Stories of Anabaptist fundraisers from around the world
When is your birthday? Are you ready to raise money for a good cause? If you are a member of the Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe, you might be chosen.
Around the world, church members raise money for projects to serve ministries or special needs. We asked the manager of church relations and our regional representatives for examples of how people in their region do fundraising.
Danisa Ndlovu, manager of church relations
Within the Zimbabwean context, one way of raising funds is by grouping church members by their birthday months and requesting them to raise a certain amount of money.
They are given a target amount and a time in which they are to raise it.
The group then chooses their leader and recording secretary. How they raise the amount will be up to them.
The group can come up with a project to raise the given amount or they may agree to pay a certain amount over a period of time.
Raising the amount is a collective responsibility. Some groups manage to raise far more than the stipulated amount!
The method creates bonding among the members and at the same time it enhances creativity. It also in some ways creates a healthy competitive spirit – and money is raised!
Note: called “nsinsani,” a competition is also a common way of raising funds in DRC and Angola.
Pablo Stucky, regional representative, Latin America – Andean region
Some congregations run a second-hand store. They receive donations of most every kind of item imaginable from church and nonchurch people. These are then offered for sale at very accessible prices.
This serves a double purpose. It recycles items from those who no longer need them to those who do. And it raises funds.
And by being an ongoing operation, both donors and buyers know they can turn to it time and again.
George Broughton, regional representative, Caribbean
An event called “harvest” is an annual practice in Jamaica. Each church member gives something special to the church, e.g., a bunch of bananas or plantain, sugar cane, a variety of fruits and vegetables, baked products, craft items, clothing, etc.
A planning committee prices the items and oversees collection of funds from the sale. The sale is not done in the sanctuary, there is no auctioneer, there is no haggling about price. Monetary gifts are placed in an envelope.
The items are of the very best quality, because the members are showing appreciation and saying thanks to God for blessings.
Other churches are invited to the event to share a musical item on the program. There is also a guest speaker who gives a sermon. The fundraising sale takes place after the program of worship and thankfulness.
Gomes João de Miranda, regional representative, Central/West Africa
One of the fundraising practices in Angola is an envelope fundraiser.
Envelopes are filled with suggested donation amounts and placed around the church grounds. Sometimes the envelopes contain the cost of a specific item, for example, a bag of cement, a window, a door, etc., for the construction of a parish church.
Community members are asked to pick one up and make a donation if they find one.
David Chow, regional representative, North America
Sometimes we ask a business to sponsor a project by donating good or funds. We start with the natural relationship connections we already have. Then we write letters of invitation to invest.
For example, we ask our youth who are participating in our annual mission trip to write letters of appeal: they start with the closest people in their circle of relationships, then expand out.
Sponsorship for us means not just receiving funds for an event, it’s also sponsorship of goodwill and an investment in people’s lives. When we ask someone to give, we are building sentiment, collegiality, neighbourliness, community.
Here are a few additional ways our churches raise money around the world
- A fundraising meal or barbecue
- A raffle
- An appeal in church or gifts above regular tithes
- An appeal to members in diaspora to support a project in the country of origin
- A concert whose proceeds support a church project
- A bake sale
- A promise letter where members – individually or as households – pledge to support a major initiative or special need
- An individual invites church members to help them cover expenses for a specific ministry, event or mission-related travel
- Donations in kind, such as groceries or gifts for children, for special events
- Choir concerts
What about you? Does your congregation raise funds in similar ways? Tell us a story about a time your fundraising efforts not only met the goal but also built relationship bonds and strengthened community commitment.
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