They warned that it would happen... the dreaded “R” word rejection and yesterday it did. I had a very interesting conversation with a congregation that we had approached about considering us for financial support and it did not go well. That isn’t to say the conversation wasn’t pleasant or informative, it was. However, as pleasant as it was the outcome was the same, rejected. This wasn’t one of the soft pillowy “maybe later” or “not right now.” This was a full on, big fat, no-recourse, NO. During our support raising training we were warned about this and having gone through support raising before for Ireland were accustomed to it, but to have the line cut so quickly and so thoroughly was, I must admit, a bit shocking. No one likes to be rejected; there are even websites that challenge you to “deal with” rejection, and deal with it we must. However, being rejected is never easy, especially when your heart and soul are wrapped up in a passion for the ministry you’re seeking support for.

Having time to think about yesterday’s answer has allowed me to dissect the conversation and hopefully help others with rejection when raising support.

• Rejection is an important part of the process. Receiving rejection along the way allows us to grow stronger by testing our convictions about our work. If we were never tested through the support raising phase then we might enter our ministry underprepared for dealing with rejection in ministry. Naïvety in this area can kill your zeal which is why understanding and allowing for rejection now matures and prepares you for the realities of ministry later.
  
• Rejection solidifies our convictions and refines our trust in Jesus. How much do you trust Jesus? Do you honestly believe he’s called you to your work? Working through and dealing with rejection forces you to ask the tough questions about your faith and your trust in the Lord’s direction in your life. Luke referred to Paul’s conversion 3 times in the book of Acts which means Paul must have talked about it a lot. This was in the midst of terrible seasons of rejection coupled with beatings which leads me to believe that Paul was absolutely certain of his calling to keep going. Are you?
  
• Rejection refines our belief in our chosen location. Receiving a rejection based on the location of your chosen work can be a real confidence shaker. It is tempting to think that you must have picked the most obscure place on the planet when everyone seems to be going in a different direction. Have no fear, God has given you a passion for your location because he wants to begin an amazing work there. If he’s called you to that place as a worker, he’ll supply others to be senders.
  
• Rejection from some makes acceptance from others that much sweeter. Always hearing yes will ruin anyone. Hearing a “no” every once in a while makes the “yeses” you’ve worn your knees out about all the more gratifying. This is not permission to revel in your misery as a glutton for punishment, it’s simply an acknowledgement that rejection can be used by God for his glory and our maturity.
  
• Rejection is a reminder to remain humble in support raising. There is a tendency among missionaries and church planters to believe that their work is more important than everyone else’s. I know this because I have to remind myself that this is not always the case. Being rejected by a mission-minded congregation is a reminder to us that there are other ministries that may be more important than our own and to rejoice in what God is doing through them. (This does not apply to those churches doing nothing)
  
• Rejection is an opportunity used by God to make us more like Jesus. It is not easy writing or believing some of these things. I know that what we’re doing is important (and I’m sure you feel the same way about your work), however I also can see that with rejection comes an opportunity for God to make us more like Christ. It is an opportunity to become more humble, more patient, more thankful, more focused, and more zealous for good works. It opened my eyes to see how rejection is a part of God’s plan for ministers and how he uses it to conform us to his will. It also serves as a marker in the road that one day, after I have planted and grown I too might be approached for support and have to make a hard decision. As one who will have experienced both triumph and defeat in raising support I will be able to sympathize with that ministry couple all the more and may
• be the last one needed to say “yes, it would be an honor to support you.”

Tags: Support