Q. My brother-in-law is God’s telemarketer.: My husband’s brother has done well in life—he has a great job, comfortable life, and a beautiful family. He recently decided to give up his job and home to go on a mission to serve as year-round staff at a wilderness Christian camp, family in tow. To do this, he must fundraise about $40,000 a year and recently approached my husband for funds. Neither of us wants to donate as we feel like this mission is motivated as much by his desire get back to the outdoorsman lifestyle he loves as it is by piety, and we are not convinced of the mission’s worth. I would rather donate to a charitable cause in line with my personal beliefs (I’m not Christian). Finally, things are tight—we have good jobs but live in an area with a high cost of living and feel pinched. Is there a polite way to reject future fundraising for this endeavor?
A: What a great setup for him: “I’d like to live in the woods, please send money.” I genuinely hope he gets it! Tell him you’re happy for him but money is tight, and moreover you prefer to give, when you can, to nonreligious charities. Hopefully he’ll understand that just because he’s found his dream job, it’s not the responsibility of his friends and relatives to pay his salary. At the very least, he lives in the wilderness, so he probably can’t call very often.
My Church denomination has a cooperative program where they will give a portion towards support for our missionaries. That way they can spend more time on the field and don't have to beg for donations from Churches .
I see a lot of this in the churches. People want to do missionary things without giving anything up.
I see it everywhere. Need money? You could down grade your own style of living, but it's much easier to just ask (expect) everyone else to pitch in to make your dreams come true.
I thought the church funded the basic needs while on a mission trip.
Our church does mission work locally.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I see SO many people wanting others to fund their "missionary trips" to exotic locales on GoFundMe. I think they just want free vacations.
I remember when people would post on FB that they were going to save the world and travel to do so and needed money. Then go fund me. If this were someone asking me I would say no and if they pressed the topic I would suggest that perhaps they need to work a few more years and bank all the money they make so they can live their dream. No excuses. I don't understand why people such as the LW feels the need to come up with a good excuse to say no.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I just don't get the gofundme craze. More than that, I don't understand the ensuing paralysis of being unable to figure out how to politly decline from participating. "Sorry, but we won't be able to donate. But please keep us on your mailing list when you blog pictures!"
