Comments on: Over 1 Million Charities in the U.S… http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities/ Candid Talk from Christian Missionaries Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:22:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Arnau van Wyngaard http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities/#comment-898 Arnau van Wyngaard Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:01:23 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities#comment-898 Ben, thanks for sharing that. I have also read Georg Mueller's biography some time ago. Being involved in an AIDS home-based caring ministry in Swaziland with the constant challenges of financial needs, we have really experienced that God gives much better than people do! We have therefore also adapted Georg Mueller's policy of not asking for money. Admittedly, we have asked for other things (blankets, clothing, medicine) when it was needed, but we try as far as possible to trust the Lord for our needs. We are not even close to Mueller's dedication and faith, but we can testify that his way of working is very effective. Ben, thanks for sharing that. I have also read Georg Mueller’s biography some time ago. Being involved in an AIDS home-based caring ministry in Swaziland with the constant challenges of financial needs, we have really experienced that God gives much better than people do! We have therefore also adapted Georg Mueller’s policy of not asking for money. Admittedly, we have asked for other things (blankets, clothing, medicine) when it was needed, but we try as far as possible to trust the Lord for our needs. We are not even close to Mueller’s dedication and faith, but we can testify that his way of working is very effective.

]]> By: Ben http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities/#comment-792 Ben Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:18:30 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities#comment-792 Ted, You've jumped around on a few points. 1. Funding missions out of ones own pocket is also scattered throughout the Bible. 2. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. The fact that He has control of all that occurs, does not mean that He promotes (ie. is in agreement with) all charities, needs, and/or competition. 3. You may not buy the Twinkie, but many will as a result of marketing. Millions of for- and non-profit organizations receive income by playing on the emotion(s) of their audience. That is manipulation. 4. Attraction is powerful. It sounds like your youth minister does a great job for the right reasons. Ted,

You’ve jumped around on a few points.

1. Funding missions out of ones own pocket is also scattered throughout the Bible.

2. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. The fact that He has control of all that occurs, does not mean that He promotes (ie. is in agreement with) all charities, needs, and/or competition.

3. You may not buy the Twinkie, but many will as a result of marketing. Millions of for- and non-profit organizations receive income by playing on the emotion(s) of their audience. That is manipulation.

4. Attraction is powerful. It sounds like your youth minister does a great job for the right reasons.

]]> By: Ted http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities/#comment-783 Ted Sat, 30 Jun 2007 14:43:31 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities#comment-783 Marketing for the mission - sure it sucks as IPMblog states but it is a fact of life all must deal with. Raising funds it scattered all throughout the bible - visit my http://FundMissions.com site for examples - and to comment. The point is God created all the charities, and all the needs, and all the competition. I disagree that Marketing is manipulation. Although I will see 1000 twinkie commercials during my lifetime - I won't eat a twinkie. Marketing plays a key role in getting a mess across - one quick example: many youth today avoid Church like the plague. Our youth minister runs paintball games all spring and summer for kids and spreads the gospel in a way the kids can understand, at the appropriate time. He also runs youth Christian rock shows and encourages music. The law of attraction is powerful. Marketing for the mission - sure it sucks as IPMblog states but it is a fact of life all must deal with. Raising funds it scattered all throughout the bible - visit my http://FundMissions.com site for examples - and to comment. The point is God created all the charities, and all the needs, and all the competition. I disagree that Marketing is manipulation. Although I will see 1000 twinkie commercials during my lifetime - I won’t eat a twinkie. Marketing plays a key role in getting a mess across - one quick example: many youth today avoid Church like the plague. Our youth minister runs paintball games all spring and summer for kids and spreads the gospel in a way the kids can understand, at the appropriate time. He also runs youth Christian rock shows and encourages music. The law of attraction is powerful.

]]> By: Ben http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities/#comment-503 Ben Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:33:55 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities#comment-503 IPMBlog, Let me first give the disclaimer that I am not "hardcore Mueller;" I do however, find him fascinating. No where have I been able to find an instance when Mueller petitioned for a specific need. In fact, he states the opposite quite repetitively: "Never have I asked one single human being for help of any kind." He did, however, market heavily to the Lord. The argument can be made that his ministry was highly visible, thus doing the marketing for him. He was a preacher in Bristol, the same town where he housed thousands of orphans (the largest orphanages in the history of the world, I believe). So, the needs of the ministry were open and obvious for all to see. One final note: I once heard that Costco sells it's gas below cost, thereby attracting customers, and making up the "loss" inside the store. If true, I'm impressed. Mueller, however, would not be. In 1868 he counseled a struggling, Christian businessman. Mueller's advise included prayer w/ his wife twice daily, expecting answers to prayer, faithful tithes and offerings, and follow-up. Another point, however, was much different: "Avoid all business trickeries, such as exposing for sale two or three articles, marked below cost price, for the sake of attracting customers, because of its being unbecoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus to use such artifices; and that, if he did so, he could not reckon on the blessing of God." Mueller was without a doubt, extreme. Yet I think it can also be said that Mueller, without a doubt, received many blessings from God. IPMBlog,

Let me first give the disclaimer that I am not “hardcore Mueller;” I do however, find him fascinating.

No where have I been able to find an instance when Mueller petitioned for a specific need. In fact, he states the opposite quite repetitively: “Never have I asked one single human being for help of any kind.” He did, however, market heavily to the Lord.

The argument can be made that his ministry was highly visible, thus doing the marketing for him. He was a preacher in Bristol, the same town where he housed thousands of orphans (the largest orphanages in the history of the world, I believe). So, the needs of the ministry were open and obvious for all to see.

One final note: I once heard that Costco sells it’s gas below cost, thereby attracting customers, and making up the “loss” inside the store. If true, I’m impressed. Mueller, however, would not be. In 1868 he counseled a struggling, Christian businessman. Mueller’s advise included prayer w/ his wife twice daily, expecting answers to prayer, faithful tithes and offerings, and follow-up. Another point, however, was much different:

“Avoid all business trickeries, such as exposing for sale two or three articles, marked below cost price, for the sake of attracting customers, because of its being unbecoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus to use such artifices; and that, if he did so, he could not reckon on the blessing of God.”

Mueller was without a doubt, extreme. Yet I think it can also be said that Mueller, without a doubt, received many blessings from God.

]]> By: IPMBlog http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities/#comment-499 IPMBlog Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:44:01 +0000 http://www.moneymissions.com/ben/missionary-life/over-1-million-charities#comment-499 Another missional fundraiser type I know pointed out that even though Mueller didn't ask for money, he certainly made the need known. Marketing (which I do) has earned it's bad rap, and e'en today presents new reasons for skepticism. It is, however, a valid part of any business or non-profit venture. Check out the http://ChurchMarketingSucks.com blog for more on this. Another missional fundraiser type I know pointed out that even though Mueller didn’t ask for money, he certainly made the need known.

Marketing (which I do) has earned it’s bad rap, and e’en today presents new reasons for skepticism. It is, however, a valid part of any business or non-profit venture. Check out the http://ChurchMarketingSucks.com blog for more on this.

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