DEAR LARRY
I want to start a Christian non-profit. Are there Biblical principles that should be considered? I mean is there a right or wrong way to run a Christian ministry? How do I make sure that it doesn’t become one of the negative stereotypes that I see talked about on your site?
Thanks. Tom Speirs
DEAR TOM,
You’ve got an excellent question here. I think the most excellent aspect of it is that you’ve asked the question! Seriously, I commend you for taking time to consider the most God-honoring ways to go about that which God has called you to.
Non-Profits in the U.S.
According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (http://www.nccs.urban.org/) there are about 1.6 million non-profits in the U.S. today. Over the past ten years, Americans have been starting non-profits at the rate of about 63 per day – every single day of the year! Of course, not all of those are Christian, but many of them are.
I’m beginning here because it’s important for you to understand that you aren’t the first person to think about starting a nonprofit. A whole lot of Americans are doing that these days. And that in itself should give you reason to pause and consider what you’re about to do and why.
With 1.6 million non-profits already, that’s only 188 U.S. citizens to support every non-profit. Are Americans generous enough to pull that off successfully?
A lot of people start non-profits with the thinking that they’ll support it on their own at first … but have visions that one day it will be self-sustaining with contributions from others. Perhaps we even see ourselves able to devote ourselves full-time to the cause and drawing a salary from the non-profit. But the reality is that this almost never happens. More often than not, the non-profits never reach the financial potential that we envision when we start them. Statistically, the majority of those non-profits that were started by individuals have annual income of less than $25,000 per year. (See the NCCS source quoted above.) Many start out with financial support from their family and close relationships, but never end up achieving a broad range of support required for a non-profit to sustain itself. Many of them end up just being dormant when the founders run out of money or grow weary of being the primary funding source.
Biblical Model of a Non-Profit?
So if you have your eyes open and are ready to proceed, it’s good to ask – as you have, what the Biblical model would look like. There are times when there may be a topic that the Bible doesn’t specifically address. This is one of those times. In fact, there’s no mention anywhere in the Bible of any type of organization other than a government, a church, or a (for profit) business. Nevertheless, there are some very fundamental Biblical principles that should guide our thinking about setting up and founding a Christian non-profit.
Acts 2:42-47 gives us a very glorious picture of what’s commonly referred to as the “New Testament Church.” It says there that, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe … All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
This description of the church continues and another salient point is made in Acts 4:32-35, which tells us, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”
The Church vs. The Non-Profit
Did you catch that? The reason that there were no needy people is because everyone gave whatever he (or she) had to the church. And the church in turn identified who was needy and used its resources to meet their needs. This is probably the best clue we can find in the Bible of how God wants the needs of the world to be met. Throughout the Bible God has been very clear that He cares deeply about the poor, the oppressed, etc. In fact, most of Jesus’ miracles involved healing the sick and feeding the hungry. But there’s an order to how God wants it done.
For the sake of time, I won’t go into a lengthy theological discussion. But let me just say that what I’m about to tell you comes from my own lengthy research. That research included checking conclusions with respected, professional theologians (including my own pastor). The point I have to make here is that non-profits (excluding churches) are not Biblical. That is to say that there is no provision for them in the Bible. Moreover, it is clear from God’s Word (the Bible) that He has always intended for the churches to do the work that we see being done in so-called para-church ministries and other types of non-profits (Christian or otherwise).
And why do so many Christians (and others) set up non-profits to do work that God intended for the church to do? The answer is really quite simple. It’s because Christians … and their churches are disobedient.
It’s also clear that God didn’t intend for governments to take care of everyone. He didn’t intend for secular institutions (like non-profits) to take care of everyone. So why are so many governments engaged in work that God intended for the church to do? And why do so many Christians (and others) set up non-profits to do work that God intended for the church to do? The answer is really quite simple. It’s because Christians … and their churches are disobedient.
