house to remind you, or put it into some sort of calendar each month. Whatever you do, calendarize it in some way.

3. The Traveling Present

Send small gifts or postcards to your financial partners. Tell them thank you for their continuing support.

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I recently received a postcard from a friend vacationing in Costa Rica. That postcard remained on my fridge for 2 months for two reasons: (1) My friend thought of me from a far off destination and it made my day getting that postcard! (2) It was beautiful! Personally, I’m a sucker for a pretty print of any far off destination.

Small gifts do not have to cost much to mean a lot.

4. Stay Active on Social Media

If you don’t already have one, create a Facebook page. Create a secret group if you are going to a sensitive country. Stay active on it while you are on the field. Pictures, prayer updates, videos and praise reports are all fantastic. *If you are somewhere sensitive keep that in mind while posting and follow the rules of your organization.

If you have the time and know-how, get onto Instagram and Twitter as well! This is not for everyone, and typically I say to start with one social media outlet and do it well. However if you have the time and know how try one or both of these. I love posting on Twitter and have a personal Instagram page as a creative outlet. Both have been effective in communicating with friends and helping me to network on a larger scale.

5. The “I’m Thinking of You” Share

Facebook message your financial partners or like their posts. Stay active on your personal page (including Twitter or other social media outlets).

Sometimes as I listen to audio sermons, worship sets, podcasts, or Scriptures, I’ll ask the Lord if He would like me to share any of those with my friends, family, or financial partners. If I feel prompted, I’ll send that sermon or verse to a friend on Facebook with a little message. These have to make sense and the sermons probably shouldn’t be overly convicting on major sins or anything. (Don’t imply that your friend has a problem). Use common sense. ie. Don’t send a message on tithing to a partner who hasn’t recently been giving.

6. The Church Letter

Write a short letter to the churches that financially partner with you. Put a note in to the pastor to please read where he feels it appropriate to the congregation (small groups, prayer groups, Sunday school).

7. The Homecoming Event

When you come back home, hold a non-fundraising event in key areas where your financial partners are. During the event provide desserts and coffee. Share stories from the field, answer any questions, tell them about your future plans, and thank them, thank them, and thank them.

These events can be as elaborate or simple as you want to make them. I would of course error on the side of taking care of your important guests by providing refreshments and some sort of dessert or snack – these also provide an incentive for your guests to come.

Recently, a ministry couple I coach held one of these type of events but made it a fundraising event (this type of event means they asked for monthly commitments from friends and family at the event. A non-fundraising event means you only ask for contact information and do not ask for commitments from your guests).

They took care to have a sign in book at the front door that collected people’s contact information as well, and they had a pastor come up and share with the guests about the value of missions and their ministry. They raised a total of $1,200 in monthly support in one night.

8. The Homecoming Coffee

In addition to the church event, when you come home set up one-on-one coffee times with pastors and friends and family that have supported you. Thank them and catch up on their lives while you were gone. Be relational and intentional.

9. The Real Time Facetime / Skype Meeting

Are you spending some time on Facetime or Skype with your far away family and friends? Why not pick 6-12 financial partners per year to Skype or Facetime while on the field? This is particularly good practice with financial partners that are giving sizable amounts or with churches and small groups that are partnering financially. Give them a real-time live update on where and how you are. Take them into an actual ministry event via skype or Facetime on your phone if you can. They will be floored at your thoughtfulness and most likely continue to financially partner you throughout assignments to come.

10. Text them!

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There are multiple programs available that will allow you to set up video and picture messaging while on the field. If you have a urgent prayer request, why not send a group text message out to your financial and prayer partners with a picture detailing your prayer need? If you have a praise report, send a text and allow them to celebrate with you (of course, keep in mind time zone differences so that you are not texting them at 2:00am)!

I personally use ReachModo for these purposes. It allows me to communicate while on the field and to set up a Text to Give option and a Text to Connect option that helps tremendously while itinerating. (Text to Give is when someone wants to start giving financially, and Text to Connect is when someone wants to sign up for prayer alerts and newsletters.) I then use the service to group text everyone on my ReachModo list. As I said above, there are numerous programs available for this type of service like Constant Contact and ReachModo. Keep in mind that you need to use a service that is secure, and check in with your organization that you are following your organizations security protocols. Check it out and you’ll be glad you did.

If you are a minister on financial support, I hope that these help you. Let’s remind our financial partners that they are important to us and to the Great Commission! Let’s keep our attrition rates up with our financial partners by spending just a little time letting them know that we care. Let’s value them! Let’s realize that they are vital part of what we do. Amen? Amen.

