The Importance of Trust
The Importance of Trust
Some years ago, when I led a giving campaign to raise funds for a new building at Figtree Anglican, the congregation gave magnificently. There was one gift that quite amazed me. A person in their early to mid-twenties, who was part of our young adult cohort, pledged a sum that took my breath away. Had that person given one tenth of that amount I would still have thought it was a substantial amount for a person at that stage of life. It had quite a humbling effect on me. I remember thinking to myself. ‘With such people in my congregation I must never ever betray their trust by carelessly handling the truth, improperly using the money or exhibiting some egregious moral failing.’ I don’t by any means wish to give the indication that I had no flaws or made no mistakes. Rather it just strengthened in me a desire to act honourably during life and ministry despite the pressure that pastoring can bring.
Trust is crucial in raising resources for ministry. If the people feel money will be wasted, spent for purposes not intended, or even worse, embezzled, you can kiss goodbye to any thoughts of a fruitful giving campaign.
The church that I currently attend has a Christmas appeal for a missionary building and ministry project in Southeast Asia. The ministry provides employment training for young women who have been rescued from sex trafficking. Without such help their impoverished families often resell them into the same appalling situations. The aim of the project is to double the space for training and provide safe childcare for the children of the young women. Further it is not simply a secular endeavour. The girls are told about the love of Christ that has motivated this ministry.
I asked fellow congregational member, Jill Lovell, a former missionary and current PhD student working in the area of Trust in Not-for-profits, what were some drivers that would make her support the church and specifically this project. This was just a casual conversation, not an in-depth interview but two words came immediately to her mind.
The first was ‘transparency’. She knew exactly where the money was going and what it was to be used for. Members of the ministry team regularly visit the site and bring back compelling videos of the work. In the past, earlier beneficiaries of the ministry had visited the congregation. So, we all felt a very personal connection. Money would be spent where we were told it would be spent, and it would have life-changing results.
Her second point was ‘proximity’. This is particularly important for church leaders because it can enhance the fruit of any giving campaign or cripple it. If I give to anyone of a number of worthwhile charities, most times I have no intimate knowledge of the people involved. I don’t know the president of a wildlife organization, for example. But in the local church I generally do know the ministers. I see them every week. I listen to them preach. I experience their ministry in times of crisis. I know if they are punctual or habitually late to meetings, if they are prone to exaggeration, whether they are even tempered or given to fly off the handle. In a myriad of little personal ways, I form impressions, positive or negative, that will dictate whether and how much I will support the next church appeal.
I am pleased to note that on both of these points our church gets a big tick, and it is no surprise that the appeal generated a phenomenal response.
As someone who was in the trenches in ministry for twenty years, I know how stressful the work is and how easy it can be to be tempted to cut corners. This piece is simply a reminder that the scriptures hold us to the highest standards of integrity that will breed the trust that bears fruit.
For more on raising resources for ministry, see my book Giving Generously. givinggenerously.com/buy-the-book-2/