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Community Connection
The funding for Raising the Walls is an opportunity to “connect” with the community. For nearly 20 years God has been sending teams to Juarez who have built over 700 homes, schools, church buildings, libraries, clinics, parks, soccer fields, an orphanage, a drug rehab center, a youth/community center and other elements of community infrastructure. Significant funding often comes from the community versus traditional sources within the church. The “Community Connection” strategy is based on that experience.
The strategy is simple but is “outside the box”.
The plan calls for 30 youth to find 6 sponsors from the un-churched community at $50.00 each (or 12 at $25 or what works). We have learned that the un-churched community is very responsive to such humanitarian opportunities. And, they want to help young people do “worthwhile” things and working with their hands to build a home for the poorest of the poor is typically seen as “worthwhile”. Statistically, Americans are the most generous people in the world and today there are very positive attitudes about “giving back”.
Additionally, the plan is a strategic outreach to your community and it is a family affair.
- Mom and Dad get involved with their young person in “connecting“ with the community. They are supplied with a flyer describing the humanitarian project of building a home for a poor family suffering through the Mexican drug war.
- They invite friends and acquaintances from work, the recreation center, the neighborhood, the places they shop and so on to join them and their son or daughter in making a significant difference.
- You are making “connections”.
- Un-churched members of your community become your team mates with a shared mission.
- A new or growing relationship has begun.
- You have built a meaningful bridge for ongoing communication.
- You have made an important “connection”.
A second “connection” is made when the project is complete and a formal or an informal report is given on the results of the event.
- “Hey did you see my kid on TV and all those houses they built.” (media coverage is likely).
- This “connection” becomes a very natural step in the process of introducing your new team mates to Christian fellowship.
If a student elects to write a letter to individuals to discover sponsors, the best place to begin is with the extended family and then with mom and dad's Christmas card list. A sample letter is available for personal adaptation.
There are certainly other forms of fundraising that can be employed, but it is always helpful to focus on doing one thing well and keeping it simple. And as you involve many people in the mission many individuals are blessed and touched with the love of Christ.