The Letter Writing Process

How It Works

Writing letters is the single most effective way of developing your ministry partner team. Some of you will see all the people you need join your team this way. Others will get a majority. The process is simple but requires work on your part. Your main resource in this area will be the website, http://mpd.uscm.org

1: Namestorm

To start out you want to think of at least 100-150 people that you can send a letter to and invite to join your ministry team. Spend time praying to God that He will cause the right people to come to your mind. Then start brainstorming names (or “namestorming”) until you have 100 people (with addresses and phone numbers). Don’t make a judgment now about whether someone will give or not, write their name down.

2: Write

Next you need to write your letter. In the letter you will want to catch them up on what you’ve been doing lately, share about your trip this summer, and invite them to partner with you in ministry. An example letter is attached to this packet and more are available on
http://mpd.uscm.org Finish your letter and send a copy to a staff person to proof-read and suggest any changes.

3: Mail

Once you have your letter ready to go you will want to mail merge them with your names and addresses and get them in the mail. The http://mpd.uscm.org website will help you with the mail merge. If you have your letters in the mail by February 28th we’ll provide the postage for you.

4: Call

A week after you put your letters in the mail you will begin making followup calls to see what people have decided. This is the most important part of the process. People will not call you, they will forget you sent them a letter (even if they meant to join your team and give financially). You need to call every single person you sent a letter to. Some people will decide they can’t give financially this summer. Thank them for their consideration on the phone. Others will want to send money. Have them make the check out to “The Destino Movement” and get it to you as soon as possible.

5: Thank

For those who do decide to give financially, thank them when you talk on the phone and then you will want to send them a thank-you card in the mail after you receive their gift. This lets them know that you appreciate them joining your ministry partner team.

Timeline

Here is the timeline that you need to follow in order to make sure you have all the ministry partners you need before your trip:

• February 28 – Have Your Letters in the Mail
• March 7 – Begin Making Calls
• Spring Break – Do Another Idea (different fundraiser) (keep making calls)
• April 1 – Do Another Idea (keep making calls)
• April 15 – Do Another Idea
• May 1 – Do Another Idea
• May 21 – Do Another Idea
• June 3 – Go on Project