Growing up as one of three daughters I heard the word “share” often. “Share with your sisters” was a common theme of many of Mom’s conversations. In today’s social media, sharing is again a common theme to remember when planning your letters and posts.
Share The Need
It’s not enough to tell people that in 2012, an estimated 23.1 million Americans needed treatment for a problem related to drugs or alcohol, but only about 2.5 million people or 10 percent received treatment at a specialty facility. People are becoming numb to large numbers, it seems impossible to help. Share about the needs being met in the lives of your students. Let people know the numbers of people in their community that need, the help that Teen Challenge provides.
Share Your Solution
Many assume that their audience already knows what they do, but it’s just not so. Some may know part of what Teen Challenge does, but do they understand the discipleship that is offered for each student, or the prevention message that is shared in the community? Share what makes Teen Challenge different from others that help people with addictions.
Share The Changed Lives
People want to know that their donations are making a change in another person’s life. Share those changed lives across your different fundraising and promotion platforms. These are the main characters in your stories.
Share The Vision
Share your dreams for the future — not just what you want Teen Challenge to become, but how Teen Challenge can make your community a better place. Give some short-and long-term goals.
Share the Opportunities
Let your followers/donors know what they can do to help you fulfill your vision for the ministry. If you need volunteers for an event, put out the word, being as specific as possible. Share the need for funds or donated goods for projects.
Share Your Passion
It’s easier to share your passion for the Teen Challenge ministry in person; when you’re sharing a story of a changed life, your excitement shines through. Don’t let your letters or posts sound formal or detached. Teen Challenge is a ministry where lives are changed, where people find freedom — not a clinical rehab where they put in their time. Share why you care enough to devote your life to working in the ministry.
Share it all in a Story.
Always share in a story. Recently I was looking for Teen Challenge stories about students’ drug usage. After skimming through about an 8” stack of letters and newsletters from centers, I was amazed how many letters didn’t include a student story! Stories are what people remember, they are what people retell. People want to hear the happy endings; we are so fortunate to have so many successful graduates to share the stories. Always be on the watch for a story to share.
Try always writing in story form. Frame your vision for the ministry in the context of a person who’s on the waiting list, someone who can’t get the help they need at this time, because of available space. This type of story can combine most of the “Shares” mentioned above. It will be simple to share your passion for those who must wait for help and share the opportunity for your followers to help (preferably share an opportunity twice in the letter).
Think back to when you started working at Teen Challenge. That first morning you probably woke up all excited and invigorated to be starting a new chapter in your life. And quite possibly, over time, that excitement faded. All it takes to get it back is a simple attitude adjustment; the mere flip of an internal mental switch to remember the passion for changed lives at Teen Challenge. And remember your mother taught you to share.