Want to know more about how to connect with financial partners? More practical help while raising your funds for ministry? Check out the Financial Partnership Workbook: Biblical and Practical Tools to Raise Your Support. 

How to Effectively Communicate with Your Financial Partners: ANSWERS FROM ACTUAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS

~ Jenn Fortner ~ 1 Comment

In continuation of my previous posts Hard Questions with Thoughtful Answers:  Q&A With Support Raising Geniuses, here are some “Hard Questions with Thoughtful Answers” from another perspective. The perspective of those that give. 

I hope you find these as helpful as I have! Wow. What great responses! Thank you to the pastor and individual who answered these questions. And ps. – thank you for giving to the work of the Great Commission. I hope it is said often enough to you how vital you are to the work of God. Truly, you make it possible.

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A Canonized Thank You Note

~ Jenn Fortner ~ 2 Comments

I’ve been reading the book of Philippians lately and from it I have been gaining wonderful insights the area of ministry partnership development. Don’t you love Philippians? The tone that Paul carries throughout it is so warm and kind. Full of encouragement and vulnerability, it is a book that houses one of the most famous verses in the entire bible “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.” 4:13 and it carries my personal favorite very-zealous-teenage-self verse, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philip 1:21

Do you happen to know why Paul wrote the Philippians? I didn’t know until I became a ministry partnership development coach and started digging for areas of bible study on financial giving. Here’s what my New Living Translation Bible has to say about the book of Philippians:

“While under house arrest, Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians to thank some dear friends who had sent him money. In this letter he told them about a joy that does not depend upon external circumstances because it is rooted in Jesus Christ, who gives it freely. Paul began by expressing his thanks to the Philippians.”

My New King James Bible says it this way:

“Paul wrote Philippians as a thank you note to the believers of Philippi, for their help in his hour of need.”

So essentially the whole book of Philippians is an example of a canonized thank you note to supporters?!?! A CANONIZED THANK YOU NOTE!!

Before sharing some of the insights I’ve had from realizing this amazing-ness, let me back up a little and set the stage of Paul and the Philippians.

While writing the Philippians Paul was on house arrest in Rome. The Philippians sent Epharoditus with their support on a journey that took approximately a month for Epharoditus to reach Paul. That is quiet a difficult journey (Epharoditus got so sick that he almost died! 2:27, 2:30) and an investment for the Philippians.

In the midst of the Philippian church sacrificing so much; Paul was old, tired, and on house arrest.  Therefore most likely Paul was not in much need of finances at the time. Paul and the Philippians most likely had a growing relationship but were not extremely familiar with one another. In the past the Philipi church had supported him in an ongoing way (4:10, 4:15, 4:16) after Paul had only visited them on a short visit. The letter suggests they potentially had stopped their support before due to difficulties getting Paul the finances (4:10). Their newly continued financial support (and their commitment shown by sending Epharoditus) probably came as a surprise and a blessing to Paul. Something of the equivalent to Paul of a financial supporter buying you a new car.

Paul was so moved by this that he sent Epharoditus back with the letter to the Philippians. Consequently I think we can learn a lot from Paul’s thank you note to the Philippian church.

Here are 2 insights from Phillipians I trust you’ll find helpful:

1. True Vulnerability, Concern, and Friendship with Our Supporters

In Philippians we find true vulnerability from Paul as he shares his thoughts on his suffering and dying state in chapter 1. He remains venerable and honest with the Philippians throughout the book, giving the entire book a warm and encouraging tone:

“For I have told you often before, and say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.” Philippians 3:18

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.” Philip 1:3

“Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and the reward of my work. So please stay true to the Lord, my dear friends.” Philip 4:1

Throughout the book Paul gives us a great model of relationship to strive for with our support team: they should be the joy and reward of our work. As in, they should be true friends and partakers with us in ministry. Do we see our team as actual partners in the work we are doing? Or do we view them merely as a necessary means to an end? Do we view our relationships with our team members as our joy and reward? Are we communicating honestly, vulnerably, and with concern to our financial supporters? Are we treating them like friends?

