A Spirituality of Fundraising: The Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series

By Henri J. M. Nouwen and John S. Mogabgab

One of the most popular spiritual writers of our time shares his wisdom on fundraising.

Christian leaders often feel uneasy about asking others for money. Rather than viewing fundraising as a necessary but unpleasant task in supporting spiritual endeavors, Henri Nouwen asserts that fundraising is a ministry. The question that Christians must explore is their relationship with money and whether they find security in God or their possessions.

Drawing on many lessons from scripture, Nouwen emphasizes that individuals must drawn to a common vision in order to feel generous about giving to a fundraising effort. The act of fundraising involves not only the gift of money to a common goal but also the gifts of involvement, energy, and prayer for a common mission.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Upper Room Books
• Release date: Feb 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9780835811651

Henri J. M. Nouwen

Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932–1996) was the author of The Return of the Prodigal Son and many other bestsellers. He taught at Harvard, Yale, and Notre Dame universities before becoming the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak near Toronto, Canada, a community where people with and without intellectual disabilities assist each other and create a home together.

Book preview

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A Spirituality

of Fundraising

Henri J. M. Nouwen

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John S. Mogabgab, Series Editor

THE HENRI NOUWEN SPIRITUALITY SERIES

A Spirituality of Fundraising

Copyright © 2010 The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, write Upper Room Books, 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212.

The Upper Room Web site: www.upperroom.org

Henri Nouwen Society web site: www.HenriNouwen.org

This material was originally copublished with the Henri Nouwen Society in 2004 in booklet form.

UPPER ROOM®, UPPER ROOM BOOKS®, and design logos are trademarks owned by The Upper Room®, a ministry of GBOD®, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations designated NJB are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible, copyright © 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

Cover and interior design: Sue Smith and Pearson & Co.

Cover art: Gogh, Vincent van, (1888). The Sower. Erich Lessing /Art Resource, NY

Photo on page 62 by Mary Ellen Kronstein. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nouwen, Henri J. M.

   A spirituality of fundraising / by Henri J. M. Nouwen.

        p. cm. — (The Henri Nouwen spirituality series)

   List of Henri Nouwen’s works cited— P.

   ISBN 978-0-8358-1044-9

 I. Church fundraising. I. Title.

   BV772.5.N68 2011

    254'.8—dc

222010040997

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

About the Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series

Preface

Acknowledgments

Fundraising as Ministry

Helping the Kingdom Come About

Our Security Base

People Who Are Rich

Asking

A New Communion

Prayer and Gratitude

Your Kingdom Come

Henri J. M. Nouwen’s Works Cited

About Henri J. M. Nouwen

ABOUT THE HENRI NOUWEN SPIRITUALITY SERIES

HENRI NOUWEN sought the center of things. Never content to observe life from the sidelines, his approach to new experiences and relationships was full throttle. He looked at the world with the enthusiastic anticipation of a child, convinced that right in the midst of life he would find the God who loves us without conditions. Helping us recognize this God in the very fabric of our lives was the enduring passion of Henri’s life and ministry.

The Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series

Reviews for A Spirituality of Fundraising

[Peter & Wendy Wynne-Jones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So helpful in thinking about fundraising as a ministry, what a refreshing and uncommon way to look at it

[Isaac Fabian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As I wade through the rough waters of fundraising, Nouwen reminded me that I am first a loved child of God. Fundraising is an exciting process of sharing and inviting people to participate in the work of God’s kingdom. Read this first and then begin fundraising. I will definitely be coming back to this in the future.

[ehmeeting · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

How to look at fundraising as a gift instead of burden