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Guest BloggerShort-Term Missions: Is Traveling Becoming Obsolete?
Posted by Neal Eckert on Jan 20, 2018
When it comes to Christian crowdfunding, some wonder about this one. These days, we could send supplies, money, and Bibles and save resources by not having people travel. We could just skype, send videos and email to express our Christian love to brothers and sisters and the rest of the world. Certainly, there are times that it may be necessary not to send someone. But there are a number of benefits to going on mission trips and helping to send others. Whether you're considering traveling overseas or you're thinking about helping to fund a trip for someone, here are a few thoughts. Nothing Like the Human Touch Sure, short-term missions can be expensive when it comes to travel costs. No one can deny that. But one fact cannot be overlooked. There is power in Christians traveling from the far reaches of the world to encourage others. To offer hope during a natural disaster, war, hunger, health crisis and spiritual starvation. When someone in better circumstances reaches out to help the hurting and struggling, they demonstrate the very heart of Jesus. He didn't stand aloof from the physically and spiritually needy. Instead, he reached into the dirtiest and most hopeless lives bringing incredible hope to humanity With all the available technology and resources, there will never be something more touching than the impact God's children can personally have on others. (Except the actual touch of God himself). Often, God uses his children made in his image to be his touch. To display his power and be his hands and feet of comfort to the world. Give Send Go is honored to facilitate Christian crowdfunding to be the hands and feet of God. We know that knowledge of the gospel is only the first step. Action is a necessity. But it's not something we have to do as much as something we get to do! God, in his mercy and kindness, invites us into something more than salvation. He calls us to bring light to a dark world. Going Changes You If you travel on a short-term mission trip, you'll likely come back a changed person. This is overused but no less true. Most in the church have heard a group give a presentation of their mission trip upon returning home. Something you'll typically hear at least once is that those who went expected to impact others. But what overshadowed that expectation was how those going were changed for the better through the experience. Maybe those "going" saw a level of poverty they never experienced before and had to come to grips with what was really important in life. More earth-shaking than that may have been seeing Christians in poverty and distress with more joy, faith, prayer and action than they had. All of a sudden, those traveling from "wealthy" countries were confronted with something that couldn't be ignored. True wealth is far more than monetary wealth. In fact, monetary wealth is the least of the blessings God gives. Sure, God will use you to make a difference. But He's way too efficient to stop there. He's going to work on you, the traveler, as well! So, are we in danger of travel for short-term mission trips becoming obsolete? No. The priceless interaction of Christians and world civilization will always be needed. Whether you plan to go or help send someone to go on a mission, the work you do and the giving you provide will impact God's kingdom for eternity. The expense is small in light of what God can do. It can be difficult to measure the impact that will happen. Some of it won't be fully known until Heaven. As you go, ask God to do exactly what he wants with your short-term mission trip. He's even more excited about you packing your bags than you are!
DevotionalsWhat is your threshold of pain? Take our Quiz!
Posted by Heather Wilson on Jan 18, 2018
"When it comes to giving until it hurts, most people have a very low threshold of pain." "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 Giving. We all have heard "it is better to give than receive," and we all probably have even experienced the thrill of giving to someone who least expected it, but would you consider yourself a GIVER? Or better yet, would the people that surround you, the ones that know you the best, would they consider you a generous giver? Don't worry ... you can ask them. We will wait right here.... Ok, so you are back. If you are still not sure you can take this Giving Quiz : 1. When is the last time you gave something to someone in need? 2. When is the last time you gave something to someone without expecting anything in return? 3. When is the last time you felt God prompt you to give to someone and you obeyed? 4. Have you ever given to someone above what your financial comfort level would have dictated? So, are you feeling uncomfortable yet? Did you have to answer no, or I don't know to some of those questions? Then this challenge is for you! (actually it is for all of us) This week our challenge is a GIVING challenge. Spend some time praying with your family (include your children, even young ones so they can start to experience the joy of giving) Ask God to show you a need He would like you to fill. Then be obedient, even if it is uncomfortable. Allow yourself to be stretched into the discomfort zone. God has placed you where you are and He wants to use you to show who He is to those around you. Remember God has given way more abundantly to us than we can imagine, you will not be able to out-give God. Let the life changing stories continue!