Studies have shown over the years that, at least for decades, self-professing Christians don’t tithe. Statistically, 78% of Americans claim to be Christians (following a denomination based on Jesus Christ). But of only about 4% of all Americans tithe. And out of 36% of Americans who say that they attend church regularly, total giving represents only about 2-3% of their total household income. (http://www.barna.org/, http://www.gallup.com/, http://www.religions.pewforum.org/)
In withholding money that rightfully belongs to God, and which He has commanded them to bring to their church, these people have disabled and crippled their churches. So the churches are woefully ill-equipped to do the work that God commands them too. The New Testament churches described in the book of Acts were able to ensure that there were “no needy among them” because their people had a supernatural revelation of Christ and were obedient with their resources. Who do you know in today’s American churches that would sell their house to be sure that others in their own congregations were taken care of?
At the same time, even churches with strong balance sheets and high income streams often invest their money in the things that they believe will help grow the number of people in their churches. Consider for example, the explosion in American churches of the multi-site concept that claim to have “one church with multiple locations.” Instead of investing their money in programs and facilities to serve the poor, heal the sick, educate the ignorant, heal the hurting, etc. — they are instead investing their money in franchise facilities to grow the enterprise of the church.
Don’t get me wrong, most Christian churches are doing good work. But they aren’t always limiting their work to that which God called them to do. Especially in modern times, when Christian churches in America are going out of business in droves — most of our modern, contemporary churches are paying the most attention to what will help them survive, thrive and prosper. Lest you think that I’m throwing the churches under the bus, stop and think about what kind of churches we want to attend. Let’s face it, a church where everyone in the congregation sells everything they have to give to the church so it can ensure that nobody is in need would have a difficult marketing message!
Para-church ministries are not Biblical. But they may be necessary.
Questions to Consider
So it is that we have this dilemma. Para-church ministries are not Biblical. But they may be necessary. How then do we go about the business of setting them up and running them? Here are some questions for you (and anyone else starting or running a Christian non-profit) to consider.
- What exactly has God called you to do here? Be very clear here. Write it out. Discuss it with other mature Christians. It is Biblical? Does it line up with the character and nature of Christ? Does it align with what God has told us to do (i.e., love God and love others)?
- Is there no way to accomplish this in your church? Does your church have no ministry that addresses this, which you could engage in? Have you discussed this ministry calling with your church leaders to be sure they aren’t willing to take this ministry on (possibly with you as its leader)?
- Are you fully submitted to the authority of your church now, before God called you to do this? Are you living an examined life (Lamentations 3:40)? Are you confessing all of your sins to another brother in Christ (James 5:16)? Are you obediently tithing (Malachi 3:8) and serving (Matthew 23:23 & Luke 11:42) in your church – as God commands you to do?
- Under what God-ordained, church authority will you operate this non-profit? What trained theologians will be looking over your shoulder to help make sure your theology is sound (i.e., that what you’re doing and how you do it always aligns with Scripture)?
- What can you put in place to safeguard against the eventuality that the devil will try to undermine your mission? How will you, for example, keep from getting distracted from what God specifically called you to do? To be clear here, every instance that we can find in the Bible of God calling someone to do something was always very, very specific. It’s often been said that the enemy doesn’t need to defeat Christians. He simply needs to discourage them, intimidate them, or distract them. What will keep you safe from such attacks?
- What funding sources do you have in mind? Can you fund it all yourself? (And if this is the case, why can’t you do that within your own church?) If you need other funding, will you get it from your church, from friends, from foundational and government grants? Fund raising in non-profits is an enormous business in America. And sad to say, Christian non-profits are not the most successful at doing it. You’ll find, for example, that educational and political non-profits attract far more of the giving dollars in this country than any Christian endeavor. How effectively can you compete?
- Are you a strategically thinking leader? Most donors today want to know that their giving is having an impact. If you’ve been called to help orphans, for example, do you know what the best way to help them is? Can you be certain that your approach is significantly more effective than all of the other approaches being tried? (It will need to be in order to capture the donations.)
