SUMMER TRAINING PROJECT Campus Outreach Minneapolis Support Perspective Our goals for you 1. Raise support in a Biblical, God glorifying way. 2. Gather a group of supporters, friends, and family who will commit to praying for you throughout the summer. 3. Be fully funded, raising full support by the start of STP. 4. Thank supporters for their gifts, and update them on your summer. Common Misconceptions People do not want to give away their money Support raising is not Biblical I don t know anyone to ask My contacts are too poor I don t know how I don t have time Our Philosophy Support Raising: is a means and an end of our ministry is an event and a process is an opportunity and a responsibility requires faith, discipline, and time is biblical and practical Supporter Raising Support raising is primarily about relationships, not money Not that I seek the gift, but i seek the fruit that increases to your credit. - Philippians 4:17 Evaluation Questions How are you coming into this training? What fears do you have about support raising?
The Joy of Support Raising 1. Your joy a. Opportunity for you to worship God You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. - 2 Corinthians 9:11 b. Provides for STP I am well supplied having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. - Philippians 4:18 c. Faith Building I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12-13 2. The joy of others a. Opportunity for them to worship God No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. - Matthew 10:24 b. Partnership in Missions Therefore we ought to support people such as these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. - 3 John 8 c. Faith Building We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints - 2 Corinthians 8:1-4
The Support Raising Process and You Do you know 25-40 people? Here s how you can be fully supported (an example). $250 one person $150 three people $100 five people $50 ten people $25 six people The Steps: 1. Name Storm Consider anyone who has taken an interest in your life. Friends, parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, doctors, churches etc. Try getting 100 names. 2. Write a Contact Letter Include a personal update, an introduction of the ministry, and the opportunity you have, then communicate your financial and prayer need Remember to include the following: a. IRS statement b. Where to mail checks and commitment cards Include a recent picture The goal is to be clear and concise one page maximum Have someone proof your letter for grammar, typos, and overall flow 3. Personalize and Mail Hand-write names at the top of your letter Include a couple handwritten sentences at the top of each letter, specifically referencing the person or family you are sending the letter Handwrite both addresses on each envelope Include the return envelope and commitment card 4. Follow-Up (This step is really important) This is an important step that can be hard. Ask the supporter to please consider giving a one-time gift after you have explained the purpose of the project and answered all of their questions. Primetime Calling Hours: Monday to Thursday 7-9pm Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm 5. Record and Track your Progress Be detailed and record calls and donations immediately. If you fail to do this, you might miss a step in the follow-up or forget to say thank you.
6. Thank You Letter (Manners Matter) Write letters on stationary immediately after receiving a donation. Supporters want to know that their investment was appreciated. Make it a goal to write these promptly after receiving support or you may never get around to them. 7. Follow Up STP Info Letter During STP Use social media or your phone to let people know how the Lord is working and to ask for prayer while in Myrtle Beach After STP Mail/email an update about your summer Inform your financial support in your life and make sure they know how thankful you are to God for them. Responding to Contacts Respond with the truth. If you don t know the answer to a question tell them you will get back to them with an answer and do it. Try not to be defensive. Most questions arise out of a lack of understanding, not out of questioning your motivation. Never under-answer a question. Common Questions asked about Support Raising General Is my donation tax deductible? Who do I make the check to? Where do I mail the check? Does this money go to you? How much do you need? Do I need to put your name in the memo line? Personal What are your goals? What is Campus Outreach? How does it differ from Cru, Navigators? How did you get involved? How will I keep in touch with you?
Goals and Deadlines ASAP April 19th April 21st April 27th batch May 28th Contact a support coach Send the rough draft of your support letter to your support coach and have 100 names on your name-storming sheet Mail the first batch of (20) support letters Call those who received your letter last week. Mail the second of (20) support letters and continue week-by-week until you have all your support raised! Have all your support raised and in the COM office
Important Dates Mandatory for All Project Participants: May 7th May 28th June 19th- 21st August 4th Prep Party Goal: Receive all important information (transportation, departure times, car situation, packing lists, etc), apply for jobs, answer questions, etc. Participants Leave Minneapolis for Myrtle Beach, SC Parents Weekend STP End Date BBC North Site If for some reason, you will not be able to attend one of these events, you must ask permission from staff member or email minneapolis@campusoutreach.org. Additional mandatory dates for STP Leaders: April 24-26th May 26th Leader s Retreat Project Leaders leave Minneapolis for Myrtle Beach, SC
