Southern Missouri Students Raise Money for STL

Tue, 19 May 2009 - 12:41 PM CST

“You can do it!”

“You can raise and give money to Speed the Light!”

“Missionaries need your help!"

As a District Youth Director, I find myself using some version of the above statements almost weekly as I talk to students, youth leaders, pastors, and churches. Last month I got to “walk the talk.”

My wife and I are middle school small group leaders at our church. Every Monday, 15 to 20 students fill our basement with excitement as we learn about the Lord and life together. For the last couple of months, the entire youth ministry at our church has been focused on giving and raising money for Speed the Light. All of the small groups were encouraged to find some way to raise money together. Our daughter had the idea of a bike-athon (last year she did a basketball shoot-athon all by herself). We decided to give the opportunity to participate to the entire small group.

We set the date of the bike ride for two weeks away. We gathered the information on where we could ride. We made up pledge forms and an informational sheet with all the data for parents and students about the ride and Speed the Light. On a Monday night, we challenged all the students with the goal of raising $100 each. Our group goal would be $1,000. Everyone was excited.

Well, two days later one of our students came up to me at church and showed me his pledge form. He had already raised over $130. By Sunday another student had pledges of over $300. I was amazed and proud. By the next Monday our students had raised close to the $1,000 already.

Of course, the Saturday of the bike ride happened to be the coldest day of the year so far. The wind chill was well below freezing. We had to postpone the ride. We ended up doing it on the next Monday before our small group meeting. It was still cold (upper 30’s), but our students had a great time.

In the end, our group raised close to $2,000 – in just two weeks!

I was so proud of the students. I told them, “I knew they could do it!” I’m glad they proved me right. It also proved to me that with a little effort and planning, any youth group could do the same thing.

Here are some thoughts that might help you:

1. Be intentional. Students won’t just give and raise money on their own. They will if they are challenged and believe in the cause. Set aside specific times throughout the year where STL can be a focus. Offer fund-raising opportunities to the students so they can give and “get” money for STL.
2. Be informative. Provide the information students (and their parents) need. There are some great promotional pieces for STL that you can receive for free. Then put everything in writing on a flyer or in a letter. Include what you are raising the money for, the “essential transportation and creative communication” for missionaries, as well as the details on the fundraiser.
3. Be involved. I told the students that I would ride with them and raise money as well. I did both. I thought I would raise the most money, but four students raised more money than I did (but I promise to do better next time).

And remember…

“You can do it!”

 “You can raise and give money to Speed the Light!”

“Missionaries need your help!"

Southern Missouri District Youth Director