Starting a non-profit can be an enormous undertaking. I don’t want to discourage you. But I would rather see you not start a non-profit … than to see you start it and fail. So continue to do your homework. Make sure your church is very involved in helping you vet the proposition. At the very least, you’ll need the prayerful support of people who love you and believe in you. So make sure you’ve done everything humanly possible to be worthy of that support.
A lot of truth in this article. Many churches have traded caring for widows and orphans in the location where most of them dwell, in the city, and have opted to relocate onto sprawling suburban campuses where every need of the congregation is met: Christian school, daycare, coffee shoppe etc. I’m a pastor in a church that did the opposite. We left a church with a mega-ministry model and started a inner city work that God has used to run a homeless shelter for men for the past 10 years. What is interesting is that after the first few years we realized that our congregation of 100 could no longer sustain the expenses of the shelter on its own without cutting back other ministry programs. We eventually had to seek funding through partnerships with local secular social service agencies and later State grants. This collaboration has put Born Again believers at the same table with non-believers seeking to accomplish the same goals albiet for different reasons. It has been a wonderful testimony showing what genuine Christian love is really like. We are now in the process of severing our dependence on State funding and trusting the Lord to provide for his work. As your article correctly illustrates, for a start up non-profit hoping to draw 100% support through God’s people for Christian endevors in our day may be nothing short of a miracle. You may find yourself linking arms with unchristian supporters, but if you agree with the teaching on this blog you will navigate those waters to God’s glory.
Steve, thanks for sharing this testimony. Great points.
Isn’t what you said, “We eventually had to seek funding through partnerships with local secular social service agencies and later State grants. This collaboration has put Born Again believers at the same table with non-believers seeking to accomplish the same goals albiet for different reasons.” in direct violation of 2 Cor 6:14-15, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Forwhat partnership have righteousness and lawlessness,? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?”. I understand this verse to be declaring the partnership you just described as what must be avoided.
Thank God for this enlightenment. I have started operating a Christian non-profit charitable foundation called Christ love pot for the needy at hospital in Ghana. We seek to reach out to the sick, share the word of God with them, pray with them and make financial donations. I have learnt and been exposed to valuable guidelines
Those who give (donate) cash, boats, cars and trucks ought not expect the government to share in that giving. Tax deductible giving is very wrong. We are to give as though it matters much to ourselves, but not to receive something in return.
Amen, Matthew 22:20-22 King James Version (KJV) 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. King James Version (KJV)
Thank you so much for the questions you posted and for the topic. I pray that God continues to lay the caring for our neighbors on our heart and with that shows the believers (the Body of Christ) and the unbelieving world what His love looks like. Often we mean well, but forget that without God we can do nothing (even Jesus could not). But somehow, we manage to call our own agenda His. Maybe it’s not that complicated after all. Maybe we need to trust Him more for His ability to multiply the very simple gifts we give and with that grow compassion and love in us for His Body and the lost. Thanks so much for your ministry! Heidi <
Yes, caring for our neighbours is highly Biblical and we ought to carryout this mission. I have always argued that we Christians are vessels of God and as such must avail ourselves for God to use us to bless others.
Patti, given your limited family resources and inexperience raising money from others, my advice would be consider partnering with existing organizations. There’s a great Christian author named Henry Blackaby. He wrote a book called “Experiencing God.” (I highly recommend it!) In his book, Henry says that one of the best ways to engage in ministry is to look and see where God may already be working — and then join Him there. So in your case, who is helping orphans, distributing Bibles in local language, and planting churches? There are two very high quality organizations that come to my mind immediately. The first is World Vision International (http://www.wvi.org/). They do a massive amount of work in more than 100 countries on behalf of children, especially orphans. They also partner in local villages to plant and strengthen churches. The second organization is Wycliffe Bible Translators (http://www.wycliffe.org/). They translate and distribute Bibles in more than 700 languages and dialects around the world. If I were you, I would contact World Vision and Wycliffe. Tell them what God has put on your heard for the people in Pakistan, and ask them how you can get involved with them —- in obedience to God.