GiveSendGo NewsTragic accidents
Posted by GiveSendGo on Jan 6, 2018
TRAGIC ACCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING ALL AROUND YOU. How should the church respond? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2:15-18 At GiveSendGo we want to challenge local churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities. GiveSendGo.com makes it easy to put faith into action. Here are some of the ways: GiveSendGo is Free! We do not charge a fee to use our platform. It takes only minutes to set up and start sharing your story. We don't hold your money - Money that is raised is automatically transferred into the campaign owners attached bank account. People can share the campaign to their own personal social networks. GiveSendGo sends out automatic thank you's and receipts to Givers. Givers can send their prayers and support through comments on the campaign page. Updates can be given and images can be uploaded Record an audio message to be listened to when someone visits your campaign People can set up recurring donations Givers get encouraged to donate as they can see a goal being met. As you see needs arise in your community, in your social circles, in the world, don't wait for someone else to "do something". Be the church, showing your faith in action, one campaign at a time.
Crowdfunding and Prayer
Posted by GiveSendGo on Jan 4, 2018
Three Reasons to Pray Prayer is a vital part of Christian crowdfunding. Perhaps you now have a shiny new campaign in full swing. You reached out to family, friends, co-workers and more. You also made sure to include a quality photo or video along with just the right words. Or perhaps you're about to give to a campaign or head across land and sea to advance God's kingdom. There's one thing you may have forgotten, though. That one thing is prayer. Human nature sometimes focusses on the "tangible" at the expense of more important things. So, as you give, send and go, don't forget to pray. Here are three reasons to do just that. Reminder of Who Ultimately Provides We often put so much pressure on ourselves to provide that we're tempted to forget Who the real provider is. As a giver, you may fear you won't have enough money if you give to a cause that matters to you. Prayer will help you trust in your ultimate Provider. This could safeguard you from missing an opportunity you may otherwise have passed up. If you have an active campaign, through prayer, you'll be reminded that it's up to God to accomplish your campaign results once you've done all you could reasonably do. Being reminded that God is the one who provides will take the pressure off if you decide you can't give as much as you want as well. It will also help those with a campaign to rest in the thought that God will provide what they need. If you're about to head far from home to make a difference you likely have many cares. You're doing your best not to worry about safety, your health and the desire to do all you can. Prayer about all these concerns will give you renewed confidence that God will take care of you while you take care of others. Prayer Changes Attitudes Prayer for crowdfunding-related causes will change your viewpoints and attitudes. Sincerely pray for a difficult co-worker--as hard as that is--and your attitude towards them will begin to shift. You'll see them as someone who's broken like yourself. Someone with hurts and needs like yourself. Someone who desperately needs God to fill the void in their lives, that only He can satisfy, just like yourself. The same will happen when you start to pray in the scope of Christian crowdfunding. You'll find the temptation towards indifference replaced with a sincere concern to make an impact that will last. You'll find compassion for others you didn't previously have. Because God Answers Does God always answer prayer like we want Him to regarding Christian crowdfunding? No. You may not raise as much as you'd hoped. You may at points be unable to give even though you badly want to do so. You may become too sick to travel. But does God answer prayers? Absolutely. There is a type of answer God gives that sometimes seems like no answer at all. These scenarios can be tough even though God is no less faithful during those times. There are other moments you can almost see the hand of God come down and do incredible things in ways you never imagined. God is intimately involved in both kinds of situations. People get into the debate about whether God could be moved to do something because of prayer. Besides the scriptural support that He can, here is an everyday example: As a child, parent or grandparent, were you ever moved to action because someone you loved asked something of you? There is no one with a love that comes anywhere close to your Heavenly Father. His heart is rich, full of compassion and tender. Could a heart like that be moved? A better question to ask is how could it not? So, as you seek to make a difference, don't forget the most important part--Prayer. Without that vital component, God's power will be missing. Without it, the opportunity to make an eternal difference will be lost. When it comes to Christian crowdfunding, make a commitment to pray, keep going and to never give up. God will surely take care of the rest!
