16 Jesse Crawford | Funding the Vision Through Support Raising

Andrew Estes (00:01.251)

Well, welcome back to the Nexus Church Planting Podcast. I'm your host, Andrew Estes, and today I'm excited to welcome my friend and Nexus coach and Nexus Church Planter, Jesse Crawford. He has been with Nexus for many years and just really looking forward to today because one of Jesse's specialties and and in his own personal experience has been fundraising. And we're gonna talk about funding the vision for your church, whether that is

Pre-launch when you're moving into church planting for the very first time and figuring out how you're gonna pay for literally everything, or as in Jesse's case, being able to maintain that fundraising mentality and partner raising and partnership mentality moving forward into a couple of years into ministry. Jesse has a really unique story that that we'll unpack in that regard. But we're gonna talk a little bit about today how to

Overcome fears in fundraising, how to go about just the practical nature of identifying and setting up meetings and how to have relevant conversations that don't feel like you're begging people to be a part of your ministry, but rather inviting them to be a part of the kingdom work that God wants to be doing and just offering an opportunity. So super excited to dive into today's content. Jesse, thank you so much, man, for joining me.

Jesse Crawford (01:24.512)

My pleasure. Glad to be here, Andrew. Thanks.

Andrew Estes (01:27.361)

Awesome. For you those that are are unfamiliar, Jesse's Restore Christian Church in Blanchard, Oklahoma, would love for you just to give us a little bit of a backstory of your pathway in ministry that has led you to where you are today.

Jesse Crawford (01:42.393)

Sure. We moved, my wife and our six kids at the time, we moved to Blanchard, Oklahoma. We had our seventh since we've been here, moved in twenty thirteen and started the church in twenty fourteen. We moved from Arkansas, just had been in ministry my whole life, but never really started a church. And so got connected with Nexus pretty early on in my ministry in Hebrew Springs, Arkansas. And that conversation developed over a three-year period and and so here we came and we've been here ever since and

it's been quite a journey actually. And I know you referenced it a little bit, like we we s raised some support, raised some funds while we were well into the church plan. In fact, it was six years into our journey here in Blanchard. So we started in twenty fourteen and twenty twenty I did some support raising for the church for for myself and I can get more into that, but it was it was quite a journey and God has been

Faithful and gracious and and brought us through a lot of things.

Andrew Estes (02:45.646)

That's awesome. Give us a little bit of a picture of of Blanchard in particular and just kind of the journey of of Restore over the last several years. You started remind me you you when did you guys launch?

Jesse Crawford (02:56.098)

We launched in twenty fourteen and we launched in August of twenty fourteen and we came, didn't have a a team necessarily. It was just my wife and I and our six kids and and we just showed up and started having Bible studies and started meeting people in the library. And it's a very small town, about eight thousand people, and we were looking forward to a growth, a boom of population in the community and it's finally started to take off over the last two to three years. It kinda stalled out as soon as we moved into town.

But that was that was sort of the reason we picked the the place and there was a great network of things for our kids to do, good family oriented type type place and withn Christian church in in the in the town, although there was about twenty other churches in town, it was still a good a good place for us to come and start and you know, it's been it's been the journey, so small town.

Andrew Estes (03:49.902)

That's awesome. And how are things going so far?

Jesse Crawford (03:52.373)

good. since we I mean really game changed after we raised support and the game really changed because we were able to gain space. and I can get into more of how that happened. but it it was just the faith journey. I it's more than just funds. It was the partnerships and the faith that it took for me to step out.

'Cause I did this in twenty twenty in the summer, which if you'll remember, that was COVID lockdown everywhere in the United States. So, I was fortunate to be able to travel and to cast the vision and to share with people what what God was up to and the possibilities for this for this community.

Andrew Estes (04:33.068)

Yeah, that's awesome. Well, I I definitely want to get into that that secondary story. But walk me back through your your initial experience of of feeling called into church planting and and walking through maybe just that first round of making it happen. Who who are you talking to? Like church relationships, church planting networks, individuals, the the emotions and things that all all take place inside of the planter, just the

Take me back, you know, back 2013, 2014, as you're getting ready to launch. What did that journey look like for you in the and that fundraising aspect?