I have been advised to accept government money to help establish a Christian Maternity Home for women. Can you give me any advice on whether this is wise? I would like to start the home as soon as possible, because the need is very great, but have limited resources, and fear that I would need to accept funding from the government to fund the endeavor. I might be able to raise some monies from churches and Christians who give to such ministries, but know that this would probably not be enough to run a comfortable home for these young women who are so in need of one. I am troubled about how accepting money from the government @ grants, and monies to help fund the room and board for the girls would be impact the ministry. I know that it might be difficult to raise money, especially in the beginning, but I have it on my heart, as do others in my circle of Christian friends to help women who would like to bring their babies to life full term and without government help, running a house like this seems like a monumental task that might fail if It is not funded by the government. Any advice how to do this, without being totally under the secular hand of the government. I would like to be able to have solid Christian women working in the home with the girls, and have had many volunteer, who could pray with the girls, offering them Christian love, without forcing it upon them, but it troubles me that this project might be almost impossible to raise money for, without accepting some government funding. Will accepting government support hurt the ministry?
Carol, you’re asking a good question. I wonder who gave you advice to accept government money. Generally it’s not a question of a non-profit being willing to accept government money. What you’ll find is that there is immense competition for state & federal government grants of any kind. For the most part, the winners of those grants are the largest, most sophisticated non-profits in the country. (Think Lutheran Services, Catholic Charities, World Vision, etc.) They can afford the expert grant-writers (who write the applications). In some cases, those grant writers even work on a commission-like basis … getting paid a percentage of whatever grant money they help the non-profit be awarded. Moreover, these large non-profits are the only ones to have the infrastructure in place that is most often necessary to meet the requirements of the government grants. Government grants for social causes usually have stringent reporting requirements — which typically require professional information technology, among other things. Things like counselors, for example, would most likely be required to have full professional credentials (and some religious institutional credentials wouldn’t be acceptable). Other limiting conditions are common. Most Christians would have a concern that goverment grants could come with strings attached that you’d simply find unbearable – deal breakers. We hear stories about the necessity to pay for abortions, offer equal services to homosexuals, or refrain from evangelizing or offering moral guidance. What if, for example, you found your home providing to a woman who identified more than five potential fathers of her baby. You might, for example, feel called by God to offer such a client some moral guidance. But your government grant could prohibit such counseling. Concerns such as these are very legitimate in many cases. Many government grants do come with such strings attached. But from a practical perspective, I believe your bigger challenge would be to even qualify for the government money in the first place. It’s that hard to get. If the Lord is calling you to establish a Christian maternity home, my simple advice to you would be to expect the Lord to resource it — and not the government. It’s possible that once you’re up and running you may want and qualify for government money. But you would NEVER, EVER want to be in the position of having to take that money in order to keep the ministry viable. For if you do, then you would ALWAYS be in the unfortunate position of having to accept whatever conditions the goverment wanted to dictate. My second piece of advice is that you contact some existing homes today. Maybe volunteer at one. Get familiar with their inner workings. See how they resource themselves. And ask the Lord to show you what He sees in those ministries. You may be surprised at what you can learn!
I thank God for finding this article and comments. I am not a new Christian, but in a sense I am a baby since I recently rededicated my life to Christ and to doing His work. He has placed a specific church/orphan ministry on my heart which is in Pakistan, and I talk frequently with the pastor there. My husband and I have been using any extra money that we have to help provide the Pakistan people with Bibles in the Urdu language, but we ourselves struggle to pay our bills at times. I know that God has put them on my heart and I want to do more, so I’m looking at all angles. The church that we attend is very small..about 20 people, and we don’t even have our own building. So I know it sounds kind of nuts when i say that we are so concerned about this ministry in Pakistan. I don’t quite understand why but it just seems that it is more in my Spirit to help these people who are primarily muslim, come to know Jesus Christ. I feel in my heart that they are hungry for change and for a hope that they have never known. More than in our culture, although I know we have needs here for the same in the U.S. I just feel that the season is right for the seeds to be planted in the Middle East and I think that God is calling my husband and I to be a vital part of this painting. any helpful advice would be much appreciated. thanks !!! and God bless!
