You Can Make a Difference
Hosting friends for a purpose
My Appreciation
Hey, this is Patrick.
There are so many ways God is using you to fulfill His Great Commission; I view our partnership in this ministry to college students as one investment in your diverse portfolio that is building God’s kingdom!
Out of a deep love and appreciation of you, I am doing my best to give report of the incredible things God is doing, encourage you to walk with Jesus, and pray for you.
This sounds weird to say out loud, but I pray that you love partnering with me financially. I pray that when you see money leave your bank account every month and move to my Cru staff account that you are not stressed but excited about the work God is doing through you.
Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” I pray that your heart is on campus with me.
Thank you so much for considering deepening our partnership in the gospel by introducing me to your friends. I want the opportunity to love and care for your friends like I love and care for you. I want the opportunity for your friends to be connected to the incredible things God is doing.
If you have been encouraged by our ministry on campuses in Kentucky and abroad I know families and friends in your circle would be just as excited!
Here’s how to have a small gathering for me to meet your friends
Pray.
Namestorm.
Plan.
Pull it off.
Pray (Take a few minutes right now)
Pray that God would abundantly provide for all of my families financial needs. Specifically, 50 new monthly financial partners to our team.
Pray that God would use you to help us reach our goal.
Pray that God would bring to mind people in your network that would be excited about the work we do.
Pray for God’s strength and Wisdom for you and you step out in faith.
Namestorm
There are so many people in your world that would be encouraged by the work God is doing on campus. However, if you only keep the list in your head you will likely be discouraged. This is why Namestorming is so important, it get’s all of those people out on paper.
Before we can strategically plan how to reach your friends we need to know who your friends are.
Here’s an exercise:
Sit down in a quiet spot with only a pen and a piece of paper. Answer this question, who are followers of Jesus that I know?
Set a timer for 5 minutes and do nothing but write down names as they come to your mind.
This is very important: Do not start to qualify the names. Don’t start thinking “Oh, that wouldn’t be a good person to connect with. I think Sally lost her job.”
The goal of this exercise is to write down anyone that comes to mind— get the name out of your mind and onto the paper.
Here are some demographics to get you started:
Church Small Group
Family
Neighbors
Coworkers
Church Friends
Look at you! That’s a great looking list!
Plan
As you look at that list you made, what would be the best way to connect with the individuals in a winsome way? Is there a group of them that hang out naturally? For example, a Bible study or small group.
If so, that’s an easy win! That’s a group of people that already casually gather together at a set time.
As you look at the list you made, are there some acquaintances that are close enough to enjoy a one hour cup of coffee together? That’s a great option, too.
Actually, even if the group you gather together are total strangers I think it could work! Between you and me I think we have the social skills to make everyone feel cared for.
The goal here would be to plan a casual gathering of 5-10 friends. It would probably be for the best to cap the group at 10. If you can think of more than 10 people you’d like to connect me with, fear not! We can plan another day for me to meet them :)
So What’s the Plan?
You know your friends better than anyone! What setting would be the best for this event. I would love something casual and not too loud. I have a little slide show so a location where I can turn my computer around for people to see or, better yet, a TV for me to get plugged into.
Coffee shops are great for smaller groups or maybe someone’s house.
Choose a time and date that works best for the people you are inviting. For me, this is a high priority. If you plan a small party I am willing to drop nearly anything to get there!
I have budgeted money for these events so I am prepared to purchase any food, dessert, or coffee that will entice your friends to get there. So if you have any ideas please run it by me!
Pull It Off
Text or call the people you’d like to invite. Here’s a sample text, feel free to make it your own:
Hey Johnny, hope all is well! I have a friend named Patrick who is a missionary to college students. He helps me to pray for what God is doing on campus and encourages our family with stories from around the world! I have partnered with him financially for the last 10 years and he has been a huge blessing to me. I am hosting him and a few of my friends at Brevede Coffee Shop next Wednesday from 6:00-7:30 and I’d love for you and your wife to come! He’s going to be sharing about the importance of investing in students, helping us to better pray for campus, and sharing the needs of his ministry— however, there is no financial obligation to come hang out. I think you’d be really encouraged to meet him. What do you think? Can you make it?
Here’s what to notice about this text:
Personal statement lends credibility to me.
“I have partnered with him financially for the last 10 years”
“He has been a huge blessing to me”
So many people are “Begging for money.” However, that is not what we’re doing. Our ministry gives people an opportunity to invest and pray for the most strategic demographic in regards to finishing the Great Commission— college students. Be sure to speak with your friends from the perspective of opportunity rather than the perspective of need.
“He helps me to pray for what God is doing on campus and encourages our family…”
“I think you’d be really encouraged to meet him”
Give a clear start and end time. In our culture people are often wary about attending open ended social gatherings. Give your guest a clear time that the meeting will be over and we will be sure to respect the clock.
My number one goal with this gathering is to get people to pray for our ministry. I have full trust that if a person is praying for my ministry and in financial position to partner with me, then they will. So you can be fully confident to invite any person to this gathering no matter where they are in their financial journey.
“there is no financial obligation to give.”
Don’t forget to text your friends a reminder a couple days before and the day of… we know these things are easy to forget!
Here’s what NOT to do…
Hey Johnny, there is a missionary doing good work reaching students on campus for Jesus. For the last few years my wife and I have given him money to support his ministry. This year he asked us to host a party and introduce him to our friends and we thought of you. We are going to meet at Brevede on Wednesday at 6:00. I would love for you to come but if you can’t I understand— you may have some other missionaries or ministries you support. Either way, love to have you out!
Quick notes about this text
No vision or excitement
Feels transactional like I just want their money
Assumes your friend probably couldn’t make it anyway
Implies that your friend must come prepared to support a ministry he or she knows nothing about
Let’s do it!
Once you’ve chosen a date, reached out to friends, and texted them the hard part is over!
Pray for Campus
Pray for Campus
Please reach out to me with any questions, thoughts, or clarifications. I know many of the small gatherings will have their own obstacles. Thank you so much for being willing to host this party, caring for my family financially, and investing in the students under my authority.