Jesse Crawford (05:10.498)

I could actually take you back as far as church planting goes back to 2009, because I went through my first assessment with CPAC. And I did that when I was working for the Boy Scouts, and I knew that that church planting, or at least I felt like church planting, was on my horizon, but I was went through that process and was given great counsel. The counsel was to not plant a church right now, but to go get some executive leadership experience before before doing that.

And so that's when I went to Hebrew Springs and was a the lead pastor there for three and a half years. But but when I moved to Hebrew Springs in 2010, I I immediately gained connection with with Spencer Dunlap, actually, in Cabot, Arkansas, who was connected with Nexus, was just starting with with Nexus. And so that began just a a journey of of talking with Nexus over that next period of three years, and it became pretty obvious halfway into my

tenure there that that church planting kind of really was on the docket. And and so the conversations began. I had assessment in 2012 with Nexus and then got the green light and we just started looking for for places. We looked for like I said that's that's why we picked Blanchard, the town. There was a churches around in the Oklahoma area that already put resources into a pool.

kind of a they had the vision for starting a church in the area. And so we kinda in the Oakland City area got to pick our location. So that's that's kinda how we got here. And then when we got here, we got here right after the tornado happened in twenty thirteen, which then my family and everybody was like, What are you doing? You're gonna go to Tornado Alley? I'm like, Yeah, well people need Jesus in the tornado alley too. And so

there was not a whole lot of houses available for us, but we just were like, okay, God, just take us. And so once we finally landed, we we were able to just start, I don't know, from scratch and going through not just the assessment, but the the training with Art of the Start with Nexus was just foundational for me and and having a coach alongside me the the whole way 'cause I never started a church from scratch and but

Jesse Crawford (07:28.386)

But having the drive and having the desire to to see a church birthed and having someone walk alongside me, I I I couldn't have done it without without the help of Nexus as far as the mechanics of how do you actually go and you form teams and you start Bible studies and you gain connections and you you you do all the things and it was a daunting task and if I hadn't anybody with me along the way it would have been been pretty rough.

Andrew Estes (07:53.655)

Yeah, yeah, for sure, man. Well, I I mean I love being able to to dive into this topic of of just like the the fundraising and the and the things of that nature because I from my own personal journey, like we hadn't been able to you know, twenty fifteen was around when we were receiving kind of the calling and and just exploring the idea of church planting, and then it was twenty sixteen when we actually launched, but that whole year

was, you know, just doing the difficult word of work of fundraising. Right. And so I wasn't the lead planter, but I was going as sports staff and I was, you know, in charge of raising the vast majority of my my own personal salary. And and I often joke with a lot of people 'cause I feel like I've lost all shame in asking anybody for anything when it came to, you know, getting to the point of overcoming some of the hurdles and the the the the shame or whatever it might be, the the personal

stigma or whatever it might be that have l has limited people to not asking for money or whatever it might be. But I feel like I ask anybody for anything now, you know, just, hey, do you have a nonprofit discount for this or for this or for this? How can I get this for free? Or hey, do want to buy this for me? Or whatever it might be. But as you're as you're kind of going through that, and I know this is a huge thing that we encourage all of our church planters to go through. There's

specific organizations and boot camps and books that we we encourage people to go to because it's such a formative piece of being able to you know fund the the the good work that God's given to us and and it's it's biblically founded, all these different things. Just talk to me for a second and just unpack

Why why is this topic? we'll we'll dive into that that second story of how you guys kind of went into funding the the building campaign for your church and stuff, but just the the topic in general you're so passionate about and and educated in now and you you train some of our church planters in why is it so important to really see this as valuable?