Hi Patti. My husband and I have just also started helping a small orphanage-church. I see this is from 4 years ago. Is it all still going??
Amen, Patti! I am a former Muslim from Pakistan! I accepted the Lord in 2007. He is most definitely moving! I have a blog that addresses cultural issues, especially a Pakistani background. Would love for you to check it out. Monaearnest.wordpress.com
I am on the board of directors of a Counseling Center that recently became a non-profit. How would you recommend approaching churches to become a partner with us?
Charlotte – I assume that you’re referring to getting churches to help direct potential new counseling clients to you, and/or to help provide some funding for your non-profit. My experience has been that churches tend to be very parochial – and reluctant to provide funding for other non-profits. I’ve even heard Bill Hybels (who leads the wealthy mega Willow Creek Community Church) say that it’s healthy for other non-profits to struggle so that they can learn to depend on God! If you are offering Biblically-centered Christian counseling, you may be more successful getting a church to refer its congration to you. To do that, I’d have some brochures made up and maybe a brochure rack that could be placed in a common area of the church. Then go to the church office, introduce yourself, and ask permission to provide the brochures.
Praise the Lord that I found this article! Wow, what a wealth of profound advice. It answers half of the questions that I hadn’t even thought of yet. As a young adult hoping to start a Christian nonprofit, I couldn’t have found a better article – way better than some books I’ve read! If you haven’t turned this into a book, please consider it!
im really blessed by discussions God bless you.
All this talk of money and God. We live in the devils playground and money is the devils currency of control of the masses. The church is one of the most corrupt entities in the system. We don’t need church’s or money if we are true with God then the Holy Spirit will have entered into us. Unfortunately money rules and I’m seeing this first hand with these celebrity pastors. They have themselves become false idols. Trusting God will take care of us is what he wants. Full commitment to do his will, we must spend more time in his light rather than seeking the laws of the lands approval. This is the leap of faith we must take. All glory to God.
I couldn’t have said it better myself For the truth of Yahweh is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Romans 4.12 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve Yahweh and mammon. Matt 6.24
In fact I wouldn’t even bother getting into any sort of discourse with these people. They have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about
God has called me to minister to young women and I have acquired a 501 (c) (3) because I can’t get help from the churches so do you think this is Biblical? where trying to reach teen moms, homeless and addicted young women and funds are needed
I am a multicultural Caribbean American growing up in mostly white,black and global churches.I graduated NYU with a M.S. and strongly considering going to Rev.Pat Robertson’s Christian Law School in two years after his attorney grandaughter and Regent’s law professer prayer for entrance access into their law school also for a dual degree in MDiv for evangelism and missions. Christian businessmen brothers are mentoring me to help with a Christian Startup,”Bible to the Nations” via Christian Missions Organizations.The Holy Bible has saved my life from homelessness,severe depression, and miracles and making the right decisions of wisdom.I have a divine passion for this.I read what you said about most Christian Startups don’t make more than $25k.I have dreams like Joseph of paying off my $100k educational loans, law school tuitions,family owned business and more.My mentors say it begins ,middle and ends with prayer and fasting ,God’s will and daily bread.Can you recommend some books on this article you wrote,writing a Christian non profit business plan ,all the steps to the first trial year,find raising even dealing with secular funding,if that ‘s permissible when it comes to distributing Bibles,Christian Books,and Jesus films, and networking and growth…and amassing a network of prayer warriors. Thank you and God Bless you, Garth Harding 347-876-9181
thank God I came across this article, my name is mbalaha saviour Oryiman, my issue is quite unique. I am a member of a particular church, but before my baptismal, I became aware more a little about God’s call over my life. I have been baptized since 2012 and during the baptism, I interacted with my mates and up till now when I call them up for something, some of them usually turn up even though I am not so consistent with them which I am trying to do now. We have in a little way tryid to put hands together to see how we can reach out to the ones among us who conditions are very critically bad both in financially and word of encouragement so to help them keep their heads up. But some of the challenges are : most of them are students just like me and can hardly donate something meaningful. Also, most of of the times they complain of transport issue when ever there is an urgent assignment to carryout. For now, I am dealing with just my baptismal mates though hopping to spread tentacles when things get better. Another issue is that we are experiencing economic recession which has made the situation more challenging. I pray you do me a favour of showing me how to raise fund and also, we are planning of making laws that will lead us to success. Mine is not outside the church. I have noted some above but others are not applicable since it is not outside the church. Thank you once again and God bless you.from.