2. Don’t Just Seek The Gift

Philippians 4:17 blows me away every time I read it:

“Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.” Philip 4:17

Paul isn’t merely seeking the gifts of the Philippian church as he writes the Philippians his thanks. His worldview is given away here, showing us Paul’s true motivation – and it’s not money. He is motivated by the desire to see the Philippians reward in heaven as true partakers in the Great Commission. This perspective and worldview of our support team may not be instantaneous, but I can say from experience as a coach: those ministers that seek to grasp this concept, that view their team as real partakers in the Great Commission, make the best support raisers I know. Once we stop thinking of our fundraising as a means to an end we will succeed in fundraising – as it will come secondary to enhancing the kingdom of God – which is our primary concern as ministers (and Christians!) anyhow. Are you just wanting money from your team? Are you desiring what will be credited to their account in heaven? Do you see them as partakers with you in ministry?

One of the most quoted scripture verses of all time is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.” Now that I know why Paul wrote the Philippians and that he wrote it with so much concern, love, and vulnerability to his support team,  verse 14 means so much more to me:

“I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.“

Let your team share in your “troubles”. May they be an active and vital part in what you are doing. Let your heart towards them not be about money, but that they are credited in heaven for their vital part in the Great Commission. May they become your friends and truly a “support team” around you. May your relationship to your team be like Paul and the Philippians.

The Secret Ingredient to Successful Support Raising

~ Jenn Fortner ~ 9 Comments

I started this website and blog in November of 2014. Since I began I have been grateful to get out some (of what I hope to be) helpful information to a growing audience. Up to this point I have focused the blog on practical information and tips for those in their season of financial partnership development. To develop the blog further I would like to add a layer of attention to the biblical basis for raising support. There is much to say on the subject, and as I grow as a partnership development coach I am finding that the majority of successful partnership development lies within one’s attitude and perspective on the subject.

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Did you know that there are 700 direct statements on the Bible having to do with wealth? There are over 100 indirect statements as well, making finances a major area of focus within the scriptures. But are we focused on what the Bible has to say? Are we studying what the scriptures say as we raise our support, or are we concerned only with what our current culture says about it? Do we wonder and seek to understand why God set up the christian worker to live off of support, or do we see it only as a necessary evil? Are we really concerned with ministering to our financial partners and including them in the Great Commission, or are we only focused on getting to 100% raised and onto our “real jobs”? Are we ruled by our fears or by scripture?

Through coaching I’m finding that the overall culture (including our potential donors, churches, American culture, etc.) and the culture of our sending agencies often dictate our attitudes on support raising much more than the Bible. Often times we find ourselves shaped unknowingly by our peers and co-workers raising their own finances. Have you ever heard another christian worker or missionary say that raising their finances is a drag? Or they wish they could just get back to the field? Have you heard someone say they just wish the season could be over? Have you ever heard them express that they’ve done all of the stuff they are “supposed to do” but just can’t understand why people won’t give? Have you heard them express negatively about pastors being hard to reach and churches having tight pockets?

I believe it’s okay to be honest and real with hardships within situations. And with raising your finances, I would be remiss in telling you that hardships won’t happen. However, I do believe that often times we haven’t been trained in biblical mindsets when it comes to itineration, and our negativity can spread like wildfire without us even noticing. Often times the christian workers I advise begin their season of itineration with little to no knowledge of scriptural examples of financial partnership. I was in the same boat as I began my own journey – so if that’s you my point is not to shame you. I’m not writing this to shame anyone. I’m writing it because I believe we need to start educating ourselves and our workers what it means to raise our support from a true biblical perspective.

Do you want some places to start?! Oh good I thought you would never ask!! Here are some scripture verses I hope over the months to expand upon, and that I believe are great starts to a journey of education on the biblical basis of financial partnership development:

Numbers 18:21-24

2 Kings 4:1-7

Nehemiah 2:1-9

Luke 8:1-3

Philippians 4:10-19

1 Corinthians 9:1-14

From my experience, those that seek out knowledge and a mindset based on biblical financial partnership development will find themselves happier, calmer, and more fulfilled by this season of ministry. They also happen to get to 100% a lot quicker…so what’s the secret ingredient to successful support raising: BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE.

Learn how to do a Successful Facebook Campaign (NEW VIDEO!)

~ Jenn Fortner ~ 6 Comments

You may have already read the previous post on this subject: “How to Create a Successful Facebook Campaign and Other Glorious Facebook Information.”  

With that post I want to give you the “Part 2” – with a new video explaining some of the ins and outs of creating a successful campaign. It was crafted by myself and the brilliant mind of our brand lead for Assemblies of God World Missions, Ericka Pasquale.  (thanks Ericka!)