Jesse Crawford (09:54.157)

Yeah, that's a really great question. And it is something I have discovered along the way through my experience that there's and and I know that might sound kind of crazy, but I kind of enjoy it and to a degree because it is difficult. But what it's doing, it's not just funding, not just bringing dollars toward the ministry, it's bringing partners from around the United States, from different states and people that you know that are now not just supporting.

financially, but they're they're really praying for you and you're keeping them updated about prayer needs and requests and it it's it's really develop relationships that have been invaluable to me that I didn't realize that I would gain through the process. And so when you when you have that network you know, also it's it's a it's a skin of the game personal investment you're making as well, stepping out in faith by going and raising support, the partners and then

the actual support that comes in. It's just it's just big kingdom stuff. And it's like you're you're connecting kingdom resources to the kingdom work through support raising, whether it's on a personal level or whether it's on a on a you know corporate level or just whatever ministry, bigger ministry level. And very, very important to involve other people. And I found that people who who gave and and can still continue to give and I can get more into that

They they were they feel honored to be able to be a part of what's going on. And I I was kind of surprised by that too.

Andrew Estes (11:28.866)

Yeah. Cause I yeah, it really is just that invitation. I mean, there's so many people nowadays that I think that you know just people in my own church currently, they're thinking about maybe doing a a mission trip or going to be on staff at a church plant, and they're just like, you know, how how are we gonna be able to afford this? And can we can we do this or that? And I just from my experience from doing limited like short time missions, but then also church planting and so many other things where

You just put out an ask and and God provides so many different things because even as I consider my friends wanting to raise support for XYZ purpose, I want to be a part of that. And I just say, just ask me. And I mean, I don't have a boatload of money, but if I feel this way, that I feel compelled to contribute to the kingdom vision that God has put inside of you, how then would you know dozens of other people feel?

You know, and and just being able to open up people's minds to the possibility of just in the invitation is is so substantial. Well, I wanna I I wanna give you an opportunity to just kind of share that story because you launched 2014, you guys had a a really unique situation as you were approaching kind of 2020, kind of l growth limitations or different things. You needed a a new facility and a lot of people do you know, just

think internally, but you went a totally different route and and God really provided something crazy and substantial. And I would love for you guys to to just share that story.

Jesse Crawford (13:03.096)

Sure. Well, like we said before, where it's a small town, around 8,000 people, and so we had done the church plant thing, which started in a elementary school, and then we moved to a warehouse, but really it was the only viable place for us to to move into, but it was constricted with its parking and with its size. We we were it was hard to grow to a place where you could have enough

people within the congregation to be able to support, you know, a finance campaign to build. But we had no other no other option. It was, you know, we had we had to do something, otherwise we were just gonna be stuck. And six years in, you kind of feel that that need. so the only thing really that was available was possibly some land. And so so I went and raised support with the vision that

Okay, we've had so many lives changed. We tell stories of life change. and in in our church currently, we want to make room for more of those stories with a family with six or seven baptisms that had happened. you know, we want to affect generations that way. And so I had received The God Ask, which is a book by Steve Shadrach. I'd received it from at a Nexus Think Next, I think in 2019 in the fall.

And when I got the book, I just made the assumption that that Phil was giving me the book, says read it and go do it. That that's just kind of what my assumption was. And so I've I listened to that and at the beginning of 2020, I just had this vision of of going to six different states and visiting people that I've known my whole life and casting the vision and sharing the the situation we're in and the the challenges that we had and and just just to give the

the picture of what could be. And so that's when of course the COVID lockdown happened early in twenty twenty, but still was just like pressing into I I knew that God had asked me to go do this. And so yeah, z had someone come in and preach for me for eight weeks in the summer of twenty twenty. I'm also a school bus driver for the school the school system of Blanchard, so I I only had the summer to to go.

Jesse Crawford (15:24.206)

And so that's what that's what I did. I spent the entire spring crafting, like thinking about the vision, thinking about what I'm asking people to join me in. Cause the ask needed to be very specific. And the tools within the book of the God Ask were were invaluable because it helped me in my perspective. It's a it's a God thing. What I'm doing is God's, you know, big vision.

