NEW ORLEANS (BP)–Financial help is available for churches that were devastated by hurricanes last year as well as for all kinds of projects in response to natural disasters, arson or other community needs.
Robert Vickers, founder of Artful Askers Ministry, relayed information to New Orleans-area pastors and other church leaders on obtaining financial help and developing relationships with charitable groups during a workshop jointly sponsored this summer by the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans.
Vickers travels across the United States presenting seminars on relational approaches to applying for and receiving grants based on biblical principles.
“I teach a ‘process’ of being good stewards of the relationships that God has placed us in while meeting needs,” Vickers said. “I don’t believe that money is ever the problem -– nor ever the solution. If God has called you to BE and DO something, He will meet the need. You must do your part so He can use you, and He’ll do His part -– that’s His promise….”
Vickers wrote in a follow-up e-mail to the Louisiana Baptist Message: “I teach something that is not being taught out in the market today at all -– even by Christian folks. It’s not a secret; rather, it’s a process.
“And the process is based entirely on biblical principles, so it works because the Bible works,” Vickers continued. “You must do the research to know who the relationships are that are around you, and you must engage and steward the relationships in an appropriate manner.”
Among the pointers Vickers relays in his seminars is never to fold the grant application and always number the pages.
“There are many fatal flaws that automatically lead to rejection; by avoiding those, you can have a more fair consideration of your request based on merit,” he said.
Vickers said after being rejected for a grant, send a thank you note immediately to express appreciation for consideration even though you are disappointed to be turned down.
Then wait about 30 days before calling and asking how to modify the application, then rewrite and resend it.
“This time of building a relationship where nothing may have existed is an imperative part of the process in stewardship,” Vickers said.
Another suggestion from Vickers is to have a website.
“If you don’t have a website, most funders will not take you seriously,” he said. He teaches people where to go to find free website builders who exchange their services for cost of hosting it.
Vickers is the author of “The Artful Askers Workbook,” a 115-page manual that recaps steps in the grant application process. It also includes lists of websites for where to find grants and of what not to do and what to do in grant-seeking.
A few of the websites Vickers suggests that grant-seekers check out include: www.grants.gov to register your nonprofit for federal money available via list-serves; www.generousgiving.org to list your site for Christian funders to view; www.arks.org for information from a Christian builder that helps you with buildings; www.godshometownnetwork.com for connection to many Christian resources; www.echurchessentials.com, www.unlimitedprovision.org or www.bullfrogpress.org for website building or video streaming; www.nationalchristian.com for information on the National Christian Foundation; www.giftsinkind.org and www.techmd.org to leverage resources; and www.gsmm.org for ongoing ministry training in management.
Vickers is on the Web at www.artfulaskers.com or www.bobvickers.com.
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Amy Adams served as an intern with the Baptist Message, newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. She is a senior at Oklahoma Baptist University.
