Latest Christian missions Podcast Episodes
Nonprofit Newsletter Notes
Life and Mission - February 08, 2024 22:00 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn this episode, I'm answering questions about nonprofit newsletters. How many newsletters should you send? How fancy do they need to be? What else can you do with those stories? Why send a print newsletter by mail when you can send email instead? One key thing you don't want to leave out....
Tell Stories to Raise Funds
Life and Mission - December 07, 2023 16:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsStorytelling is an essential skill for fundraisers. What do stories do? Stories help us connect. Compelling stories increase empathy. Stories reflect our values. Stories reveal truths. Stories help us see others in a new way. Stories give us context. If you struggle to tell stories,...
Don't Stop Now! Do this to raise funds at year-end.
Life and Mission - November 07, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsThe time between Thanksgiving and December 31 is by far the biggest giving season of the year. People expect you to ask. If you don't, the assumption will likely be that you don't need their money.Here's what you need to do now. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. ...
Unlock the Story Vault: Find the Stories You Need for Fundraising Success
Life and Mission - October 13, 2023 03:00 - 17 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsYou know you need to tell more stories to raise funds - but where do you find these stories? In this episode, I share five ways to find the stories you need. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn the exact stories that every mini...
What the Food Network Show "Chopped" Can Teach Nonprofits About Storytelling
Life and Mission - September 12, 2023 10:00 - 6 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn the Food Network show Chopped, just before chefs present their first dish to the judges, they must answer the question, “What would it mean for you to win?” It's a question every nonprofit must answer. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers...
Own Your Expertise
Life and Mission - August 23, 2023 19:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsDo you think of yourself as an expert? Maybe you should. We need you to share your knowledge and experience with us. ----- If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn the exact stories that every ministry, missionary, and nonprofit ne...
Ask for advice from supporters
Life and Mission - August 10, 2023 10:00 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsYour supporters want to help. Asking them for advice helps you and engages them at a deeper level. You’ll both be glad you did! Often, when you ask for advice, supporters will tell you exactly how they prefer to be asked for money. The transparency you show in conversations around how you rai...
Reduce Friction for Fundraising Success - Part 2
Life and Mission - July 11, 2023 16:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn the last episode, we looked at gaps in your storytelling that cause friction. This week, we’re looking at friction in the donation process. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn the exact stories that every ministry, missionar...
Reduce Friction for Fundraising Success - Part 1
Life and Mission - June 28, 2023 22:00 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsWhy aren't people giving? Maybe there's too much friction–little things in your messaging or in your presentation that cause hesitation or second-guessing. This week we look at friction in storytelling, and what to do about it. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. I...
Every Story is About Change
Life and Mission - June 14, 2023 17:00 - 17 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsEvery story needs change, regardless of the story's focus. By recognizing this and emphasizing it, you can engage and connect with your audience more effectively. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn the exact stories that every...
What Formula One Can Teach Nonprofits About Storytelling
Life and Mission - May 15, 2023 23:00 - 13 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsSports can teach us a lot about nonprofit storytelling. In this episode, we're looking at two examples of sports using storytelling to reach people and to teach people – two things all nonprofits need to do. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writer...
Monetize your book with a course
Life and Mission - April 28, 2023 23:00 - 39 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIf you've got a book, you need a course to go with it. Here's my interview with the man who can help you do that, Dr. Lucas Marino. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn the exact stories that every ministry, missionary, and nonp...
3 Questions Your Writing Must Answer
Life and Mission - April 10, 2023 18:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsWhen we are writing to move someone to action, we must be clear. Not clever. Only crystal clear will do. I recently attended the Hope Words conference for writers, where one of the speakers was Katherine Paterson. Mrs. Paterson is the author of over 40 books and the recipient of many awards for...
Hard Stories: Writing for Yourself
Life and Mission - March 15, 2023 18:00 - 9 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsAs ministry practitioners and nonprofit communicators, we are often called to sit with difficult stories of human suffering and injustice. Even though we are storytellers, not every story is for sharing. Our words are also meant for remembering, exploring, questioning, and hoping. Resources Mar...
The Power of Parables in Nonprofit Storytelling
Life and Mission - March 04, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsParables have a way of getting around our defenses, short-circuiting our stereotypes, and making us think in new ways. In this episode, we're looking at the role of parables in Jesus' ministry, and how you can use stories to break through walls in your nonprofit's messaging. Check out Jesus' pa...
How to be a Fundraising Super Bowl Star
Life and Mission - February 16, 2023 19:00 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsThe Fundraising Super Bowl is your nonprofit's big game - and winning looks like raising the funds you need to serve. Here are some lessons from that "other" big game. Football coaching legend Vince Lombardi famously said to his almost-champion Green Bay Packers team, “Gentlemen, this is a foo...