(March 2015 video)

(NEW! May 2015 video)

If you are launching your own Facebook campaign, keep in mind that Facebook campaigns will primarily lead you to new financial partners who are referrals. The key to referral relationships is to develop them. Don’t take these new relationships for granted or assume they don’t want more involvement with you because you acquired their partnership via Facebook. I have this new quote that I love, and I think it fits nicely here:

“Your real goal isn’t about raising money. Your real goal is to raise up people and create solid, long-term relationships.” – Myles Wilson, author of Funding the Family Business

Here are some ways to develop relationships that come from your Facebook campaigns:

1. If they live near you, go grab coffee, lunch, or dinner together. Spend time getting to know them and cast vision about your ministry.

2. Reach out to them via Facebook messenger with electronic resources on your ministry, and add them to your ministry Facebook page.

3. Ask if you could connect via phone, Skype, or FaceTime with those new financial partners that live far away.

4. Send them a thank you card in the mail and/or a small gift when appropriate. Send them a e-thank you card if snail mail seems un-appropriate.

5. Start following their Facebook page. Find out what their interests are and how you can engage.

I hope these tips help you create solid, long-term partnerships with those you meet in your own Facebook campaign!

Part 2: Hard Questions with Thoughtful Answers – Q&A with Support Raising Geniuses

~ Jenn Fortner ~ 1 Comment

Q&A with Ms (8)

 

Special thanks to the ministers who participated and gave their heartfelt and practical answers. You all are my heros. Have your own tips? Post them in the comments!

Do You Want Free A Video?

~ Jenn Fortner ~ Leave a comment

Yes, you do.

Do you need a video? Yes, you do.

When you make yours, there are a lot of great videographers, friends you may have (with professional gear), vendors, and even apps that you can use to make a fabulous video that tells your story.

For the purpose of this blog though, I just want to make you aware of one particular resource that you can use free of charge and before you make your personalized professional video. Enter prayercast.com. PrayerCast is a completely-free-resource-gold-mine that exists to create free videos just for you. And they are good.

INSTRUCTIONS

Simply check out their immense library for the country/religion you are needing, watch and download, and then share as you see fit (of course – always doing so keeping your own security needs in mind).

KEEP IN MIND

Prayercast.com videos should not take the place of you creating your own personalized video for itineration purposes. However, Prayercast videos could be used in addition to your personalized video or before your video gets made (it’s good to have multiple videos!).  The same goes for Adobe Voice videos. Both are a great tools, but if you can, look into getting your story professionally told. Creating a great looking video (the kind to share in front of large congregations) takes a lot of time and expertise. Unless you or someone you know has enough experience to create a great one, hire a great videographer / vendor that can tell your missional story professionally — don’t try to create your own.

(video is from Cadre31 – one of those great vendors I was speaking about above)

Top 5 Reasons for Creating and Sharing Video (in no order):

1. Videos add dynamic to social media posts. Online videos are 100% more social engaging. They create 139% more brand impact and a 46% conversion lift.

2. Video marketing is the latest trend. People spend their time online watching videos. By 2017, 90% of all internet traffic will be video. 

3.Life is fast, so make them take the time to look at your posts. On average, a visitor will stay 2 minutes longer when they watch a video.

4. Churches and pastors love videos (because people love videos)

5. You can use videos for multiple occasions: (1) while speaking at a church (2) emailing a pastor or individual (3) a district church event, during a presentation (large or small group) (4) social media (5) table displays (6) newsletters, and more that I am not currently thinking of. Enhance any communication you are doing by visually telling your story.

Have you created a video? Share it with me by emailing me!

Create Your Own Ministry Facebook (Secret) Group

~ Jenn Fortner ~ 3 Comments

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I hope that these 5 steps help you understand Facebook secret groups better. Here are a couple of additional thoughts while we are on the subject:

  • Creating a secret group may not be for you.
  • “Pages” are different from “groups”.
  • Choose to make a Facebook ministry “page” or create a separate Facebook account if you are not going to a sensitive population. They are preferable because they do not notify your audience every time you post. (unlike a Facebook “group” that does notify it’s group members every time a post is made.)
  • Facebook secret groups should not be a free-for-all of information just because it’s “secret”. As one person that serves a sensitive population put it “there is really nothing that is “secret” if it is on Facebook.” All sensitive locations have agreements with online services like FB and Twitter to make their content available due to security concerns.  That being said, don’t post anything you wouldn’t want someone else reading.

If you have questions, go ahead and post them in the comments section and I will be happy to get back to you. God bless you in creating your own Facebook group!

How to Create a Successful Facebook Campaign (and other glorious FB information)

~ Jenn Fortner ~ 2 Comments

This video was made for sensitive country missionaries interested in making Facebook campaigns, (sensitive country means a country where it is dangerous to tell the outside world where you are going, particularly on the internet) however, it could be used for a missionary going to any country – sensitive or not.