And I'm inviting people into that big vision. And so making an ask for probably more money at the time than I was comfortable asking for. Like you said, you know, you lost all shame and asking for whatever and whenever. I've I've kind of lost all shame like that too. And and I've I began to ask big. And and asking big in at least in my mind was was part of that inviting God into the process. And

and and so I went I I prepared the pitch, the pitch meaning just casting the vision, sharing the the opportunity to overcome these challenges and inviting people personally into that. And so I was inviting people into like I I treated myself like a missionary. So I'm asking people to give like toward my salary, because that's what you know.

in my mind a missionary is asking for so they can go on the mission field. And so that way, because the congregation was already desiring this expansion, they can put the monies that a set aside that they would be paying me as far as salary, but set it aside to save up for land and facility. And so that was the approach. And it was very specific in my ask. And I remember, I remember sitting with a friend of mine

and I'm practicing because I I wanna I wanna just be able to communicate well, to communicate clearly, and to ask big. And I I I said, This is just practice, you know, I'm not really making an ask of you, but I'm gonna go through the whole thing. And I sat there and I asked him for a hundred dollars a month for a three year period. And he looked at me, he's like, that's a lot. You think people actually gonna do that?

Jesse Crawford (17:41.955)

Like, I don't know, I hadn't done this yet. So it that was the nerve wracking thing and I was asking people for a three year commitment and oftentimes I wouldn't ask for even less than a hundred dollars a month, which I can get into where some of the fears come in and all of that and and and why why I shot shot high. But anyway, that's I don't know if I answered your question, but

Andrew Estes (17:57.069)

Yeah.

Andrew Estes (18:04.622)

Yeah, and it's I mean it's such an interesting story because especially being at that six year mark, you feel like you're an established church. And and I I I remember thinking about that. Well, I was like, well, why don't they just do it internally? Like, why, why aren't they paying for their own stuff and things of that nature? Obviously, there's so many variables in in church planting and obviously being bivocational and all the all the things that kind of play into that. How how did you kind of

navigate those initial conversations or or did you did you run into any pushback when when just with the age of your church and just saying, hey, we're we're looking at raising funds to build a building and but the church is six years old, not six months old. And I mean, was there any any tension in that?

Jesse Crawford (18:55.522)

Yes, there was. There there wasn't as much as I thought there would be, but there was. And most of that came through other leaders, like church leaders. It wasn't all because I'm asking people that I personally know, that that most of them are not involved in church leadership at all. but they still, you know, think through that and and like you would think, like, okay, six years in you should be able to handle your business, right? and I was able to cast the vision,

you know, to where people c understood, I mean, obviously it it might work, to to understand w what our challenges were and to help us overcome it and to know that we're not an established, like established as a mindset to me. I mean always gonna be a church planned and thinking about what's next and big vision and and we're gonna need help from all over the place and in and inviting people and God into that. And so

Yeah, I got some pushback and some no's and that was part of the challenge too, because when you get nos from people you just assume you're gonna get like, Yeah, let's do this. man, that's like a get kicked in the gut a little bit.

Andrew Estes (20:07.33)

Yeah. For so yeah, I it's it's so crazy because I remember, you know, putting putting word out for well, whether it's a mission trip or the fundraising for for church planting or raising your salary or different things, the people that you're guaranteed in your mind like are absolutely gonna support us. They're gonna give big money and all these different things. And then they never come through. And then it's all it there's so many different stories of people that you

maybe haven't even talked to in like four or five years. And they're just dropping hundreds or maybe even thousands of dollars into a project because that's that's what they feel like God's called them to do. And you're just like, where did this come from? I had no idea about that. And so that's that's r really a huge tension, I think. I mean, and as you unpack, you know, some of the coaching that you do with people, I I'd love for you to just kind of speak into that of just, you know, because so many times we'll say "no" for people before we even talk to them.

Jesse Crawford (20:58.04)

Yeah. Yeah.

Andrew Estes (21:00.046)

How do how do you navigate, you know, who do you actually have conversations with and helping helping coach planters through that journey?

Jesse Crawford (21:07.34)

Yeah, a quick story on on that. a person who to this day I asked for a three year commitment and we're six years in. And so he still continues and he upped his gift twice after initially starting the gift. I hadn't spoken to him since high school, since nineteen ninety-five. And so he gives weekly and still just like passionate about helping. And and it was just like an un

Andrew Estes (21:26.126)

Wow.