GiveSendGo NewsCold Weather settling in. What are your plans?
Posted by GiveSendGo on Jan 4, 2018
As a cold front seems to have hit most of the East Coast my fb news feed is all talk of weather. Pictures of weather forecasts, thermometers, and memes about being cold. Talk of weather forecasters and how well they do their jobs. Will there be snow? How much? When? Yes, it is freezing in a lot of the country. There are also a lot of people that do not have shelter, warm clothes or warm food for their bellies. Let's keep our eyes open for those we can help as we go through our day. Those we can buy a jacket or hat and gloves for. Maybe get some blankets and leave them with a homeless shelter. Talk to your family about what random acts of kindness you can be a part of . Yes, it's nice to buy the guy behind us a coffee at Dunkin's it can make someone's day, but they are in a car, getting ready to buy a coffee they can afford. Today let's clean out our closets, grab some our extra socks, blankets, jackets and get to work. If you want to do even more -start a campaign on GiveSendGo and raise money for your local shelters or to go and buy supplies to hand out. Make it a family, work or neighborhood project. Together we can make a difference. Together we can share hope.
Fundraising TipsCrowdfunding the proverbial money tree?
Posted by GiveSendGo on Jan 2, 2018
Many people think "easy money" when they think of crowdfunding. That if they just start a campaign, money will automatically start flowing in, especially if it's for a good cause or for something they're passionate about. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Yes, there are campaigns that raise thousands of dollars in a matter of hours. Is that typical? No, it's not. Those are just 1% of the campaigns we hear about. Does that make crowdfunding a waste of time? No, and we want to give you some tips to increase the success of your campaigns. We at GiveSendGo.com have broken things down into 4 P's: Pray, Plan, Partner and Persevere. Pray: As you begin to decide the what, when, where and how much of your campaign, it can be very exciting. It's easy to plow forward with the excitement of the adventure. Make sure you take time to talk to the Lord and ask Him for wisdom, guidance and blessing. He wants to be your Friend and your Partner. Spend time with Him. God will be the best supporter you could have. Ask others to lift up your campaign in prayer as well. Plan: Before you even raise your first dollar, a successful campaign takes planning. If you decide within an hour to make a campaign, write a quick story, upload a picture and launch, you will probably not accomplish the results you were hoping for. So, as you sit down to PLAN your campaign, ask yourself these questions: What am I inviting people to invest in? Why would they want to? What results do I hope to see if I raise this money? If the media was to write a story on me, what headline would capture peoples' attention? Then start writing your story. Start with your campaign title. Make it compelling. What will draw people in to hear your story? Then, as you begin to write your story, don't just give the who, what, when, and where. Make sure you give the why. Let people know how their money is going to make a difference. Let them know the impact that they'll have on someone or something in this world. The more specific you can be about what the funds will be used for, the better. Then, ask someone to proofread. Feedback is always important. Next, find an image or video. This is important. As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words. You want to be able to convey your story through your image/video. So, pick carefully and do not enable your campaign until you find the image that works best. And lastly, decide on a reasonable amount of funds needed to raise in a realistic timeframe. Yes, you might want to raise $100k but that will look like a daunting task to your givers. Pick a goal that you think is within reason for the people you KNOW will give to your campaign (friends, family, etc). People want to give to something they feel will get accomplished. Giving $10 to your $100,000 campaign doesn't seem worth it. You can always change your goal, if needed, during your campaign. Partner: Crowdfunding will not work without partners. You need to have friends, family and more who want to partner with you in your endeavor. Before you even launch your campaign, make a list of PARTNERS. Include their email, Facebook, Twitter, phone numbers and any other contact points. Then, when you go live, use this list often to share what's happening with your campaign. Use all different forms of contact and reach out to people individually. As shared earlier, don't forget to personally invite 10-20 First-Day Givers. Crowds are more likely to follow what they see other people doing. If they notice that you have early, excited Givers, they'll be more likely to give to you too. Don't stop with only the people you know. Be creative. Use the internet to reach out to others that might be interested in what you're doing. Use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to find groups, pages and more, of people that are passionate about what you're doing. Invite them to partner with you. Look for media sources that might want to share your story. From Newspapers to radio, blogs, press releases and more, there are lots of avenues to spread the news about your campaign. Do a Google search on key words in your campaign and see what comes up. Crowdfunding is all about finding partners that believe in what you are doing and inspiring them to take part in giving and spreading the word. Persist: Crowdfunding is not for the weak of heart. Posting once a week on Facebook will rarely bring about the outcome you desire. It's not necessarily because people don't want to give. Most people are busy and constantly in a state of information overload. Consistently work at getting the attention of potential givers. People must see your campaign an average of 8 times to decide to give, and need to see others giving to make it even more compelling. PERSEVERE. Don't give up. Use different forms of communication to ask people to donate. Share with others as much as you can from your heart about what you hope to do. Continuously let people know what you're doing and why, compelling them to join you. And lastly, remember you have the ultimate PROVIDER on your side. Be diligent, follow through, pray, plan, partner and persevere. Never doubt that you're on a mission and the God of the Universe is cheering you on. Money is no option for Him. Ask God to guide your steps and give you wisdom in your endeavor. Follow His guidance in everything you do and you are guaranteed success! Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 GiveSendGo.com for your next crowdfunding campaign!
