Ministry Partnership Development
At SonSet Solutions, all of our staff raise support, or as we like to call it, we do Ministry Partnership Development (MPD). This is the model God gives us in scripture to provide for those He calls into ministry. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:14, “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” When Paul says, “receive their living from the gospel.” He means from the Church, from God’s people! MPD isn’t just a funding strategy—it’s God’s strategy for sustaining ministry through the active involvement of His people. It deepens your faith, clarifies your calling, brings people into God’s work and equips you for long-term, fruitful service. And we know that if God is calling you to ministry, he will provide!
Support raising will not work if God is not in it, so you must fill the entire support-raising process with prayer!
Before you begin support raising, one of our coaches will take you through a comprehensive training process designed to equip you both spiritually and practically. Over the course of two to four months, you’ll complete an online course requiring about four to eight hours per week. You will meet with your coach weekly and won’t be able to start meeting with people until your coach is confident you are fully equipped to do the job we are asking you to do. Training is divided into two key parts:
- Biblical Foundations – You’ll explore why we raise support, where it comes from in Scripture, and how to view yourself, others, and the Lord throughout the process. Ultimately, this helps align your perspective with God’s perspective on MPD.
- Practical Tools – You’ll learn how to apply those biblical principles to real-world ministry, including things like who to meet with, what to say in meetings, how to manage your schedule, and how to invite others to join your team.
Once your training is complete, you will attend a Via Generosity Bootcamp to reinforce what you have learned, you'll be ready to start meeting with people face-to-face! Bootcamp is a two-day event hosted almost every month all over the U.S. We will work with you to find a date that makes sense for you.
At the same time, SonSet Solutions will hire you as an MPD staff member, providing a salary and health insurance, that you don’t have to raise, to allow you to focus on MPD as your full-time job for a short season.
Now it’s time to apply everything you have learned and begin meeting with people face-to-face. You will fill your schedule with meeting with as many people as you can. When you meet with someone you will share the vision of the ministry that God has called you to and invite them to come be a part of it. Typically, the full process of MPD will take:
- Six to nine months of meeting with people face-to-face
- 100-200 meetings with individuals, families and churches
- Creating a team of 75-100 ministry partners
Your coach will continue to meet with you weekly, encouraging you, challenging you and helping you with whatever challenges you might face.
Once you are fully supported you will come and join the rest of the team in person in Elkhart, IN and continue in the work that God has called you to!