Hi I am so glad i stumbled upon this site, i find it very informative, i love the biblical principles used to describe the work of the mission of Christ , i am a born again christian for many years, i know the lord has placed a vision of African children, selling on streets, and destitute, i have prayed for long for the lord to show me exactly what he wants me to do. praise the lord is has showed me clearly,but my fear is that i don’t know where to start from, the vision is bigger than me, but not bigger that God. i will love to receive more advice, my mission is based on john 10:10. although most comments seems posted long time ago. this is 2017.
Hi my name is Danny Nyirongo from Zambia I run a christian organization taking care of the vulnerable in the society and preaching the word of God in schools.if you are interested in helping u can contact me on 0978652984
Danny, unfortunately I am not in a position to help you. But God bless you for taking the lead where you are.
TRUMPET BLASTING, TIMES UP! God the Holy Name of Almighty Creator. Jesus the Merciful Savior Name of God. All Other Names Diverted to Satan’s Trap. Jesus: True God, the Incarnated Consubstantial with God. True Man, the Created Conformity with Man. Religions Lead You To Hell. Jesus Saves You To Heaven. Obey God, All His Words. Believe Jesus, All His Works. Born with Ancestral Sin with No Choice. Living Under World Temptations in Dilemma. Dead to Destiny Heaven or Hell Unknown. Noah’s Family Saved. From Flood. Lot’s Family Saved. From Fire. God’s Family Save, to Heaven. God Jesus Way to Everlasting in Heaven. Satan Way to Unending Torture in Hell. People be ready for Judgment Day.” NOW “!
Starting a non profit organization is a calling from God .Like in my country ,alot of people have them for the sake of accumulating wealth for themselves.God should help us on this.I founded a charitable ministry way back in 2014 but full of setbacks.But one thing that strengthens me is that it is coming from God and am assured that one day things will work.Therefore ,whatever comes from God is sustainable though sometimes things may seem to be static..
Hi Larry, I’ve just come across your article now! Great, thanks. It’s good to hear of so many people working through this issue. My wife and I were on full-time staff for twenty years with a medium sized local church in a small town in South Africa 🇿🇦. We served faithfully in every area of church life, later on focusing more on what we both felt God called us to, gave us grace and gifts for, namely the arts and worship. Furthermore I have an apostolic heart and gifting. We were released from this church to pursue what God had been prompting us to do for seven years. However, two years later, after suffering many personal setbacks due to health issues, we find ourselves depleted financially and having to job hunt out of necessity-a far cry from what we originally felt called to when we were in the church. I note your comment about doing proper preparation before launching into anything, and not trying to duplicate what the church could be doing. But in our two year journey, visiting many other churches and doing vigorous research, we haven’t found a like minded church which can get behind an arts/worship ministry. Do we find any secular work, put our own vision aside, and leave what’s always been on our hearts. Having died once (and been miraculously resuscitated) I feel that every day counts. Please, if you have any suggestions I’d love to hear them. Our heart is for the advance of the kingdom globally through our gifting in music, creativity and storytelling through media. We’re desperate to step into the fullness of our call. Thanks so much Andrew
Hi i am bangladeshi,i face a many family & religion problem,some time i want to close my life but i have wife & child then i want to change my life,please need help.
Hi Subrata, God loves you and your family and he has great plans for you – plans to cherish you, not to harm you. This is only a season- and it too shall soon pass. Look to God for love and comfort and support. He surely will give it to you.
