What Am I Getting for the $95 a Month?
This question recently came by e-mail from a missionary appointee who was understandably questioning why he should pay a monthly fee for weekly coaching and accountability while he raises his support. I realized there must be others who have this question on their minds, but aren’t so forthright as to ask it.
As you may already know, raising support for faith ministry is a daunting and formidable task. It is currently taking from three to five years for those raising a full budget for long-term ministry.
KCT trainees who follow the training and coaching guidelines take an average of six months to become fully funded. The most important factor that makes the difference is the coaching and accountability relationship. So the quick answer to the question is that your $95 monthly ($570 total based on the average of six months) buys two to four years off of the time it will otherwise take to become fully funded. That puts the actual cash savings in the thousands.
Everyone who engages in KCT accelerated partnership development faces internal and external obstacles which are very difficult to overcome without continual and active guidance and support.
The main internal obstacles that come to mind are the sense of isolation, fear of rejection, internal accusations and a failing sense of urgency. The external obstacles are distractions, negative feedback and the tragic old false paradigm that you can raise support just by speaking in churches and Sunday School classes, showing up at mission conferences and writing letters. All of these obstacles demand continual attention by a coach that is trained to recognize them and to de-fuse them.
Isolation – Every individual or couple raising support regularly feels alone and isolated in the process. Their coach is their connection with the dozens of others facing similar issues, and their source of encouragement and reassurance that it can actually be done.
Fear of rejection — It’s universal. Jesus made it clear that if they rejected Him, they will reject us. This normal fear needs to be continually acknowledged and addressed. Your coach knows the signs and will keep you reminded that your partnership development ministry meets an urgent need of the church to be connected with a major purpose for redemption — to be the expression of Christ to the nations.
Internal accusations – They come at the point of highest vulnerability. You hit the 50% plateau and stay there a couple of months and suddenly you are thinking. . .
“Am I really called to do this?”
“What makes me worthy to ask people for support?”
“I feel like a beggar!” . . . the list goes on.
Your coach is familiar with all of them and skilled at helping you re-connect with your original calling and purpose.
Failing sense of urgency – When the going gets tough, among the first things that falters is your sense of urgency and momentum. Again, the coach is skilled at spotting the symptoms and challenging them.
Distractions — There you sit with a list of names and phone numbers on your desk. It’s time. . . for another cookie from the jar, or . . . oh, that garage really needs cleaning out. . . and on go the distractions. The primary goal in the accelerated partnership development process is “keeping the main thing the main thing.” Who is in your life, other than your coach, who has weekly contact with you and who assumes the responsibility of helping you stay on task?
Negative feedback — It is painfully common for people raising support to get stalled for weeks or months by an offhanded comment from a friend or family member.
“Maybe you should think about getting a real job,”
“Can’t you find a mission organization that pays a salary?”
“Isn’t it terrible having to go around begging for money?”
“I don’t think I could live on handouts like that.”
You may know there are clear, right and reasonable responses to these attitudes, but when you are out there alone, frustrated and discouraged, it is a huge advantage to have a coach to help you keep focused on the fundamental principles of why we minister in this way.
False Paradigm– It is when your are faced with making phone appointments for face-to-face presentations that the “telephone terrors” set in. It is a universal phenomenon. That is when the old paradigm creeps back in with thoughts like. . . “There has to be an easier way! Surely if I just speak in churches, Sunday school classes, home groups and invite people over for dessert, people will respond with support. Your coach is there to reinforce the proven fact that you have a five times better chance of receiving partnership when you share your ministry with one couple or individual than you would if there are two or more couples or individuals in the room.
