your year
One of the most challenging things for any Gap Year program is funding it. We want to make that process as easy as possible for you. Students pay for their Gap Year Mission in a number of ways: Sometimes parents pay the whole bill, other times students work to earn money ahead of time, but most or our students raise support from a team of people. Many students say that fundraising is part of what prepares them for a year of ministry. It stretches them to step out in faith to do uncomfortable things and allows them to see God’s faithfulness in unbelievable ways.
WORK
Many students work jobs and pay their own way
RAISING SUPPORT
Most of our students invite others to join them in this mission opportunity through Raising Support
Taking a Gap Year sounds exciting until you look at the cost, but don’t let that discourage you! Many people have gone before you trusting God to provide and He continues to be faithful!
Raising support is developing a team of people who donate tax deductible financial gifts to your mission. These people are not just giving you money. They are joining you in telling high school students about Jesus. It’s teamwork – you are going and they are sending .
We have found that the most effective way to build your team is to directly ask them to give. One of the easiest ways to ask is through sending out a support letter. We will train you to brainstorm everyone that you could ask; including relatives, family friends, churches and many others. Then you will write a support letter sharing your vision and calling to the Gap Year and inviting them to join you in making a difference in the lives of high school students around the world through your mission. You might also have other creative fundraisers to help you get to your goal.
Once you are accepted you will be given links that will walk you through how to write a letter and other creative things to do. You will have a coach assigned to you who will also help you along the way.
Ultimately, it will be God giving you ideas, contacts and raising your support. When He calls, He provides. Jump on the faith journey and see how HE is going to provide for you!
Whenever you do something great, you will have doubts. You may even be challenged by others. Here are a few common myths you might face.
TRUTH #1 – It is true that you will be traveling the world and that you will even have fun. The truth is that you are going to college (if you are) but God has first called you to take a year to grow personally and spiritually and to be trained to share the Gospel with teenagers around the world. Many universities are encouraging students to take a gap year and will defer your acceptance until the next school year.
TRUTH #2 – Raising support is about building up a team to pray and join you in your mission to share Jesus around the world. When you ask people to support you, you are inviting them to be a part of God’s work to build His kingdom!
TRUTH #3 – Once you are accepted you will be sent a ‘Go Pac’ with lots of gap year information and you will be given links to support raising videos that will help walk you through the process. You will also have a contact person who will pray for you, help you when you get stuck and hold you accountable with grace and love!
All you need to do is pray and jump into the adventure that God has for you! He will be faithful to provide!
“Lord, thank you that you are a God who provides for all of my needs. As I follow You into this Gap Year Adventure, I want to trust you to raise up a team of people who will pray for me faithfully and give generously. Thank you that you already know where my support will come from. I want to be faithful to ask others and trust You to provide! I am willing to follow You wherever you want me to go so that more students around the world can know You personally. Amen.”
I am following God’s call to go to the world (Matthew 28:16-20)
I serve a God whose resources are infinite and who can abundantly provide (Ephesians 3:20)
God calls all of us to give generously so it is okay to ask others to support me (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
God has promised to meet all my needs and it is a part of His character to provide for me (Philippians 4:19, Genesis 22:14)
I am inviting people to be partners in ministry with me and those who pray and give will be blessed. They are laying up treasures in heaven and they are involved in the fulfillment of the Great Commission because of their giving (Acts 20:35, Matthew 6:19-20)
God has called me and He will equip me. He will not only provide for me financially, but through raising support He is building my faith. (Hebrews 13:21, 2 Corinthians 9:8)