Fundraising Tips5 Best Tips to Help Make Your Campaign a Success!
Posted by GiveSendGo on Jan 2, 2018
Pray for your Mission: Ask others to as well. God planted a seed in you to see a change take place. Ask Him to bless it. Money is no issue for God. Don't make your campaign simply about how much money you can raise. Use your campaign to deepen your trust in God's provision and to invite others into the life-changing work He's doing! Share a Story, Not a Campaign: The more people connect to your story, the more likely they'll give. Don't just give the who, what and where. Make sure you invite people into the WHY. What difference can they make if they donate to your campaign? People are looking for a way to change the world. Invite them to be a part of something big. Write your story to engage those who don't already know you. Use pictures and details that will compel others to want to be a part of your mission. Who is Your Crowd? Most of your crowd will be family and friends, co-workers, etc. Before you even launch your campaign, make a list of potential Givers. Include their email, Facebook, Twitter, phone numbers and any other contact points. Then when you go live, use this list often to share what's happening with your campaign. Use all different forms of contact and reach out to people individually. Personally Invite 10-20 First-Day Givers. Crowds are more likely to follow what they see other people doing. If they see that you have early, excited Givers, they will be more likely to give to you too. Keep Your Target Goal Attainable: Yes, it's easy to set a high goal. In reality, your Givers will be less likely to donate to a mission that is not likely to hit your goal. Here's the reality: On average, only 10-30% of your crowd will actually contribute to your project. They'll give an average of $50. And you will need to contact them directly multiple times just to see that 10-30%. If you send out ONLY Facebook blasts, that number shrinks to between 1-5%. So, set your funding target based on how much you can realistically raise rather than simply choosing the amount you desire. Share, Share, Share! Believe it or not, most people aren't refusing to give because they don't believe in you. Many people procrastinate. That's why we encourage you to share seven or more "asks". People want to help but they just need to be reminded. It's important to promote your project as soon as it's enabled. Then keep it up. Send encouraging messages to your crowd every few days and you will see results. Use email and direct Facebook messages to ask for donations. Use the Update tab to inform your followers on where you're at and what's happening with your mission. Ask them to continue spreading the word. ________________________________________
GiveSendGo NewsBronx Fire
Posted by GiveSendGo on Jan 2, 2018
This morning, Tuesday January 2nd, 2018, a six alarm fire tore through an apartment building in the Bronx, killing 12 people and displacing many more. The news articles say that it was a little child that accidentally started the fire. Of course the comments go from heartfelt condolences to people needing to make sure everyone knows that child should have been watched better. My heart hurts for those who lost someone in this fire. If you read the news articles about this fire, you will hear of heroes, a soldier, and people that stepped up and put themselves in harms way to try to help during this devastating situation. I think of the families of the ones that lost their lives. One minute celebrating the New Year and all the exciting things planned, a clean slate, a fresh start. The next minute plunged into grief and indescribable agony as their world has been torn apart. At GiveSendGo we see first hand how stories like these are happening all around the world, tragic, sad, unbelievable. We see campaigns started for people that have been dealt a horrible hand during this season of their lives. We often cry and pray over the campaigns that come in, as we hear of children passing away too soon and medical bills needing to be covered. We share campaign stories of deadly and horrific accidents that have taken place where donating to financial needs is the only thing that might bring a little hope to the situation. We remind people that despite all the bad news, that there is hope, and that hope is Jesus. He doesn't step in and take all the heartache and tragedy away. We don't always understand why and often won't ever know the answer to the "why?" questions we find ourselves asking. We just know that Jesus does offer Hope. Hope for tomorrow. Hope that we will make it through this life -not unscathed but loved. Hope that we can have a relationship with God. Hope that we will one day see Him face to face. Today let us change our New Year's Resolution list. Move losing weight, and finding a new job down a notch on our list. Let's add "Share the hope of Jesus" to our #1 spot. Let's not wait until tragedy strikes. Let's be introducing people to Jesus EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Let's Shine Brightly.
