Lead People to be Generous Givers Using These 4 Christ-Centered Principles

The goal of fundraisers is NOT to raise money.

Rather, the purpose of a fundraiser — or giving in general — is to lead people to mature as disciples of Jesus Christ and to participate in God’s work on earth.

As a church leader, this pivot in the way you treat fundraising and giving will completely alter your approach. From your motivation and your messaging, your goal is to make disciples and to provide opportunities for people to participate in God’s work. Here are four Christ-centered principles that you can use to lead people to be generous givers.

#1. Lead people to seek God

God is at work.

Regardless if someone is a member of your church, a regular attendee, or a first-time guest, God is at work in their life. He is leading them from where they are to become more and more transformed into the image of Christ.

Join God in his work by calling the people you serve to participate in his work in their life. You can do this by inviting the people of your church to prayerfully seek God to ask how he would like for them to participate in your fundraiser.

For some, God will lead his people to make significant sacrifices, whereas, for others, he may not call them to make a comparable sacrifice, which is okay. Either way, God is at work in the life of everyone at your church and will prompt him or her to give.

Your goal with a fundraiser is to lead people to seek God and to receive his grace in giving, which brings us to our next point.

#2. Lead people to receive grace from God

God is into transforming people into gracious givers, and he doesn’t do this through coercion, guilt, or shame. God gives us grace so that we can give (2 Cor. 8:7). By leading people to seek God, you are leading them to receive his grace and to be empowered to become generous givers.

To become generous givers, we cannot live like the rest of the world. For us to create the margin in our budget to give, then God may call us to drive older vehicles, rent or purchase smaller homes, or cut off our cable bill. These situations need to be handled case-by-case. There’s not a one size fits all approach to living our lives for Christ.

#3. Lead people to trust God

God is our provider, and he knows what we need before we ask him (Matt. 6:8).

As a church leader, your goal is to lead people to trust God by taking him at his word. For instance, Paul says that God provides for us so that we can give (2. For. 9:10–11). When we ask God how we should give, then God will change our heart, rearrange our priorities, and lead us to trust him to supply for our needs.

#4. Lead people to glorify God

Giving is one way God leads us to glorify him.

The gifts we give are not intended to place us in the spotlight. Rather, the gifts we give are to lead others to give thanks to God (2 Cor. 9:11).

What is more, as we seek God, receive grace from him, and experience his faithfulness throughout our life, we will be led to give him thanks and glorify his name.

What Christ-centered fundraising principle most resonates with you?Share your thoughts in the comments below.