Summer Training Project Charles Schumacher Dear, As I approach the end of my freshman year at the University of Minnesota, I have many things to reflect upon. Throughout my first year of college I have learned a number of life lessons. I have grown in my understanding of how to manage my time, how to relate well with my peers, and how to study effectively in order to succeed in my classes. However, the most beneficial and life-changing thing I ve learned this year is what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I came into college a very selfish person. I was only concerned with things if they affected my life. I didn t care about the interests of anybody but myself. I came to realize my attitude towards others from interactions I had with my roommate, Henry. He was the exact opposite of me. He always seemed to be thinking for other people and he genuinely cared for me even when I was mean and disrespectful to him. There was something different about him. A couple weeks into school I figured it out. He was a Christian. He started talking to me about the Bible and asked me if I would come to a Campus Outreach (CO) meeting with him. CO is a college ministry at the U of M and their mission statement is Glorifying God by Building Laborers on the Campus for the Lost World. The more I hung out with Henry and other Christians, the more clearly I saw that I was only living for myself. Henry explained that Jesus came to earth to die for all of my sins, and his love would comfort me if I trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I knew this was what I wanted because I wasn t happy living my self-centered lifestyle. I received Jesus as my Savior in October. Six months later I am preparing to go on the CO Summer Project to Myrtle Beach, SC. The project is designed to help Christians grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through training in: Bible Study, Prayer, Evangelism, Discipleship, and Leadership. I will be living in a community comprised of 100 other college students who all desire to grow in their faith and knowledge of Christ. Investing in this ministry opportunity requires that I raise full support that will cover my expenses. Would you please pray about joining my support team as a means in partnering with me in this vision and investing in my spiritual maturity? The cost of the project is $2000 and I am in need of my financial support by the end of May. Taxdeductible gifts can be given online at cominneapolis.org/stpgive or checks can be made payable to Campus Outreach Minneapolis and mailed in the envelope enclosed with this letter. Please begin to pray about how you can be a part of my spiritual investment. I will call you to answer any questions you might have and speak with you further about this unique opportunity. Sincerely, Due to IRS regulations all support raised by each STP participant goes toward the cost of the Summer Training Project, not an individual participant. Therefore money donated for the STP cannot be returned if a particular individual were not able to attend the STP. Any gifts received in excess of the STP budget will be used to further Campus Outreach Minneapolis Ministries. All contributions to Campus Outreach Minneapolis are income tax deductible and are under the direction of Bethlehem Baptist Church. The donor has not received any tangible goods or services for this contribution. Campus Outreach Minneapolis endeavors to use gifts where suggested. Contributions are
solicited with the understanding that Campus Outreach Minneapolis has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. Helpful Statements Mission Statement: Glorifying God by building laborers on the campus for the lost world. STP Purpose Statement: Summer Training Project (STP) is a rare ten-week missions opportunity for students to gain maximum exposure to the Bible and Christian community for a consistent period of time. STP aims to establish a student s relationship with Christ while equipping & training them to engage the culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a Biblical, relational & relevant way. IRS Support Receipt Disclaimer Due to IRS regulations all support raised by each STP participant goes toward the cost of the Summer Training Project, not an individual participant. Therefore money donated for the STP cannot be returned if a particular individual were not able to attend the STP. Any gifts received in excess of the STP budget will be used to further Campus Outreach Minneapolis Ministries. All contributions to Campus Outreach Minneapolis are income tax deductible and are under the direction of Bethlehem Baptist Church. The donor has not received any tangible goods or services for this contribution. Campus Outreach Minneapolis endeavors to use gifts where suggested. Contributions are solicited with the understanding that Campus Outreach Minneapolis has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. The Ask Investing in this ministry opportunity requires that I raise full support that will cover my expenses. Would you please pray about joining my support team as a means in partnering in this vision with me and investing in my spiritual maturity? The cost of the project is $2000 and I am in need of my financial support by the end of May. Tax-deductible gifts can be given online at cominneapolis.org/stpgive or checks can be made payable to Campus Outreach Minneapolis and mailed in the envelope enclosed with this letter. Please begin to pray about how you can be a part of my spiritual investment. I will call you to answer any questions you might have and speak with you further about this unique opportunity.
Support Tracking Sheet Name: Date: Support Total: Name Phone # Address Letter Date Mailed Phone Call Pledge Amount $ Thank You Date Mailed
Support Tracking Sheet Name: Date: Support Total: Name Phone # Address Letter Date Mailed Phone Call Pledge Amount $ Thank You Date Mailed
STP Support Raising Agreement A. Pray and ask God what you should trust Him for in this area of need. B. All checks should be made payable to Campus Outreach Minneapolis and should be mailed to the Campus Outreach office along with a commitment card. C. We will not accept cash gifts for support. D. All checks made payable to: Campus Outreach Minneapolis for the Summer Training Project will be receipted and are fully tax-deductible. Therefore, the following statement must be included in every contact letter: Due to IRS regulations all support raised by each STP participant goes toward the cost of the Summer Training Project not an individual participant. Therefore money donated for the STP cannot be returned if a particular individual were not able to attend the STP. Any gifts received in excess of the STP budget will be used to further Campus Outreach Minneapolis Ministries. All contributions to Campus Outreach Minneapolis are income tax deductible and are under the direction of Bethlehem Baptist Church. The donor has not received any tangible goods or services for this contribution. Campus Outreach Minneapolis endeavors to use gifts where suggested. Contributions are solicited with the understanding that Campus Outreach Minneapolis has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. E. All STP resources are available at: cominneapolis.org/stp Support raising documentation Tracking forms I understand and agree to comply with all these policies. Name: Signature: Date: