Life Point Blog

Give Life To Life Point

All of our pre- pre launch items seem to be on track. We are still looking to do our first preview service in July with full launch at 2 sites in October. All I can say is this is a BLAST!! Everyone I talk to is really pumped for us and tell us that we are not only in a great spot being at Coconut Point Mall but a church in a theater WOW...

Well, God is moving and bringing people into our network everyday. Our next project after going to volunteer at the National New Church Conference, is to be on site for 3 weeks. During this time I spend finalizing locations, fund raising, staff meetings, and networking. I already have a ton of meetings set up. Our first Prayer E-letter, called "Life Lines" was a huge success in terms of people's feedback. Thank all of you who emailed me telling me you are definitely praying for us. The next Life-Line will be next week.

Thanks to Ben Arment for his financial campaign stuff , "One Hundred" that he sent to me. Ben just relaunched Reston Community Church and raised over 26,000.00 for equipment and stuff. God is blessing Ben and Reston and I love his blog. Check it out here. Anyway we took his idea and came up with our campaign called "Give LIFE To Life Point". Our goal is to raise $25,000 for our 3 pre-launch services. We are looking for 100 people to give $250.00 to help us reach our goal. We will be bringing a website www.givelifetolifepoint.com up to keep everyone updated to the progress. Thanks again and Big Shout Out to you Ben!!!

3 Key To Fundraising

Life Point Church is beginning its fundraising campaign. I will be posting more on this later but I have found that there are 3 over-arching keys
that a planter must know about raising funds. There are three most important things to know about fundraising right up front are:

1. People give when they are asked, and rarely give when they are not. Even when people are asked, they don't always give. So, you need to ask for more gifts than the number you need to bring in, and you need to be comfortable with people saying "No."
2. Donors are not ATMs. You need to thank them and keep them posted on what your organization is doing with their money if you want them to give more than once.
3. You can't raise all the money your church plant needs by yourself. Spend some time building a team of people to help you.

Fundraising Check List

Here is a check list I am working on for our fundraising. I will be adding more later
Establish the Financial Support Base
____ I have developed a launch financial budget for all items leading to launch
____ I have developed a church financial budget for the year after launch
____ I have developed a church financial budget for the next 2-3 years.
____ I have completed training for church planting fund raising.
____ I have determined my financial ministry support model (Personal fund raising, Denomination support, Sponsor Church, Core Group).
____ I have developed and implemented a fund raising strategy including the development of a brochure and pledge card.
____ I have received all the necessary funds and pledges.

4 Fund Raising Tips

4 Fundraising Tips: Cost-effective ways to get started in direct mail
Here are some great tips if you plan on using direct mail to raise any funds.

1: Offer a readable, attractive newsletter which is published four to six times a year.

By enclosing a return envelope with each newsletter, you can give readers an opportunity to send contributions. Donors can also be recognized in the newsletter, and articles can be published from time to time about how individuals may remember the organization in their wills. The circulation of this newsletter will grow if you include the names of those who participate in your programs, attend events sponsored by you, or who have been recommended by those already involved in your organization.

2: Make sure that thank you letters or notes are sent in response to contributions.

In many cases, individuals will simply send money without even being asked). A reply or return envelope should be included in this thank you letter -- without mentioning it. A small but significant percentage of individuals will send an additional contribution, some even every month.

3: Send out a year-end thank you letter to all donors, board members, and volunteers.

If staff or board are really nervous, you can avoid any mention of sending a contribution. But at least a low-key request for funds would be appreciated by donors.

4: Send a January mailing to your donors reporting on their contributions for the year

Also send along with the statement that they received no goods or services in return for their gifts. This satisifies the IRS requirement.

Money, Money, Money

Successful church planting, some say, is contingent on money. Skittles or cantelopes as Ed Young would say. I would agree to a point. Just to a point though. ITs not about money ,per say, its about God. Well we know that. Without God nothing is possible. However, with God ALL THINGS are possible. So planting a multi - site church with a HUGE start up cost can only be accomplished because it is a GOD -THING.

SO, in all these church planting conferences, why is there not a session on fund raising? Why does not anyone want to talk about the honesty of money to a new church plant? Why do we act so reluctant to be realistic in telling anyone who wants to plant a church that they have to become professional fund raisers?

Why? Because most people who are teaching planters are not HONEST about how much money it will take. So for the next several weeks I will be posting, periodically, about MONEY & FUND RAISING. So stay tuned for FUND RAISING !)! for CHURCH PLANTERS

Donation Button

Raising money is paramount for a new church plant. In an era of media based giving, we at Life Point have decided to add a donation button on our blog. By clicking the Donate Button, you will be able to give a donation through pay pal in any amount God leads you to. All donations are secure and tax deductible. All donations will go directly to funding the new church in Naples/Bonita Springs Florida. As we develop our website we, will have a more extensive fund raising plan. Since fund raising is such a problem and concern, we will be posting more about raising funds for planting ,in the near future.