Reign
Ministries
Royal Servants
Kairos
Discipleship School
Boost Mission Trips
(group trips)

COVID-19 POLICY & PROCEDURE

Presummer Letter: Experience More - Practical Support Raising Help

Written by:
Jack Becker

If you have tried to start support raising, you may have found yourself cleaning your room for the second time in one day. You might have found yourself suddenly motivated to write a 15 page essay. I’m definitely “not” talking from experience.

While avoidance sounds great now, I want you to know that fundraising is ministry. Henri Nouwen once said, “Fundraising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission.” When you contact your potential supporters, what you are really doing is inviting them to join you in sharing the gospel and experiencing growth. Give your friends and family the opportunity to partner with you in this, and I know you will see God call together a team of people who want to join you.

As you walk through preparing for Royal Servants, here are some practical ways to help you support raise:

  1. Pray – I know you may be thinking, “No duh Sherlock”, but you are not alone in this season of preparation. Talk with God and share with Him your thoughts and fears. Ask Him for wisdom, provision, and courage. Thank Him for preparing you for this summer. Listen to His voice and spend time enjoying His presence.
  2. Brainstorm – Take time to write down everyone you can think of who might be interested in what you are doing. You might surprise yourself with how many names you can think of!
  3. Prepare – Anything is manageable if you make manageable, so make a plan and stick to it. Some tasks include:
  4. Write your support letter – Make time to write the letter and set a date that you will aim to put them in the mail. Make sure you read the Costs Explained section within the Prep Packet so you can communicate how people can make a donation.
  5. Plan out your phone conversations – Think about what you want to communicate to your potential supporters and write it out ahead of time. There is a sample script in your Prep Packet to use as an example.
  6. Schedule your calls – Take a look at all the names you thought of when brainstorming and determine how many phone calls you will make each day. I would suggest starting at 3-5 people a day.
  7. Share your plan – Think of someone who can keep you accountable and then share your plan with them.
  8. Call – I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough. Time and time again I have seen that phone calls are the most successful way to support raise. It gives your friends and family a chance to hear the excitement in your voice as you share about what God is doing in and through you. Calling them can also communicate that you are serious about your mission trip, as well as give them the opportunity to ask any questions they may have.
  9. Praise – Thank God for the opportunity to share with people what He has called you to do. Thank Him for providing everything you need. Make sure you are also personally thanking your supporters for partnering with you and sending you into a summer of ministry and growth; handwritten “thank you” notes can go a long way in expressing your gratitude.

You will see God work in creative and amazing ways as your funds come in! If you need encouragement at any point in the coming months, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our fulltime staff that is in the front of your Prep Packet. They would love to talk and pray with you!

Important Information

Booking Domestic Travel

‍Today we emailed (they will be in the mail tomorrow) all of the mission trip travel documents. Included in the mailing are the Updated Mission Trip Schedule, Travel Health Insurance form, Domestic Travel form, Travel Consultant form, and a letter about COVID guidelines. With the release of the Updated Mission Trip Schedule you can arrange your domestic travel. Please read over each form carefully, especially the Travel Health Insurance form, to be sure you have all of the information you need.

‍Packing Tips

‍There are a few things I want to highlight this week as you start to think through purchasing/borrowing things for the summer:1. Headlamp: I know that for some it may seem a little nerdy. But in the world of Royal Servants, a headlamp is not only fashionable, it's extremely practical. Having 2 hands free at night (as opposed to holding a flashlight) is the way to go. You can get a fairly inexpensive headlamp at Walmart.2. Spices: Old Bay, brown sugar, garlic salt, Mrs. Dash, or one of those containers that have multiple seasonings - seem to be everyone's favorite go-to's. You don't have to bring seasonings, but who doesn't want a little extra brown sugar on their oatmeal?!?3. Toilet Paper: This will be one of the best pieces of advice I give you. If there was ever a time to spend a little extra, this is where to do it. At the very least, go for 2 ply. You'll thank me later.

‍Mission Trip International Airfare Amounts & Deadlines

‍In your Prep Packet we let you know that we are required to start booking international tickets the beginning of May. Listed below are the actual dates we will be booking each trip. That means each participant must have enough money in her or his account to cover that cost on that day. If you have enough funds in your account we will automatically book your ticket. However, if you don’t have the funds in your Royal Servants account, you may also give us a credit card to cover the cost.

We won’t charge your credit card—really! We will simply put a hold for that amount and then remove the hold when your account has enough funds to cover the ticket. We would only charge the card if you dropped from the program and didn't have enough in your account to cover what we paid for the ticket. Reign Ministries is only able to process holds for Visa, MasterCard, and American Express cards (debit cards may be used, but there has to be enough funds in the account and the hold will make those funds inaccessible until released). You can find more information on this under "Financial Deadlines" in Preparation Packet booklet.

If you want us to purchase your ticket by putting a hold on a credit card, you will have to call the Reign Ministries’ office before the booking deadline. You are not able to use our online giving to place a hold. You can make a tax-deductible donation for your ticket online, but the amount is immediately charged. You can reach Margaret at 402-541-9849 or call our office 763-535-9555 ext. 721 for the Royal Servants Department. We are in the office weekdays between 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM CDT.

‍Please note: Donations made online via ACH giving (via your checking account) after April 25 may not clear the bank in time to count towards the airfare. Therefore this online giving feature will not be available April 26 - May 11.

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Trip   Airfare Cost   Booking Deadline

‍Ireland  $1200  May 9th

‍Costa Rica  $900  May 10th

‍Nepal  $1500  May 10th

‍Morocco  $1100  May 11th

‍Nehemiah  $2000  May 11th