The WCWA (worthy causes, worthy asker) formula keeps me from asking for money to meet budget.
Of course we have to meet it, but the budget is an inanimate object.
Pull it apart.
Personify it.
Show them how life change happens through the budget.
If you can’t, your budget needs to be overhauled.
If you’re going into a capital campaign and the projects that comprise it don’t have true, spiritual rooting, don’t do it. You don’t have a worthy cause. Show the church how doing these projects will lead to genuine life change over time. Life change is a worthy cause—not the budget. Make sure you don’t just say it will change lives. Tell them exactly how lives will be changed—including, potentially, their own.
I believe the worthy asker part of the equation is even more important by a 55/45 margin.
When we ask for money, we are asking people to part with something that has true spiritual power in their life. Jesus said so. They’ve also worked hard for it in a culture that handles their money poorly.
A worthy asker is someone who possesses strong personal integrity, believes whole-heartedly in the cause and is willing to demonstrate that by sacrificing personally at least to the level the giver is being asked to—probably more. Relationship to the people matters as well. So does competency.
A worthy cause.
A worthy asker.
What’s God’s role in all of this? From conception of the vision to abiding in the asker to spurring God’s people to be generous—God is over all and through all and in all of it. If it works—He did that too. So, don’t forget to thank Him.
Even if you have a worthy cause and asker, expect the spiritually immature to squirm and get bitter anyway. Ignore that. Pastor them through it if you have the ability. But, believe in what God wants to do wholeheartedly, be willing to sacrifice for it and call others to do the same. This will grow your faith, their faith and get tons of Kingdom work done.
A worthy cause and a worthy asker trusting in God to advance His agenda. That’s what it’s about—not the budget.
