[#97] How to Tell Stories to Raise Support - with James Harrington in Uganda

In 2016, Dan and Maria Hurrelbrink's ministry in Romania nearly collapsed. In Part 2 of our conversation, they share exactly how they rebuilt — and what changed when they stopped waiting and started communicating. From weekly donor emails to a clear ministry vision that carried them through a war on their border, their story is practical, honest, and hard-won. 💼 Get the Book: https://amzn.to/3Wfbwum CONNECT WITH FULLY FUNDED ACADEMY: Website: https://fullyfundedacademy.com Get the Free Workbook: https://fullyfundedbook.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/fullyfundedacademy

Dan and Maria Hurrelbrink have been missionaries in Romania for over 33 years — planting churches, running camps, adopting five children, and building Barnabas Ministries from the ground up.  But by 2017, their total ministry and family budget had quietly collapsed to $60,000. They were running out of money, couldn't leave the field, and were one bad year away from closing everything they'd built. The problem wasn't their faithfulness. It was one costly mistake almost every missionary makes: raising support for themselves instead of their ministry. In this episode, Dan and Maria share exactly how they turned it around — including the reframe that changed everything, how Dan kept supporters engaged for 5 years without setting foot on US soil, and why "out of sight is out of mind" doesn't have to be the end of your support. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. If you're a missionary feeling stuck, stretched, or invisible to your supporters… this one is for you. 📩 Subscribe so you don't miss Part 2 of Dan and Maria's story. If you're ready to build a strategy that holds no matter what season you're in, the Fully Funded Academy is open for enrollment. Join us at fullyfundedacademy.com.

On a recent survey, over 90% of missionaries we asked said they did NOT know any fully funded missionaries. Well, we're here to change that! Meet Nora McNamara, a seasoned missionary who went from raising $34 in a month to getting fully funded just six months later – and has stayed fully funded now for YEARS. This conversation, originally held for our Fully Funded Academy members, highlights Nora's transformative strategies and insights into missionary fundraising. If you're struggling with raising support or feel alone in your financial challenges, this episode is tailored for you.  Watch our recent (free!) live training here » Watch this interview on YouTube » CONNECT WITH FULLY FUNDED ACADEMY: Website: https://fullyfundedacademy.com Get the Free Workbook: https://fullyfundedbook.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/fullyfundedacademy

James Harrington went from meeting a stranger at a barbecue to installing thousands of water systems across Uganda. In this conversation on location in Uganda, he shares the storytelling secrets, fundraising principles, and focus strategies that turned a dream into a sustainable movement. 1:46 - How to make the world smaller though stories 3:23 - Tell stories about your team 6:13 - "Filter builds" and community support-raising events 9:47 - Study the region and community you are in 11:51 - Creating a sense of destiny via stories 17:21 - What did support-raising look like at the start? Watch our recent (free!) live training here » Watch this interview on YouTube » CONNECT WITH FULLY FUNDED ACADEMY: Website: https://fullyfundedacademy.com Get the Free Workbook: https://fullyfundedbook.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/fullyfundedacademy

After years of coaching missionaries one-on-one, Mary Valloni and Mike Kim are bringing the Fully Funded experience into the room. This is a two-day, hands-on conference designed for missionaries, ministry leaders, and sending organizations who are ready to stop guessing and start building a real support-raising strategy. September 21–22, 2026 Plano, TX This is NOT your typical nonprofit conference. You won't just sit and listen. You'll walk in with your challenges and walk out with a complete 90-day action plan: scripts written, strategy built, momentum created. The world of donor giving has changed. Communication has changed. If your support-raising playbook is more than a few years old, it's time for an upgrade. We're doing that work, together, in the room. 🔗 Get all the details & register: fullyfundedacademy.com/live ⏰ Early bird pricing ends June 30… don't wait on this one.  

Watch this on YouTube » Have you plateaued in your support raising and not sure how to break through? You might be missing the one thing that changes everything: a coach. In this episode, Mary and Mike break down why coaching isn't optional for missionaries serious about reaching full support, it's the difference between spinning your wheels and actually crossing the finish line. CONNECT WITH FULLY FUNDED ACADEMY: Website: https://fullyfundedacademy.com Get the Free Workbook: https://fullyfundedbook.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/fullyfundedacademy

Rob and Nichole Plaster have been missionaries in France since 2003. In this episode, they share the support raising strategies that transformed their approach, including how they shifted from exhausting furlough trips to remote fundraising, built a team of advocates, and used weekly storytelling emails to keep donors engaged and excited. Whether you're just starting your missionary journey or you've hit a funding plateau after years on the field, Robin and Nicole's story will encourage you that full funding IS possible. 2:07 - If you believe in what God is doing you must learn to communicate it 4:44 - Raising support while still overseas 7:52 - Values-first fundraising 10:38 - Writing better email updates 14:33 - Raising a large budget because Paris is expensive 17:12 - When the scarcity mindset creeps back in 21:44 - The power of a private Facebook group  27:33 - Advice to other missionaries Connect with Rob and Nichole: https://www.theplastersofparis.com/ CONNECT WITH FULLY FUNDED ACADEMY: Website: https://fullyfundedacademy.com Get the Free Workbook: https://fullyfundedbook.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/fullyfundedacademy

Many missionaries believe supporters only want to fund "field work," but the truth is, your donors want to invest in YOUR growth! Whether you are looking to attend a conference, take a course, or join Fully Funded Academy, this messaging script will help you get the sponsorship you need without the guilt. In this episode, Mike Kim shares the exact email template you can use to confidently ask your donors to fund your professional development. CONNECT WITH FULLY FUNDED ACADEMY: Website: https://fullyfundedacademy.com Get the Free Workbook: https://fullyfundedbook.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/fullyfundedacademy

In a digital age dominated by automation, the "personal touch" remains the most powerful tool for Christian missionaries raising support. Join Mary Valloni and Mike Kim as they reveal why authentic, localized relationships are far more effective than generic outreach for fully funded missions. Discover how successful ministry leaders are leveraging technology—not to replace connection, but to amplify it—using simple strategies like personalized video messages to maintain genuine bonds with partners. CONNECT WITH FULLY FUNDED ACADEMY: Website: https://fullyfundedacademy.com Get the Free Workbook: https://fullyfundedbook.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/fullyfundedacademy

One of the hardest moments in raising support is when a donor ends their support. It's scary… and it can leave you feeling rejected. But how you respond in this moment matters just as much as how you asked for their support in the beginning. In this episode, Mary and Mike break down exactly what to say when a donor stops supporting you. Instead of panicking or burning bridges, we'll show you how to honor the relationship, leave the door open for the future, and show you exactly what to say when this happens. CONNECT WITH FULLY FUNDED ACADEMY: Website: https://fullyfundedacademy.com Get the Free Workbook: https://fullyfundedbook.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/fullyfundedacademy