Fund Raising--"Thank You For Saying 'No'"

By Kim Jackson

“I think I’m supposed to pay for your trip to Guatemala.”
“What?” I stared at my friend and mentally repeated what she’d said.
“I’ll have to pray about it, but I think I’m supposed to write you a check for the whole amount.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. What a gift! And it certainly relieved my anxiety about raising the money needed for my upcoming mission trip. It was especially timely since I had just recently been invited to go, and our team would be leaving in less than six weeks!

Wow! That’s fantastic. Thank You, God! Now I can move on to other things I need to do, like check on my passport, find and pack appropriate clothing, go to the required meetings, and prepare lessons.”

My excitement about my friend’s offer was short-lived, however
“Um, Kim, uh…. God said ‘No.’”
“What?”
“God said ‘No.’” He doesn’t want me to pay your way to Guatemala.”
“Are you sure?”
She smiled. “Yes. I prayed about it. He said ‘No.’”
“Oh, wow. Well, OK. Hmmm…I don’t suppose you would want me to ask Him?”
She smiled again. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Right. Well, OK then. That’s settled. I guess I should pray about what He has in mind instead.”
“Good idea. ‘Ask Jesus,’ remember?”
“Right. ‘Ask Jesus.’”

My circle of friends nod knowingly when we hear the phrase “Ask Jesus.” A common friend, whom we all admire for her steadfast faith, speaks the phrase so often that we frequently stop her just as she is opening her mouth: “We know: Ask Jesus.”

Still, I was disappointed that God had said “No” when my friend asked. “Yes” seemed like the appropriate response to me! I couldn’t imagine why God wouldn’t want to bless me through the generosity of a friend. And I know He blesses those who give, so it seemed like a “win-win.”

I’m not comfortable asking people for money. I enjoy donating to my friends’ mission trip fundraising, but I don’t like being on the other end of it. If only there was another way.

Oh, right: “Ask Jesus.” So now it was my turn. I like to journal my prayers, so I wrote out my request: “Jesus, how would You like me to go about raising funds for this trip?” Even as I wrote that simple sentence I remembered praying with a friend about whether or not I should go. God’s powerful “Yes!” had been undeniable.

So why had I quit asking Jesus after receiving His initial go ahead? Certainly I needed to be praying about every aspect of the trip, including how to raise the needed funds.

I looked down at the journal page, reread my prayer, and waited. In the stillness I began to sense God’s assurance that He was going to help me write a very “not ordinary” fundraising letter. I didn’t know what that meant, but when I sat down at my computer, the ideas began to drop in my mind and flow out through my fingers onto the computer screen. The process became so enjoyable that at several points I actually laughed out loud. Finally, at 2:00 a.m., I had completed a fun and creative “Participation Invitation.”

So the letter was written. But who should I send it to? I am blessed with lots and lots of friends and acquaintances. Should I send it to everyone in my Rolodex?

Oops…I almost forgot: Ask Jesus. I went to my journal and wrote: “Jesus, who would You like me to send the letter to?”

I felt led to get my Rolodex and begin flipping through the address cards. I felt a Holy Spirit nudge when I got to some cards, while passing others by. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the selection. When I came to the “Z” section, I counted the names I’d written down. 1, 2, 3….20, 21, 22….. 33, 34, 35. Thirty five! That’s not enough, is it, Lord?

Waiting in the silence, I felt I’d heard correctly….and 35 was indeed my entire mailing list. OK, Lord, I know You know what You’re doing, but this seems a bit strange to me. And don’t forget, we had a donor who was willing to pay for the whole trip!

I began folding and stuffing the letters into the envelopes, then addressing and stamping each one. These are fun. People will enjoy them, if nothing else. But I sure hope for a lot more than that!

When I dropped the envelopes in the mail, I whispered a prayer. “OK, God. I think I did what You asked, so it’s all in Your hands now!”

The first response came from a dear friend who was facing her own financial hardship. She handed me a five-dollar bill—her widow’s mite—and said a prayer that God would multiply it again and again and again.

And did He ever! Walking to the mailbox soon became the highlight of my day. Responses flowed in. A friend I had taught Sunday School with sent a generous donation. Relatives, co-workers, and church members responded with joy and generosity. A huge check from my best friend in high school arrived. The enclosed note said that she had been putting back money to give to missions, and every time an opportunity came up, she would pray, “Is this it, Lord?” Each time she felt she should wait. When my letter arrived, God said “This is it!”

I was overwhelmed at the response. Out of 35 letters, 31 people responded. When the donations were totaled, there was so much beyond what I needed that I was able to give the mission organization $500 to buy medicines for the clinics we’d be holding, as well as purchase a lot of the craft project supplies needed for our children’s outreach.

It was amazing to see God’s faithfulness. And I hadn’t even left the country yet!

The trip proved to be just as amazing. There were many opportunities to trust God and bless others. I knew without a doubt that I had heard correctly. I was supposed to be on the trip.

But I also knew that my friend had heard God’s voice. And I began to thank Him for telling her “No.”

God’s “No” helped my faith grow because it required more to believe for the needed funds than to simply deposit one check from a single donor. Plus, it had been fun to co-create my fundraising letter with the Author of my life! I also felt the joy of hearing and obeying when I sent the letter to the specific people He selected. Next, every person who received the letter was asked to pray, so my prayer base expanded. And those who had been waiting for God to say “Yes,” like my high school friend, could experience God’s pleasure in their obedience.

When I returned from the trip I enjoyed creating a follow-up letter, including photos and stories. Instead of handing it to just one donor, I delighted in sending it to my “support team” in North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Florida.

The blessings were multiplied because God said “No” when I wanted a “Yes.” I was reminded through this experience that God sees the big picture. Not only that, He has a plan that fits with His perspective, not mine. And He loves it when I ask Him what it is!

But the story didn’t end with my return from Guatemala. It’s been three years, and now I find myself in a different sort of challenge regarding finances. The friend who had earlier heard God say “No” is not aware of my situation. Yet Friday morning she called and wanted to meet for lunch.

At the restaurant she slipped an envelope across the table. When I opened the beautiful card, I discovered several twenty dollar bills. “Oh, no, I…”

My shock went through the roof when I saw a check for $900.00. “Oh, my, oh, I couldn’t…”

“Then you’ll need to argue with God,” my friend said, “because He told me to give you one thousand dollars.”
“But I…”
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, Kim, but when I was praying I felt I wanted to give you some money. As I prayed about it more, God said “Yes.” I sensed Him say that the amount was to be a thousand dollars. I asked two friends to pray about it to make sure I was hearing correctly. They both said ‘Yes, it’s right.’ So please accept it. From God—not me.”

Choking back tears, I looked at my friend and said, “You can never know…This will help so much! I can hardly believe it. I am overwhelmed. Just overwhelmed.”
“Kim, God loves you so much. Don’t forget that!”
“I know it’s true, but I’m sure grateful for this wonderful reminder! It’s incredible how God has used you. Thank you so much for helping me learn that God’s ‘No’ as well as His ‘Yes’ are loving answers…in His perfect timing.”