God’s Work Done in Whose Way?
“God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supply,” said Hudson Taylor. He founded the China Inland Mission with ten pounds sterling, and “all the promises of God.” Asking God for the supply of twenty-four supported missionaries, he held meetings, not so much to appeal on behalf of the new China Inland Mission, but to speak about China and how a great God could meet the country’s needs. What does this principle mean in the context of 2000 and beyond for each IFMA member mission?

In this present hi-tech environment, we ask ourselves, how much information can we present without that information becoming a strong direct appeal? When does a communicated prayer request become more than just that and enter into the area of thinly disguised strong solicitation? Are our direct mail pieces and our information banquets all within the “Information Without Strong Solicitation” principle? Some have asked about telethons and how they might or might not fit into the principles of “Information Without Strong Solicitation.” Taylor and MŸller, as they went about verbally delivering information about their fields, never dreamed of TV, computers, e-mail, or the world wide web. We must ask ourselves questions today in this new and more complicated context. We must ask ourselves what is “Information Without Strong Solicitation”? We must ask, we must consider, and we must answer. This is healthy and good.

Some have said that our “attitude” is the criterion in deciding if information is being given with or without strong solicitation. Our attitude is certainly key, but is attitude the only criterion? Can we merely melt down any modern device as so much of “Egypt’s Gold” and use this for ministry? The IFMA standard simply states that each mission should exercise faith in God for the provision of needs without strong solicitation for funds. What does this principle mean in the context of 1996 and for each IFMA member mission?

It is important to understand that each IFMA mission as an autonomous corporation, develops its own practices and monitors its own personnel. We ask ourselves and we ask each other, what does “strong solicitation” mean? When does our energy in communication become “strong solicitation”?
 
The IFMA has received various inquiries from inside of our membership and without, as to the meaning of “strong solicitation.” The IFMA Official Board at its March, 1996 meeting dedicated significant time and energy to the exploration of what it means that we exercise faith in God as we share information about the work of God, but without strong solicitation for funding of that work. The IFMA Official Board expounded, shared, and challenged each other’s thinking so that a framework of guidelines and examples was produced.

We all know that living by faith is expressed down through the ages through a variety of peoples and contexts. Hebrews 11 contains an array of faithful men and women of God who by faith said and did many things to the glory of God. The IFMA Official Board has endeavored to carefully and honestly treat what it is to live by faith and what it is to look to God for His provision for world evangelization. We share with you some of these findings in an effort to stimulate your own thinking and to provide help to mission staffs and field missionaries as we join those who have served before - always finding Him faithful.

What have we meant when we have said “without strong solicitation”? While seldom actually defined, “without strong solicitation” has been married to our being faith missions - and this heritage has never been taken lightly. We have informed, but taken care not to solicit support by producing guilt or through manipulative techniques. We have been slow to use giving/response devices on our mailed information and in our publications. Some of us are beginning to use response devices, however, in an effort to remove barriers and provide convenience for the very busy supporters who pray and give. Most of us do not consider this to be out of harmony with the faith principle of “information without strong solicitation.”

We have sought to put all of our confidence in the Lord of the Harvest, not in techniques as we look to Him to move His people, the donors, to give to the work. We have sought to make the person, the donor, foremost - not his money nor his gift.

We have shunned the manipulative attitude toward the donor or potential donor - “I’ll keep liking you - and God will, too - if you give or keep on giving.”

We have endeavored to respect the person, his own needs, and his need for time to evaluate and consider, not taking for granted, nor deciding for him what he should do with his money. Said differently, we have endeavored to respect the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the donor.

The IFMA Official Board has developed a description of what “strong solicitation” might include. Additionally, guidelines were suggested in regard to our giving of information without the use of “strong solicitation.” For the sake of consistency, we will refer to those who give money to the missions as donors. We understand this to include those who give money to the general fund, to the individual missionary (often referred to as supporters) and to any special mission project. The following lists are not exhaustive, but will help us all think and evaluate as we look to the Lord of the Harvest to provide for His work in world evangelization.

Strong Solicitation is:
* The perpetual use of crisis appeals.
* The offering of gifts to donors as an incentive or reward.
* The over emphasis on appeals for money in our correspondence, publications, and mailings.
* The use of purchased, rented, or borrowed mailing lists to raise funds prior to the estab- lishing of a relationship with that potential donor.
* Cold telephone solicitation.
* The use of the tactic that “something will not happen - for you - for God - for the mission - if you do not give.”
* The forcing of a decision - the attitude of not leaving, nor concluding a conversation until money or a promise is received.
* Exaggeration in any form - exaggeration of the need, exaggeration of the tragedy, exaggeration of the emotion, exaggeration of a given situation.
* False promises of prosperity/blessing.
* Relentless appeals.
* Comparisons which produce competitiveness in the work.

Suggested Guidelines for today as we give information “without strong solicitation”:
*The information given regarding a need should demonstrate clearly a strong dependence upon God through prayer.
*The information must be true, verifiable, and the need actual, representing a real situation.
*The information should be presented in a straight forward fashion without resorting to manipulation or exaggeration.
*The information should be presented in a manner which is appropriate for the audience.
*The information should be presented in a positive manner respecting the potential donor.
*The information should be presented in a positive way respecting the recipient of the donor’s gift. (To get the donor to give at the expense of disrespect for the recipient of the donor’s gift, is to fail to glorify God in whose image both donor and recipient are created.)
*The information should always focus on what God is doing in and through this work.

May God help us all to focus on Him and His provision, always being sensitive to His voice and one another. We must remember that “one another” includes the sending church, the sending agency, the sent ones, and in some cases, the church to whom we are sent.

Reprinted in full with permission from the author: John H. Orme, Th. D.  IFMA Executive Director

This article is reproduced by The Apple of His Eye Mission Society as a service to those who seek God’s leading for missions support. While we currently are not members of the IFMA, an umbrella organization for mission agencies, we wholeheartedly endorse these guidelines!
-- Steve Cohen, founder