Learn the truth about ministry fundraising by reading Phil Cooke's Blog
Biblical fundraising should be different.
Is it wrong to ask for money to support ministry?
No, Paul did it frequently in the epistles. And He let Timothy know that ministers deserve to be paid for their work. I think marketing from a Christian world view needs to be focused on informing donors where there money is going and how it is being used. In the end, its not the ministries money, but the Lord's. 1 Corinthians is clear that we should not give out of impulse or guilt, but out of love and thanksgiving to God. Sure we need to communicate to our audience in appropriate and effective ways, but purposed manipulation should not be a method of fund-raising. Communicate the effectiveness of the ministry, share the need, and let God do the rest. Consider the following verses:
1 Timothy 5:17- 18: "Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!"
2 Corinthians 8:11b-12 "Give whatever you can according to what you have. If you are really eager to give, it isn't important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don't have.
2 Corinthians 9:7 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.
The Sun reports: Tom Cruse is the New "Christ" of Scientology.
Are all "christians" lumped together?
Does secular Hollywood see Tom Cruise & Scientology, Mel Gibson & The Passion, Pat Robertson & the 700 club all in the same club of religious nuts? And are sane bible-following Christians seen in light of these people?
In other words, do they think all Christians are crazy because of these high profile personalities and/or cults? Or are most of them intelligent to know the difference between bizarre and authentic expressions of faith.
What Can we do about?
How can we influence these perceptions of Christians/ Christianity as professionals and consumers of entertainment? How can we show authentic Christ-like Christianity in the midst of the often poor publicity of high-profile personalities?
My first film contest.
On Nov. 10th at 4pm, Sam Hendry, Marcus Sonsteby, and Tim Ingold, and I decided to make a short film in 24 hours.
The brainstorming began. . . 10 hours later, after a dead bee. a trip downtown, and one chocolate chip cookie , we were on the brink of insanity, but we pressed on and decided to shoot Sam's Idea.
Jetlagged: A guy takes the girl he loves to the airport so she may fly out of his life forever. He's an emotional wreck as he goes home, but after falling asleep on the couch he hears a knock on the door. Is it it her?
We found Alex Amendriz in the Student Center at 2:00am and somehow convinced her to act in our film. We didn't do to shabby with a final placement of 14 out of 500 entrants. The biggest thing that hurt us was time. We really wished we could have edited just another hour. But that's what happens when you spend all night coming up with the idea!
Watch the film here:
http://edcommunity.apple.com/contest/item.php?itemID=142
We have recently finished our 10 show run of "Fiddler on the Roof". I had a wonderful time acting in the show and spending time with an absolutely wonderful cast. It was also wonderful to see how God united us and performed miracles in our midst.
One of my lines in Fiddler on the Roof is "There is a blessing for everything". I then went on to bless the sewing machine. I decided to use this authentic Jewish blessing that is supposed to be said when good things happen to others. While doing my research I realized that their really is a blessing for everything. Thus I decided to change the delivery of this line.
