Church youth group always having fund raisers

[Guest Gmae]

Is there any possibility that they are encouraging you to attend the events / concerts not neccesarily just to help them raise money but rather to "get you involved" and they think of it as reaching out to you to be sure you know you are welcome there? I've had similar experiences with that sometimes. For example, I don't attend the woman's "spa day" at church not because of the expense but because I really don't feel comfortable running around the church in my pj's regardless of how many times I am invited. I try to remember they are being friendly and move on. Sometimes people can be overbearing in that way, too, even if they do really have good intentions.

Any chance there's some of that involved? Or are you sure it's all about the money?

[Ovedya]

About every six weeks our church has an event where a couple loud bands come to "entertain" the youth, or anyone else who can stand it. Neither my son or myself like this music, which is typically heavy metal or rap, and certainly wouldn't pay to go. Yet, each time other members, youth and adults alike, will keep bugging us. My son just told one lady "I'll think about it" and she said emphatically "You're going!"

The youth also puts on a meal about every six weeks. The food is OK, but overpriced. We can get the same thing cheaper in a restaurant or make it ourselves for considerably less. Again, people urge us to buy tickets. We have to budget our money.

How can we get people to leave us alone?

Sounds like the people with whom you meet are wrapped up in worldly entertainment and base means by which to preach the gospel.

Worldly "gimmicks" like rock shows are, in my humble opinion, nothing more than mixture with the world.

[KnowWhatJesusDid]

Sometimes these people think that the Events are more important that the services.....

[KnowWhatJesusDid]

Sometimes these people think that the Events are more important that the services.....

[Isaiah 6:8]

Okay, I have quite a long, multi-tiered reply. Brace yourself as those who know me know I tend to do long in depth, novel length replies. Here we go...

I am a youth leader in my church and I have been on Youth With a Mission staff and had to raise funds for myself. I have been on both sides of the fund raising equation and I know the difficulty's of both ends.

So saying all that, I believe that you are right in being frustrated. As a single mom, quite honestly if anything they should be helping you financially or around the house etc, they should imo pressure a single mom on a shoestring budget for money. Pressuring anyone to give is not in a right spirit.

As a youth leader I have helped organize fundraisers from time to time. When we did it, we made it a point that only kids that not only participated in said fundraisers (I.E. Serving spaghetti, washing cars) would get the funds, and only if they were doing other things to raise funds by themselves. Cutting grass that sort of thing, to prove that they are on board and want to go. We do not believe in free rides. We also believe that they need to be praying and asking God to provide, as we know he will.

So with this I am wondering why they feel the need to pay for every kids way, and keep hitting you, and everyone else over, and over again. This makes me think that they may not be all that responsible with money, and that would make me worry.

I have also done fundraising as a missionary. The best thing in that situation was not to harass cajole etc, but to sit down one on one and just explain the ministry its goals etc, with no pressure. When they decide to support me they did because they liked my ministry and me as a person. This is the best way to raise funds, that and prayer.

Part two is this, if people in your church are broke they cannot give. Not that they are not willing but you can not get blood from a rock. In this case perhaps its time to do a teaching on money management. If the members of your church pay off debt, and get good footing again, they will give, not because they are bugged but because they have the money and most christians I know are generious when they have the money. The good Samaritan was wealthy, thats how he could help. Even a middle class church the stats say about 70% or more in that church are living paycheck to paycheck barely surviving. If they are doing even a little more then surviving then they will be able to give.

I prefer Dave Ramsey's financial peace university. Larry Burkett is also good. Dave Ramsey also has a three 1/2 hour part mini series on both youtube and Itunes. On Itunes store search LifeChurch.tv: Series for Apple TV (Standard Definition) and scroll down until you see the "Life, Money, Hope" part 1,2,3. They are video casts for youtube just type Dave Ramsey Life Money Hope. This short series is a small but useful teaching. His "Financial Peace University" is more detailed and even more helpful, but it is a pay for full 13 week 2 hour a day course that covers everything in detail, including how to relate with money, how to buy insurance, how to set up college and retirement funds etc the whole 9. My wife and I took it, and its changed our lives so much, and thats why I talk about it all the time. His website is www.daveramsey.com also full of lots of free information. Oh and at the end of the Financial Peace Course he has an invite to meet Jesus, as the true Prince of Peace, and the only one that will bring you real peace.

Hey I hope this helps,

-Isaiah-

[OneLight]

Ummmm ... did anyone notice that this thread is almost 2 years old??? Some who posted are not even here any more ...

[Guest LadyC]

you just gave me an inspiration, isaiah.

maybe as a fund-raiser, the youth groups should offer their services! $10 for a team of youth to come clean your house top-to-bottom... or $5 for a day of babysitting for a stressed out single mom... or $15 for the guys to come detail the car or do all the mowing/trimming/weed-eating at your home.

[Believer1997]

Yes!!! I noticed that some of these threads just get whipped up and served time after time.... wish they were time sensitive and just expired after a certain time because they usually aren't really relevant.

[Guest LadyC]

it may be two years old, but isaiah's comments today gave me an idea that i will probably pass along to our church's youth leaders tomorrow!

[Believer1997]

it may be two years old, but isaiah's comments today gave me an idea that i will probably pass along to our church's youth leaders tomorrow!

I read your comment, Lady C and those are good ideas to raise funds - especially these days. I remember offering one of my kids 15.00 to clean the house one time and was asked.... "Which room?"