How to be a Great Podcast Guest
Life and Mission - February 01, 2023 03:00 - 21 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsBeing a guest on podcasts is a great way to share your message. Here's your guide to being a great podcast guest. Find full show notes and a checklist at lifeandmission.com If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn the exact stories...
More Than Podcasting: Are we missing opportunities?
Life and Mission - January 16, 2023 22:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn this interview with Eric Nevins, founder of the Christian Podcasters Association, we discuss the potential waiting to be unlocked through podcasting. Eric hosts the Halfway There Podcast. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn...
Three Messages to Send Donors in January
Life and Mission - January 12, 2023 01:00 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsThis week on Life and Mission: End-of-year fundraising may be over, but that only sets up some key messaging for January. In this episode, I'll give you three key messages to send donors in January (plus a bonus). If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission...
Writing Books - Interview with Kent Sanders
Life and Mission - December 08, 2022 05:00 - 51 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn this episode, Kent Sanders shares his process for ghostwriting and collaborating on book projects. Plus, thoughts on structure and creativity, and his latest project - a book about Elvis. Kent is the author of 18 Words to Live By: A Father's Wisdom on What Matters Most, and The Artist's S...
What to do When the Stories Aren't Pretty
Life and Mission - November 15, 2022 10:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsWhen things don't turn out as planned, a well-told setback story can give donors another reason to support you. Here are some of the stories you can tell around a setback: Explain the process of change your beneficiaries go through. Focus on one aspect of the change process and help supporte...
How Introverts Can Navigate Events
Life and Mission - October 26, 2022 04:00 - 23 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsI have a love-hate relationship with conferences and networking events. While I love to meet new people and to learn new things, large or busy events can get overwhelming. I'm an introvert. I like my alone time. After a lot of activity, conversations, and noise, I need to go somewhere quiet and...
Using Stories to Connect: Mary Valloni interviews Kay Helm
Life and Mission - September 28, 2022 19:00 - 42 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsThe tables are turned as fundraising expert Mary Valloni interviews Kay about using stories to connect with donors. We talked about: Using stories to connect Where we go wrong with storytelling Stories for people in admin roles Telling your own origin story The key story we forget Missionary...
Help Donors Catch Your Stories
Life and Mission - September 13, 2022 18:00 - 11 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsYour donors are busy. They’re tired. They make decisions all day in a world where everyone is clamoring for attention. Here's a simple way to help them "catch" your stories. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn the exact stories...
Adjust Your Messaging to Fit Your Donor's Journey
Life and Mission - August 31, 2022 16:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsOur stories have the power to move supporters along on a journey: introducing them to a problem, dispelling myths, offering hope, introducing them to our organization, showing them how we solve the problem, building trust, and inviting them to take action. At any point in time, you'll have peo...
Joyful Copy: Interview with Joy Capps
Life and Mission - August 17, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsMy guest today is Joy Capps, author of Joyful Copy—How to Show Up in the Marketplace Ethically and Authentically. There are a lot of copywriting formulas and blueprints, and many ways to reach your audience. But not all ways line up with what we know to be ethical and true. Joy created her Joy...
What Airbnb can teach nonprofits about storytelling
Life and Mission - August 10, 2022 03:00 - 17 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsEvery story gives us a chance to choose. Do we set up a “them and us” narrative, or will we do the work to offer another perspective? Airbnb runs an ad featuring a family of shaggy “monsters” enjoying their vacation. the goal of the ad is to invite people to become hosts on the platform. It sta...
Fundraising in Uncertain Times
Life and Mission - July 26, 2022 06:00 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsI got a message today from a supporter who needs to stop her monthly donations. I'm thinking of my friends in ministry who raise support–missionary support or raising funds for the ministry as a whole–and you’re on the field, you’re doing the work, and you get a message like this. The temptatio...
Help donors read your fundraising materials
Life and Mission - July 12, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsHow to make your fundraising materials more inviting and easier to read, so more people can join you in your life-changing mission. If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. In the Mission Writers course: Learn the exact stories that every ministry, missionary, and non...
Flamingo Marketing Mindset with Katie Hornor
Life and Mission - June 29, 2022 07:00 - 21 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsMy interview with Katie Hornor, author of Flamingo Marketing: How to Leverage Unique, Stay Relevant and Change the World [00:02:28] Leverage your unique [00:04:11] Why mindset is so important [00:06:03] Doing hard things [00:09:26] Time management [00:13:08] Legacy [00:14:03] Details on t...