Stop Using These Bad Words!
Friends – this will be a fabulous post about all the cuss words that will get you into trouble in church. April Fools!
I'm not that brave (or stupid). I want to keep my job.
However, and come a little closer…I do want to talk to you about reprehensible words and phrases that are sometimes used in the fundraising/development/stewardship world. Not that you use these words, mind you, it’s those other people I’m talking about.
A week or so ago, I attended a webinar that was led by one of my favorite development people, Susan Howlett. I’ve mentioned Susan before in this very blog. Over the many years I’ve known Susan, she’s taught me a tremendous amount.
During her Practical Resources for Churches webinar, Increasing Giving through Story Listening, Susan spoke about changing the way we talk about fundraising.
Here’s where the bad words come in.
Susan has come up with a list of forty-three (yes, 43) Negative or Violent Words People Use Around Fundraising.
Some of them are downright scary.
Hit them up
Twist their arm
Rope them in
Shake them down
Give ‘til it hurts
Hook them
Holy smokes – with just six examples, this looks like a violent profession. MMA, anyone?
If you find yourself thinking about these words and phrases – or associating them with generosity and stewardship – it probably says something about how you relate to money and how you feel about asking others to give.
For another perspective, hear these words from Henri Nouwen in A Spirituality of Fundraising:
Even a seemingly small act of generosity can grow into something far beyond what we could ever ask or imagine – the creation of a community of love in this world, and beyond this world, because where love grows, it is stronger than death…
Indeed, if we raise funds for the creation of a community of love, we are helping God build the kingdom. We are doing exactly what we are supposed to do as Christians (emphasis added).
Friends, generosity is an act of love. It should never come down to twisting someone’s arm, shaking them down, or asking them to give until it hurts. Giving should be a joy-filled opportunity to change the world.
So, get it out of your system, say the bad fundraising words and put them aside, forever. Because love is all the powerful language you need.
Happy Easter!
Photo credit: ChatGPT
###Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship – helping with capital campaigns and encouraging more generosity. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise millions of dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. Who doesn’t need a little Hallelujah Chorus (for Easter Sunday, of course)?
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
Schedule a meeting now.
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