Jesse Crawford (21:36.353)

I didn't know that was gonna come from that that place. And and then there's other people where I think are shoe-ins that are like, you know, it hardly ever talked to me. And and and that's okay, and that's part of the process. so y your question about how do I coach guys? Well, I I do share some of that story about where I got yeses and where I got no's and where those things come from. But in the process, I really just kind of walk through

the God ask in that process because that really if you follow that process it's it's it's it's gonna happen because you're inviting God into it and there's specific ways to do that and not to say no for someone critical like you just when you first start thinking about people to ask you write down every living breathing person you know and just write their name down you know and don't don't evaluate anything

until you get to that place where you then you start categorizing and evaluating and going, God, who do you want me to ask and how much and what you know, you're inviting God into every bit of that process. And then you hone your pitch, your, you know, I I I try to get with the coaches just what's your vision. Let's make that crystal clear. Andrew, I know that you are very good at like getting guys to like crystallize and articulate their vision. So we take that vision and

And we put that into a form that it's pretty easy to go have a 30 to 40 minute conversation with somebody over coffee and be very comfortable in making a very specific ask. And I think I always say this, specifics are your friends. Because when you make an ask, you want to ask for a specific amount, for a specific time parameter so that people know exactly what you're asking and exactly what it's going to go for.

If there's ambiguity in in what the money's gonna go for or in what you're asking, and hey, do you mind to just give something sometime? That very rarely, if ever, materializes. So so must be specific, must cast the vision clearly, and then must communicate and follow up and have a great, easy on-ramp for people to start their giving. that one guy I was telling you that's up to his donation, like

Jesse Crawford (23:58.873)

Two times and still gives weekly and hadn't seen him since high school. I sat there with my phone because I had a way for you to do it just and and plugged his info right there in the car. So we got started. It doesn't happen all the time, but that's that you you have those on ramps and and you got a partner almost for life sometimes. And I will also say I still have a a a couple. He was my Sunday school teacher back when I was in junior high. And

Andrew Estes (24:08.674)

Nice.

Jesse Crawford (24:26.132)

He to this day they still continue to support, but they'll send they'll they'll pray for me every month and hey, prayed for you because I would do that for three years. I'd let everybody know who was giving. Hey, I'm praying for you. Is there anything I can pray for you about? That kind of thing, kept that connection. And to this day, he'll be watching the weather. He's like, tornadoes in Oklahoma. Hey, are you okay? Did you did you make it through that tornado and or the snowstorm or the ice storm? It's just yeah, the relations because of the fears I think of asking too big.

or maybe losing a friend or you know saying no for somebody, they can't afford it, they're retired, they don't have you know once you get through those, it's like breaking through the barriers and you'll you'll you kinda have to push through at times 'cause you're gonna get kicked in the in the gut from some from some people. But I think it's a spiritual a spiritual battle too at some level.

because you're funding ministry and kingdom stuff and so you're gonna get attacked, you know, in your mind on some of that stuff too.

Andrew Estes (25:33.795)

Yeah, absolutely. The so the the God ask, let's let's kind of double click on this for a second just because the the book itself has been extremely beneficial as a process type of a book to help help people actually move towards the fundraising. But there's the a paired kind of a boot camp training that a lot of our almost all of our our church planters have gone through because we we encourage them to go do that. Jesse actually does or you did an

some training with this organization that helps facilitate a lot of that type of stuff and then do some some coaching with a lot of our newer church planters and walking through that. Give us, give us just a you've you've given some pieces already. Give us a little bit of a high level of the the overview of what that journey looks like. When you're when you're engaging somebody with the first time, hey, you need to fundraise for your church plant, where do you start? How how does some of that go? Obviously writing down of names, honing your vision, some of those things.

Are there any other introductory pieces that you're you're kind of nailing down, just the biblical foundation, overcoming fears or or or things of that nature that happen on the front end? And just kind of give us a a flyover of what what that process looks like.

Jesse Crawford (26:40.716)

Yeah, so the book is really good at going through the biblical foundations and I guess be the foundations for raising support. There's a lot excuse me, a lot of support raising that happens within scripture that you could pass over and not see. And that's the first half of the book really is going through this is this is God's idea.