Great article. We have helped others financially in our community through one time gifts for food, utilities, etc. Mostly we have helped people who believe in Jesus, but have been hurt by church folks. Friends and I prepare a free hot meal at a local fellowship hall once a month which is supported by a local women’s Christian group. I have always believed husband and I and another couple should start a nonprofit, to help our neighbors,but not sure. Will ask friends to pray but value any suggestions for insights. Thank you. Art and Mimi
May God continue to Bless each and every one of you, May Be cause His face to shine up on you and Keep your path lit always in all His way,,,Amen, Than you so much for all of this wealth of information and wisdom! This was truly a blessing for me today, 🙂
I thank God for this website, the very first website, as I look for answers to starting a Christian medical ministry. I am a medical doctor and in August this year, 2018, I was invited to be part of a missions organization to Southeast Asia. This missions trip included medical and I was one of 4 doctors on the team. I am a middle aged Christian man and this was my first missions trip, EVER!!! I loved the work immensely, treating these poor people throughout various regions in SE Asia. I made some good contacts with other Christians in these countries and have maintained contact with them since returning back home to the U.S. I feel a tremendous calling to continue bringing medical help to these people of SE Asia, in the name of Christ Jesus. Now, I have been asked by a Christian pastor and, also, by a Christian professor, both in Yangon, Myanmar, to return to Myanmar in order to bring medical care to a remote Christian township in that country. I feel such a strong calling, by the Lord, to carry out this calling to the poor people of this township (with a population of whom 96% are Christians). They have asked me to return in March 2018 and spend about one week bringing medical care to these people. My main question is, how do I go about getting the funds for this mission in such a short period of time? I’m not sure where to start and is it IMPERATIVE that I start a nonprofit before trying to collect donations for this mission? I can probably get some donations from my church but, beyond that, I’m not sure what to do. The missions organization that I went there with in August, was a large group of about 50 people, ranging in age from early 20’s to middle age and late 50’s. The lead pastor in this ministry, along with 2 or 3 associate pastors, were quite unfriendly to me and, in all honesty, I am not sure why. They will be returning to Southeast Asia in July 2018, but will not be inviting me again. By the way, the people in this ministry are all Asian American and I was the only Caucasian American… tall blond blue-eyed white guy! And although I really stood out amongst the other missionaries, I connectly so well will all the local people in these SE Asian countries, as previously stated. I sincerely appreciate, with all my heart, any suggestions you may have in my calling to return to Myanmar! Thank you!!
Victor, thanks for sharing what God has placed on your heart. One thing I have learned after posting this article, is that it’s truly not necessary to set up a nonprofit to do this work. Just go do the work. People who believe in what you are doing will give, regardless of the tax benefit to them. Setting up a nonprofit takes a lot of work, and that can be lots of time and energy that takes away from your goal…to love and serve others. So, eventually, it might make sense to set up a nonprofit..but that can come later. Just get out there and do what God is telling you to do! God Bless and best of luck.
Thanks! this is a great response and it really speaks to us right now. Reading this article is great, but the truth is God can help answer all these questions along the way. Even greater is to trust that God will help resolve all the unknowns when they need an answer. We don’t need to know the answers or have all the knowledge up front before jumping in and loving others with ministry work. God Bless.
