Monday, July 23, 2007

Ministries That Get Funded Do This (Part IV)

In this fourth step the apostle Peter took to successfully grow his ministry, we see what triggered all the cash to flow.

Peter's Principle #4: Grow in the spirit of one for all, all for God.

Peter and John were not lone rangers in ministry. According to Acts 4:23-31, they had a support base of “their own people.” Peter not only consulted with these ministry partners, but together they faithfully prayed for strength. As a result, the Holy Spirit empowered them so that they “spoke the word of God boldly.”

Seeing that Peter had healed the crippled beggar and hearing the preached Word of God provided the people both the physical evidence and spiritual prompting they needed to open their hearts and give. As Acts 4:32-35 reports, “all the believers were one in heart and mind." They "shared everything they had" and put all their money into the apostles’ ministry where “it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”

Today’s well-financed ministries have visible programs and vocal leaders boldly proclaiming God’s Word. Behind the scenes are faithful partners and prayers. The net effect is a comprehensive top-down, bottom-up approach. Divine blessings flow down from heaven as miracles and ministry are uplifted on earth.

People become believers, believers become supporters.

Are you and your ministry partners on one accord, praying together, publicly sharing God’s Word, and letting the light shine on your good deeds, to God’s glory?

Can you guess the fifth and last of Peter’s principles for ministry fundraising?

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Ministries That Get Funded Do This (Part III)

Of the five steps the apostle Peter took to create the most financially successful ministry ever led by man, the third is perhaps the most controversial. But, Acts 3-4 of the Bible makes clear it is the pinnacle of Peter’s ministry.

Peter’s Principle No. 3: Give God the glory, publicly.

The Bible says, “While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.”


Solomon’s Colonnade was a large public meeting forum. With living proof standing by his side, Peter credited the miracle he performed to the name of Jesus Christ. So important was the public uplifting of God and Christ that most of Acts 3 and multiple parts of Acts 4 are devoted to it.

Peter used the miracle to attract the public to a forum where he could glorify God and inspire a new body of believers – believers who would soon pour into his ministry everything they had.

Miracles make believers. Believers make supporters.

Our Christian ministries must cease to be quiet and invisible. God's work deserves public glory. His Word calls for bringing to light the evidence of miracles. And His blessing of overabundant support follows ministries that comply.

Are you publicizing to God’s glory the miracles of your ministry? Do you know free publicity is possible, even for small ministries? Can you guess Peter’s Principle #4?


Monday, July 2, 2007

Ministries That Get Funded Do This (Part II)

To create the most financially successful ministry ever led by man, the apostle Peter followed five development steps revealed in Acts 3-4 of the Bible. While the first cast Peter’s faithful vision for success, the second turned his faith into action.

Peter’s Principle No. 2: Perform miracles at a bargain.

Upon offering the crippled beggar the healing power of the name of Jesus Christ, the Bible says Peter took the man’s hand and “helped him up.” The combination of spiritual healing and physical support transformed the beggar who had been crippled since birth from dependency to self-sufficiency.

Peter had performed a miracle at a bargain. At no charge, his ministry produced a man who, after 40 years of living off others, could now work and contribute to self and society. This act created a value people could truly appreciate and would soon overwhelmingly support.

Ministries today must likewise provide both spiritual healing and physical support, to transform lives from dependency to self-sufficiency. To do so at a bargain, partnerships are required. While your ministry excels at spiritual healing, partners can help you satisfy the many physical needs of your “crippled” community. Partnerships also can strengthen your program’s funding appeal, as they indicate the broader community support for your work donors and grant makers value.


The website,
www.fundingmyministry.com, hosts complete training on Peter's Principles for sufficiency funding, including tips on how to build and leverage partnerships for holistic service delivery and greater funding support.

Can you guess Peter’s Principle #3?