For people in the church to take care of other people in the church to move the kingdom forward. It's God's vision. And so once you understand from a biblical perspective, this is an appropriate thing to do, because sometimes you can kind of feel guilty about like, should I ask or should I not? Does this feel selfish or whatever? This is God talking about it. And then yeah, it gets into the very specifics of, you know, coming up with all the names, honing your pitch, what's the story of life change that you can share.

That that what's the vision and how are you going to accomplish this? And it's just, you know, I'll it was written, like that book was written for really for missionaries. And this is where I took it and was like completely, I guess I would didn't think I was being revolutionary with it, and I'm not sure that I was, but it was written for missionaries and people who are gonna need support raising until Jesus comes back or until they finish the ministry that they're a part of. And so

But what I did was took it and go, you know, this is a ministry that's viable. And eventually, yes, the church needs to be supporting itself from the internal. But for this three-year period, or a lot of these guys who are moving into church planning to start, maybe a five-year period, invite people into that process so that you can eventually get to the place where the church is self-supporting. That's the goal, that's the vision. But you need that little jump start to get over the hump. And so reading the book is the first first step.

And then going to what they call a support raising boot camp or SRS boot camp is what they call it. But it is put on by via generosity and it's it's a really like you go through the book and you really work through the biblical part, you put together as much as your pitch and your plan as as you can, you get there, and then it's just like you practice it. You practice it with each other, you make phone calls while you're there, and you you encourage one another, you give each other feedback.

Jesse Crawford (29:02.22)

That is something I did not experience before I went and raised support because I didn't have time. Like I told you, I was a bus driver. I didn't, you know, and I didn't know much about it. I'm like, I read the book, let's go do it. And but it is very valuable. And I think for guys just starting, so it's this is a double edged sword. For me, being six years in, that was sort of the well, maybe you should take care of yourself kind of thing. Yeah. But on the other hand, I had a track record.

of life change and s staying power. Like I'm here. This is the I'm not going anywhere. This is where God has called me and there's a track record for it. Whereas for guys who are just starting, well you're just starting it's obvious that you need funds, but you still at some point need to communicate your track record with ministry and life change so that people know they're giving to something that that will be sustained. So a little bit of both end I had a plus and a minus for myself.

on that. But anyway, yeah, I I to get back to your point, you read the book and then you go through the SRS boot camp, then you walk with me through the process and I'll I'll help you craft and hone and give feedback on on the pitch and the plan. Like how are you gonna map out where you're gonna go, who you're gonna talk to first, you know, how how is all that play out and we get into all those details.

Andrew Estes (30:21.836)

Yeah, and I love the the the the sharing of stories, like just even the life change stories. Even in a in a pre-launch type of a church, you know, being able to still tie certain things to life change. Having been on the ground, you know, six years at at Blanchard was obviously significant traction to be able to share, hey, this is where we've been, this is what God's done up until this point, and expecting greater things moving beyond that. I'd be curious just to, you know, go back to that story as you are

Jesse Crawford (30:37.251)

Yeah.

Andrew Estes (30:51.874)

Just the acquisition of land, the building of the building. You guys have a a f beautiful facility now and and God is doing so many great things. What has what has kind of transpired from that that second round of fundraising in in the summer of twenty twenty to today?

Jesse Crawford (31:08.13)

Yeah. Yeah. Well, it was crazy how it happened, actually, because we we were beginning to save up some funds. it was the fall of twenty twenty

Had gotten back and and we were we were just starting to to save up. And well, just go back to the numbers real quick. Before I left to go raise support, I wanted to make sure the church was on board and that they were going to support this. And so they committed over and above their regular tithes and offerings a $50,000 amount over a three-year period. So just commitments of monthly giving for three years.

And then I went and and I asked people from, like I said, six states and traveled face to face as much as I possibly could and raised, sorry, in in in commitments over a three-year period $150,000. So grand total we had $200,000 in commitments for the next three years. So we we we figured we nothing would start until we would save that up. And

I haven't I had it in the back of my mind, and actually I have a friend that long term they ended up doubling that. They they ended up giving a two hundred thousand dollar donation because of you know of the effort that I put in and the people that were committed to this and they were willing and desiring to help with the facility. And it only happened that they said yes when the facility came in view, and that's that's the crazy part. So back to August of twenty twenty.