Grant info for Christian talk broadcast
Hi Sylvia, The timing of your email to me is fascinating because at this very moment, I am in Yangon, Myanmar, For the purpose of doing missionary work in the township within the Chin state. This evening I leave by bus with a group of five Burmese Christians, and we will set out for this Township. This journey will take about 2 1/2 days to reach the township and we will travel by bus, boat and by motorcycle. I am a doctor in the United States and, therefore I will be doing medical missions work in this Township which consists of four villages. I will be taking as much video as possible during this missions trip along with commenting on the video through all the mission. I will be taking as much video as possible during this missions trip along with commenting on the video throughout the mission. I hope to reach the Burmese people in this region of Myanmar, by using the talent God has blessed me with, by treating them as best I can medically, and also praying with them and ministering to them as God so wills. If you would like to know more, please let me know, as I would love to share my experience with you! Sincerely, Dr. Greg Krall
Hi Larry, I know I am VERY late to your response to Tom. I appreciate your passion about the Church and what the Church is commissioned to do, however I have to respectfully disagree with your stance that starting a nonprofit is being disobedient because the Church should be doing those things. Starting a nonprofit as a Christian IS the Church doing those things. The Church IS the people. I am a part of the body, you are a part of the body, as well as other Christians. We are all blessed with gifts from the Lord. These gifts are best suited when we make them our life’s work. The Lord does not want us to spend each and every day working tirelessly and not being able to take care of our own home. 1 Timothy 5 : 8 “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Proverbs 14 : 23 “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Romans 12 3 : 8 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;”. The Lord has called to walk in accordance to and with the Spirit. We are commanded to take care of our homes and our gifts, that have been given to us by the Lord is our strength, it’s where our passion should be and we should focus on sharpening that gift or gifts. Starting a Christian Nonprofit to use your gift or gifts, is a calling and a beautiful calling at that. Money in and of itself is not evil, it is the love of money that is evil. If a Christian were to use his or her gifts to gain vast wealth above and beyond comfortable living, now that would be wrong. A Christian, using their gifts to serve and in return they are able to make a wage that they can live off of, that is an obedient servant of God. Romans 8 : 28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I say all of this to you with love Larry. Please don’t quench the Spirit of the Lord by discouraging Christians from starting a nonprofit and calling them and the “Church” disobedient. Encourage Christians to use their gifts in every capacity that they can to bring Glory to the Lord.
YES! God can help answer all a persons questions along the way. Even greater is to trust that God will help resolve all the unknowns when they need to be answered- not ahead of time. Where then would our faith be? In our own understanding. Better though, is that we don’t need to know the answers or have all the knowledge up front before jumping in and loving others with ministry work.
Nothing wrong with starting a non-profit. Many worthy organisations around the world are non profit. To name but a few:- American Heart Association. American Red Cross. United Way. Humane Society of the United States. Salvation Army. The church, of all organisations, should be the ultimate non-profit. There are many terms and phrases used today that couldn’t possibly be found in any early literature or scripture. To label the phrase ‘Non Profit’ as ‘Not Biblical’ is therefore a mute-point and irrelevant to the world we live in today. The Bible is awash with reference to doing good for no profitable return. We don’t need the Bible to specifically state the phrase ‘Non Profit’ for it to be a good and righteous thing.
I am the Church. You are the Church. When Christians start Non Profits to engage in Christian work, that work IS BEING DONE BY THE CHURCH. We are the Body. Also, the charitable giving and selling your home is to provide for THE NEEDS OF OTHER CHRISTIANS not to provide for others outside the faith. It is awesome and good to give charitably to others outside the faith and it is a great witness, however, our duty with our money is for OUR FAMILY meaning, of course, our own extended families and our Christian family around the globe. Most of our Christian ministries in the church seem to be service for outreach purposes. It is great to do service for outreach, but that should be a minor part of our ministry, not ALL of our ministry. That is not Biblical. That is not what the early Church sold their possessions to support. They supported OTHER CHRISTIANS. Meanwhile, across the globe, millions of our family members are starving, oppressed, murdered, and we can’t even be bothered to change our facebook status to support them, because it isn’t PC cool virtue signalling. All of us are worse than infidels when we do not provide for “our family” first and foremost. We must not do random charity projects while our own Christian family is left to suffer and die. What ever you do for the least of these MY BRETHREN you do it to me.
Hello! Thanks very much for this article. I am planning on starting a ministry to be funded primarily with my tithe. I belong to a church where I have been giving my tithe to. But for a while now I have come to believe that I am not wanted in my local church. I truly care for the work of Christ and I felt I do not need to give my tithe to a church that do not care about me. Please advice me. Thanks again.