Raising Financial Support:

One area that students find difficult to approach is raising the financial support needed for a DTS outreach.  Below are some suggestions that you will find helpful.

God is our Provider:

(Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:8, Matthew 7:8)  We must remember that God is committed to and responsible for providing our needs.  He loves us and desires to give us good things.  As we are obedient to His leading, we must trust Him to make the way for us.  It is easy for us to look to others intead of God, putting pressures on those who are not responsible.  We must keep in mind that God is our provider, and we need to trust Him to provide in unexpected ways.

Define your ministry:

(Hebrews 2:2) Before you can effectively share with others, you must know what God is calling you to do.  Pray over and define the vision and direction for your ministry, the circumstances that have led you up to your call to DTS, and how you feel this program will affect what you hope to do short and long term.  It will also be helpful for you to understand the vision of YWAM and why God is calling you to be a part of it.  As you become aware of what God has called you to, there will be a confidence and excitement in what you share.  People want to support those who will be fruitful and make a difference.

The heart behind the DTS outreach phase . . . It is our desire to see each student go on outreach in order to discover more about themselves and their giftings while sharing the great hope that we have in Jesus Christ.  The non-threatening environment of outreach is designed in such a way that each student participates in a wide range of ministry opportunities that will enable them to discover what areas of ministry they might be interested in as well as to enable them to discover what they are good at and not so good at.

Share your need:

People are not likely to support you unless they are aware you have a need.  Personal contact, whenever possible, is the most effective means of communication.  One thing to remember is that the more personal you can be the better.  Relationshiop is the key.  As you share your vision and needs with others, commit yourself to seeing their needs met as well.  Look for ways to serve and bless them.  Your motivations must not be, "What can I get?" but "What can I give?"

Begin by calling and setting up appointments with those you feel are interested in what you are preparing to do.  Ask God to show you those He would have you contact.  Be sure to have some information regarding Youth With A Mission on hand to share with them.  As you share, remember that God is your provider.  Do not make people feel responsible for your needs.  Most likely, they already feel weighed down by their own needs and responsibilities.  Giving should be a blessing for them, not a burden.

Practical things to do:

In obeying God, we must be willing to make sacrifices ourselves. Sometimes God wants to see "just how willing" we are to obey Him.  Many YWAMers have earned money for their tuition and expenses by selling their cars, furniture, stereos, etc.  The rich young ruler was willing to serve God in a deeper way until Jesus asked him to sell his possessions.  We must be willing to ask God if there are any possessions He would have us sell, and we must be willing to obey.