The example used in the video is Dylan, a passionate missionary who raised her goal of $500 monthly support in 10 days. Dylan used interesting and passionate videos, well thought out content posts, and give-away incentives to reach a completely new audience with her ministry and need for monthly support — all within the context of safety on Facebook.

If you are interested in launching your own Facebook campaign, follow the information on the video and include the following:

1. Correct Timing: One thing we didn’t mention in the video is when to launch your Facebook campaign. The best time to launch is when you have raised approximately 75-85% of your budget. Facebook is a great tool, however it should not replace the face-to-face appointment as the number one way to raise up your financial partnership team. Nothing can take the place of being eyeball-to-eyeball / face-to-face when raising your finances. A Facebook campaign should be used to expand your contact list and/or used as more of a “last push” tool.

2. Make sure you have time in your schedule during your Facebook campaign. This should be a no-brainer, but just in case… If you have 15 people posting on their Facebook walls for 10 days, and you are supposed to be providing all of the content, videos, give-aways, etc for those 15 people – you will be busy. You will be busy not only keeping up with your 15 friends posting for you, but you will be busy keeping up with all of the people who like or comment on your friends’ posts. Thus make sure the 10 days you pick are good in your personal schedule. Do not fall behind during this time. Remain on top of the posts and give your 15 the information they need every single day to make your Facebook campaign successful.

Below are a couple of more thoughts and tips on Facebook, provided by social-media / branding genius for AGWM Mobilization – Ericka Pasquale. (also the creator and brain behind the video above!)

10 Tips for using FB as a Missionary

1. Connect, like, share, and continuously be active.

2. When connecting with pastors, consider private messaging them. Do so for introductions or even to scheduling meetings.

3. Post pictures, not just text.

4. Tag and engage your audience in your posts.

5. Promote services or engagements in order to invite others to attend in and around the area.

6. Post prayer requests.

7. Comment on financial team’s personal pages to let them know you are thinking about them. Private message your financial partners as well to find out how they are doing.

8. Post videos (short and quick update videos).

9. Encourage other missionaries to share your posts. Follow other missionaries and ministries and share their posts. Be engaged.

10. Create a conversation on posts utilizing the tag feature.  Generate a dialogue

5 Reasons Why Facebook is Effective in Maintaining and Building Your Financial Partnership Team.

1. It’s the Largest Free Country in the World. Facebook was founded in 2004, and just over 10 years later it is now the largest country in the world. With more people on Facebook then the entire population of China it is the most used free resource for communication. Anyone with internet access and email address can sign up for a Facebook account.

2. Engaged Users. According to Zephoria Internet Marketing Solutions: 890 million people login to their Facebook accounts every single day, and currently Facebook is growing at a rapid rate. 5 new profiles are created every single second. With over 300 million photos uploaded every day this show us that users are engaged. Why not engage with you and do something productive for the kingdom of God? This statistic also shows us that there are a lot of photos competing for users’ attention. So you when using Facebook, you need to target your posts strategically.

3. It is Global. In Europe alone there are over 230 million Facebook users. Facebook is a world wide phenomenon. And as I think upon my role as a marketing and brand lead for Assemblies of God World Missions, I am truly believe there are people in those 890 million daily users who would love to be apart of what God is doing around the world… they just might not have had the opportunity yet. Facebook could be that opportunity.

4. It helps Maintain Soild Relationships.  If I give a missionary a one time donation because I saw that missionary at my church, and then we become Facebook “friends” – then I have the opportunity to easily follow all the amazing things they are doing in ministry. When that missionary chooses to launch a fundraiser on Facebook, it is likely that I will be willing to switch from a one-time-gift to a monthly committed financial supporter. Why? Because that missionary and I are connected. Because I have been following what they are doing and where they are going. And here’s the main point: As a potential financial supporter I am going to invest in what I know, and Facebook makes it very easy to get to know someone.

5. Pastors Like Interacting On Facebook. Recent studies we have done at Assemblies of God World Missions have found that our itinerating missionaries have the most success with initial contact to a pastor by merely by sending a private Facebook message. Pastors are 8 times more likely to respond to a Facebook private message then they are to return a phone call….8 times.   – Ericka

In closing, good luck and God bless you in your own Facebook Campaign. And please, let me (Jenn) know how they go for you by sending me an email or commenting here.

Special thanks to Ericka Pasquale’s brain for this post.