DevotionalsNew Years Resolution #1
Posted by Heather Wilson on Jan 1, 2018
New Years Resolution #1: Faith It was by faith Able brought a more acceptable offering It was by faith Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying It was by faith Noah built and ark to save his family It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave his home It was by faith Sarah was able to have a child It was by faith Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice It was by faith Isaac blessed his two sons It was by faith Jacob blessed Joseph's sons It was by faith Joseph, when he was about to die confidently spoke of God's bringing Israel out of Egypt It was by faith Moses' parents hid him for three months It was by faith Moses chose to share the oppression of God's people It was by faith the people of Israel went right through the red sea It was by faith Rahab the prostitute did not die with all the others It is by faith INSERT YOUR NAME HERE Having been raised going to church since I was a child, I read all the names above and recall many things I learned about each of these men and woman of faith. How they obeyed God, how they overcame obstacles, how they made hard choices, how they knew God. Heard God. Followed God. How exciting things happened because of their faith. So often I want the exciting outcome, but I am too afraid to step out in faith to what God has called me to do. This January, as much as I want to lose weight, keep up with the laundry, and read more books, those will not be what I will resolve to do. I want to resolve to step out of the comfortable. To obey even when it does not make sense. To grow my faith in God. To live a story of faith for the generations to come. As 2017 comes to an end and we look back on a year filled with highs and lows, faith and failure, let us rejoice that we serve a God that wants to use us. Let's celebrate that His mercies are new EVERY morning. So, even though we do not know what God has in store for us, let's agree in 2018 we are going to be, as we say at GiveSendGo.com, Shine Brightly!
What is crowdfunding?
Posted by GiveSendGo on Jan 1, 2018
What Is Crowdfunding Anyway? Many people would be intimidated if someone asked them, "What does crowdfunding mean?" The idea is actually quite simple. Oxford Dictionaries describes crowdfunding as, "the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet." The saying that there's nothing new under the sun is only half correct when it comes to crowdfunding. Fundraising is an old idea. Since the dawn of time, large groups of people have raised money for worthwhile causes. What is new, though, is the way large groups carry out the funding. There are plenty of benefits to a modern-day form of fundraising known as crowdfunding. By exploring some of those benefits, we'll show you what makes crowdfunding superior to what used to happen. What Does Crowdfunding Mean? Added Convenience Because the platform for crowdfunding is generally the worldwide web, an unparalleled level of convenience is enjoyed. Convenience doesn't mean a slovenly campaign attempt that brings in thousands of dollars. Without hard work on the part of any campaign raiser, very little will happen. Rather, technology makes things much easier. The term "crowdfunding" was first coined in 2006. It's inevitably tied to the information and internet age. Crowdfunding came about because technology made it possible to meld together fundraising campaigns in a way never done before. Social media and email allow those heading up campaigns to promote their causes instantly and effectively. The equipment needed to create quality videos, photos and written content is more easily accessible than ever before. The result is a professional-looking campaign delivery that can attract the attention of hundreds and even thousands of people. One of the greatest conveniences of crowdfunding is the time factor. As soon as the need arises to raise money, something can be done. Sharing, email, giving and the receiving of funds can be accomplished with lightning fast speed compared to all previous generations. Better Opportunity for Integrity Many worry whether crowdfunding could more easily be exploited with the advent of the internet age. No one would deny that this could happen. There is always some inherent risk in giving. However, today's increased technology usually allows potential givers a much better window into what's actually happening. They can decide whether a campaign is well put together or not. Generally, those sincere about their campaigns will expend ample effort making sure the image they portray is the best that it can be. In a sense, it's much like the decisions consumers make when they decide