We're sitting there in a in one of our staff meetings and we're starting to save up some money and it's COVID and prices are already starting to rise. And I had this moment with our leadership when I had several of them look at me go, $200,000, let's say it's doubled to $400,000. What in the world are we gonna do? There's no building available. Land is crazy expensive. And I'm sitting there in that moment, all I had was.

Jesse Crawford (33:21.58)

God brought us to this point and He's not going to leave us hanging. I remember saying that, and that's all I had. It was the very next day one of those staff members was driving down the road and they saw an old bowling alley that had just been put up for sale. And they wanted like $850,000 for the bowling alley. And I was like, okay, well, we just started this whole process of saving up money. And and

I don't know that that's gonna be on the market for three years. What is gonna happen? And so it ended up that because of that work and because of the partners that we had built and and the resources that were coming in, the Solomon Foundation saw that that was viable, that our leadership was viable, and that our church was in a position to to grow. They they really came alongside us in that that next year, 2021, and we figured out how.

We were going to purchase the the property, the facility, and what it was gonna take to to build it out. And so that was just an amazing, like a faith thing. Like it was a faith thing to go do the ask. But in that moment's like, Well, yeah, you're right. We it's a drop in the bucket to the buying land and building facility, what that would cost. And and then that very next day it was like the the dominoes began to to fall for us.

Andrew Estes (34:33.133)

Yeah.

Jesse Crawford (34:46.67)

So never could have predicted that when I went and started support raising. And that's the other part, is you don't know how this is going to turn out. You know, God's going to do something that's completely unexpected.

Andrew Estes (34:58.9)

Yeah, and that's what I that's what I love so much about just the the the whole journey is that God always has his hand to play. And that that you know there's a a side of you that just says, if you make X amount of calls and you have X amount of meetings and you have you can raise X amount of dollars and it's all under your own ability to make it happen and and raise the funds, but then there always seems to be something that happens or certain

stories that are told where you're just like, like that's a coincidence. No, like that is God just massively stepping in and doing something beyond anything that you ever thought possible. And and those stories are so prevalent with so many different people that that go through not only just fundraising, but just in in life in general, of just having the faith to to step out and do something crazy for the kingdom. Right. And and that's just that's that's just part of the part of the job, you know, of just

being being a follower and just seeing God do and incredibly immeasurably more than anything that we could ask or imagine. And so that's just a lot of a lot of fun. It's horrifying at times but being able to to be on the receiving end of that. And you're just like, wow, like how how is this even possible right now? So I know that you've experienced

Jesse Crawford (36:04.206)

It is. It is.

Jesse Crawford (36:13.368)

Yep. And big vision's just gonna be big vision is gonna be horrifying at first. 'Cause there's no way on the earth that you personally can make it happen. So

Andrew Estes (36:22.582)

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure, man. As you've as you've engaged with a handful of church planters and and walking alongside them to to be able to go through some of the the the coaching and setting up the process and doing some of that stuff, what is two things. What what is some of the primary pushback or or or obstacles that that planters face when you're kind of coaching them just in this heart?

Jesse Crawford (36:35.256)

Okay.

Andrew Estes (36:49.526)

And then also what have what have been one or two success things that have s stories or or things that have kind of happened that you might be able to share as as you've kind of navigated some of the the coaching.

Jesse Crawford (37:01.422)

So challenges in talking with with guys I it it all stems to

Let me think about this for a moment. There's there's a lot of them. When you have someone who's just now moving into the community and their desire is to get to the ministry, to get to starting the church, then you are now faced with a decision because if you're going to raise support and you're gonna do it well, you're gonna need to devote a lot of time to it, at least initially. You know, the continual follow up and the

And the letters and notes and texts and stuff aren't gonna take as much time once you're finished with the initial, but you're you're wrestling with both. And so how do you especially if you're moving into a community and you've got guys that are bivocational, so they have other jobs too. So you add another job, a church plant, and then raising support on top of that, that can be a lot of balls to juggle.

