Ember believes that missionaries of the future will rely on a 'portfolio of revenue.' [credit for this term goes to Ben Arment.] In other words, they will need to actually make some money outside of personal donations. Since 2013, our summer teams have been required to dream and execute a Creative Revenue Plan - a way to make some income based on their talents and gifts. This unique income will go directly towards 10-25% of funding of their missions experience. Prayer and financial support letters are also required.We ask students to dream up these plans by helping them assess their talents, skills and networks, and this is done as part of their application to summer teams. I'm proud to say that over $16K over revenue has been made as part of these Plans over the past 6 years and it represents students growing in skills such as pricing their product, making a pitch, dealing with customers and lots of hard work. All skills that benefit just about everyone.
This year's plans include: dog walking, landscaping, tutoring, lawn mowing, babysitting and my 2017 favorite - humor [I have no idea what that means.]
Photo: Creative Revenue, buy a Meklit summer special. summer 2015.
I believe it to be true as well. I think we have to be better at business in order to fund the plans and vision that God has given us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback Dennis. Hopefully, this will help these students as they get older and venture into cross cultural contexts. Hope you guys are doing awesome!
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