whether or not to go with a business based on their web presence. Potential givers aren't simply getting a handwritten letter or phone call requesting money like many times in the past. There's a community backing solid, truthful campaigns. The best givers are typically those who personally know the one embarking on a campaign. Contrary to the belief of some, the information age allows for more transparency and integrity instead of the opposite. Typically, campaigns that are legit will clearly show that fact. Crowdfunding Affordability Gone are the days of traveling long distances to ask a benevolent person or family for help. Print materials for most campaigns aren't usually necessary or the need to purchase stamps to mail out information. Even the poorest of the world can put together a campaign. Is it costly to do so? To some degree, yes. But the cost is now mostly measured in time spent on the campaign instead of startup and ongoing monetary burdens. This means that even those with the most limited resources need not be prevented from starting a campaign or giving to one that matters to them. And that is very important because of a human need we all have: to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. What is Crowdfunding? Something Bigger Than Yourself It's a sad, small world for those who only think of themselves all the time. We were created for something far bigger than that. Those who study the vast depths of the oceans, the unfathomably distant reaches of outer space or the scriptures quickly learn something humbling. We all are very limited and small in our abilities to bring about much change on our own. But our extremely limited selves can embrace our weakness and do something for the good of others anyway. Once we embrace our limitations, then we're ready to be a part of something bigger. To be used in this way is a human need as we already mentioned. It's compelling, exciting and is the ultimate mission of anyone who's willing to go on such an adventure. Being a part of something bigger than ourselves brings out and fulfills the reason we were born. Crowdfunding fulfills the need to be a part of a greater motivating cause. No longer is it just the extremely wealthy who are asked to share in such ventures. With crowdfunding, everyone is invited to give something no matter how small, knowing that what they've done in a community of other caring people will "move mountains." Do you feel too small to make a difference? It's true that by yourself, you're quite limited. We all are. With others, with God? Now, that's a different story! That's what gets our team at Give Send Go so excited about facilitating Christian crowdfunding. It's an opportunity like no other to group together with the goal of positive impact around the world. What is Christian Crowdfunding? There are plenty of crowdfunding sites to choose from. Part of the reason for this is that there are different types of crowdfunding. Sometimes money is lent to a campaign for a business venture and later paid back. Other types allow for certain rewards, returns or even a share in ownership of a developing business. Although these forms of crowdfunding have their place, GiveSendGo.com deals with donation crowdfunding. But our mission goes beyond that We don't view donations to Christian causes as an investment with no "tangible" return as many Crowdfunding resources will tell you. By faith, we believe that it's a chance to store up treasures in Heaven--to be a part of something that will matter forever. That is why we believe so much in Christian crowdfunding. In Randy Alcorn's novel, Deadline, Jake and his friend, Doc, had a conversation. Doc had no place for God in his life while Jake's entire life was wrapped up in his Savior. Doc noticed a receipt on Jake's desk that showed he gave a large sum of money to alleviate hunger in an impoverished area of Africa. Doc told Jake he felt that the move was foolish, just putting off the inevitable suffering of those people that would happen again. Doc told Jake he should have saved the money for his disabled son, for a dream vacation or retirement. Jake's response sums up why we do what we do at Give Send Go. He said, "You're trying to think thirty years ahead. I'm trying to think thirty million years ahead." That is the challenge and privilege of every Jesus follower. To invest the lives and resources we've been given by God and use them in something that will last on through eternity. The heart of God thrills when we give up on what we once thought mattered to do what matters more than anything else. What is crowdfunding more than anything else for the Christian? It's the opportunity to be an eternal influencer and difference maker!
