The Value of "Testimoney"

A national welfare charity had an annual income of £3 million from legacies alone but the general trend was downward. A new legacy strategy was planned that would motivate trustees, fundraisers and volunteers. Prior to the presentation of the new strategy to the Board of Trustees one trustee was identified as a potential legator, who agreed to leave a £10,000 legacy to the Charity. At the trustees meeting the trustee pledger supported the presentation and announced his own personal legacy gift. Within six months other pledges from trustees were received and the strategy was successfully rolled out.
(Source Legacy Fundraising ed Sebastian Wilberforce 2001)

This account of a successful legacy initiative illustrates the power of personal advocacy, the power of story telling and the power of leadership and personal example. These things are are crucial elements in successful fundraising and also in biblical stewardship. Somehow they put a human face to the financial need; a personal story gives permission to other people to act decisively, to follow an example. St Paul did not hesitate to tell the reluctant givers of Corinth about the stirring example of the church in Macedonia as a means of motivating their own giving (2 Cor 8:1-5).

In the local parish setting there is a powerful place for simple lay testimony, a sharing of a personal engagement with stewardship issues. Take time to consider who might be able to share their story to complement the preaching and offer personal application. For more on the use of personal testimony see The Value of Testimony.