Guide to Prayer/Support Letters

Building a Support Team

Each individual team member will be responsible for developing his or her own support team. The support team consists of:

• Prayer Supporters
• Encouragers
• Financial Contributors

The concept is to develop a team, not just raise funds. The most important need for you is for people to pray for you before and during the project. Follow these six steps to developing your support and you will get to experience the joy of watching God provide for you on this trip!

STEP #1: The Team

The idea is to involve as many people in the mission experience as possible.

The team:

• Is a ministry through you to the team (TEAM = goers + prayer support + senders)
• Is a means by which others can share in the blessings of the mission (“I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. What I want is for you to receive a well-earned reward because of your kindness.” Phil. 4:17—NLT)
• Is a Biblical approach (“For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem.” 2 Cor. 8:3-4—NLT)
• Is a means by which others become World Christians through giving

You should seek people that you want on your team, not those who you think are good financial resources. Remember, if the prayer support is in place, everything else will fall into place.

STEP #2: Raising Funds

The most effective, proven method to raise funds is to write a letter for distribution to friends, family, co-workers and church members. People will give to those they know. Potential contributors are happy to have the opportunity to invest in someone they know personally or to an endeavor they care about.

STEP #3: Prepare the Team List

For financial support, write down at least 30 names for your trip.

Do not just rely on FBCA members (as a matter of fact, 75% of your names should be outside our church). And remember, our church is small and our resources will be limited - think outside the box! Maybe your place of business will provide matching funds! Ask friends, relatives, Christian contacts, co-workers, and people who might like to be involved or to partner with you in this ministry.

STEP #4: Write the Letter

You are asking people to support the ministry of Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho. If you are asking for financial contributions, you are asking them to help with the cost that you will incur by conducting the ministry (transportation, meals while on the field, in-country housing, travel insurance, etc.) A common testimony for team members is that while they were initially put off by the idea of sending support letters, the experience turned out to be a highlight of the entire trip! You will be surprised by who supports you (and by who doesn’t!).

There are two types of letters:

1. A letter sent out asking for prayer support only (if you are paying your own way)
2. A letter sent out asking for prayer and financial support

Support Letter Details

Compose your own letter. It is unwise to copy from a sample letter. The last thing a donor wants is four copies of a letter with four different signatures. People prefer to read a personal letter. Just be sure to include the following information in the letter:

1. Brief information about the country/culture you are going to
2. Information about FBCA
3. Description of what the team will be doing (why the team is doing this particular project)
4. The cost of the trip (the same for each individual team member)
5. Recommendations for a giving amount (or just leave it up to the donor) - for example, “I need 10 gifts of $100, 15 gifts of $50, and 22 gifts of $25. Would you consider one of these amounts?”
6. Reasons why you want to be involved on the trip
7. How you would like the reader to be involved (prayer, financial, or both)
8. Information about payment:
   1. all checks should be made out to FBCA
   2. mail the check to you (the team member)
   3. the date you need the money
   4. contributors may write your name/project on the memo line of the check
9. Include a response slip for them to send to you.
10. Keep the letter brief - one page is enough to communicate your heart and tell about the facts of the trip.

STEP #5: Send the Letter

Mail the letter, response slip, and a self-addressed envelope to the list of potential supporters by the deadline set by the team leader.

STEP #6: Follow-up

It is the team member’s responsibility to keep accurate records of who has supported them and at what amount. Following the trip, each team member must send a follow-up letter to each person who supported them on the trip, whether by prayer, finances or encouragement. The letter should detail what happened on the project and how it affected them. There is nothing more discouraging than to support someone in a mission trip and then to never hear from that person again. By sharing your experiences with your support team, you continue to spread the burden and heart for world missions.