at one time. So you're trying to figure out what time you can put into it. And I try to encourage the guys to give as much of their time initially up front to to sort of knock this out. And that way the the funding and the finances are not going to, you know, you know that's coming and you can focus then 100% of your energies into the ministry. And so those are some challenges. I think the other challenge is like I mentioned before, it was hard to be very specific.

in the ask and to be very clear on your follow-up and and what time and what day you're gonna follow up and and to ask big. I think asking, you know, for a hundred dollars a month or more can sometimes be a challenge because you feel like you're just you're just, you know, speaking out of turn kinda. And not realizing that sometimes the ask, the big ask can

Jesse Crawford (39:00.684)

Very rarely will you lose a friend or will somebody get mad at you for asking for more than they can give. Most of the time they'll look at you and go, you really think I can do that, man? I feel honored. No, I can't do that, but I can do this. But if you only ask for a little amount, you're not gonna get what they could get. So challenges that way of the ask, the time management,

Yeah, I think I think those are the main ones anyway. And the f and the saying no for for other people, you know, before before you actually make the ask, you know.

Andrew Estes (39:35.427)

Yeah.

Yeah, for sure. Have you, I mean, having walked several people through this, what are what are some of the the God stories maybe that you've seen come out of it?

Jesse Crawford (39:48.633)

Well I think s there's been several guys that have done just a phenomenal job and they've they've really secured, you know, financial stability and partners in prayer from all over. I think of Brandon and I I think of his, you know, the way he approached it was just like I'm all in. I'm I'm I'm gonna, you know, really and and he actually took it to a level of asking a lot of like bigger

organizations for sport. Whereas my approach and kind of really what the the book was written for is on a on a personal level, although it's very easily transitionable into asking a a larger church or asking an organization for some of those funds. And and he's done a really, really good job. And there were moments at the beginning I s with all the guys where you feel like overwhelmed. This isn't gonna work, you know, I don't

you know, where's the mending gonna come from? I don't know anybody and these kinds of things. But if you can push through those barriers, just about every time there's there's breakthrough.

Andrew Estes (40:56.824)

Yeah, yeah, absolutely, man. As you are kind of now now transitioning, this this idea of being able to raise up partners in ministry is not something that just stops at church plant launch, right? I mean, even if you do the deep work or or like you, you do it twice, so go through multiple rounds of fundraising outside of the church. There's I I'd love to for you to just kind of speak into what is what is

This look like internally for you at your church when you're speaking about topics on money and stewardship and and and giving and and things of that nature? You're you're trying to cultivate and disciple people in their generosity and stewardship and things of that nature. So how do you how does this happen for a re on a regular basis for you? What are some maybe practical things that you guys do at restore?

whether it's on an annual basis, on a regular basis, what is what does that feel like for you guys to help disciple people in stewardship?

Jesse Crawford (41:59.267)

Well, I think part of it is really casting the vision for where God has us going as a church. I think if they don't feel like we have a direction or a vision, they're not inclined to really give more. and so that kinda first and foremost, and then telling some stories in the baptisms that we've had and to highlight those periodically.

you know, we just we had a baptism this past Sunday, but to talk about the lives that have been changed, to talk about the ministry that happens in our kids area. It's not just babysitting. We want to give our our infants Jesus stories and to to let them know everything that we do is intentional for ministry things and the outreach that we do in our community. so

We try to be clear that on that on a on a pretty regular basis. And then periodically we'll have we'll take videos of of people sharing their heart for tithing, just from their perspective, how God has blessed them tangibly, physically. This we we decided to give, and then God just like and and share those, you know, on the video screen and that helps people see. And I tell my story too, because I have one of those one of those stories as well.

So those are the things that we try to keep the vision hot and clear most all the time and then periodically tell some of those stories.

Andrew Estes (43:26.39)

Yeah, I wanna I mean for a second, you know, just whether it's the the initial fundraising thing or or if you're a a pastor of an established church or been around for a little while, there's a lot of hesitations of of just talking about money. And you know, we've touched on some different fears and stuff like that, especially from a a fundraising perspective, but on the ongoing nature of that that invitation at the local level, what are what are some of the things that that you see or would

would want to speak into somebody that maybe has just a trepidation around being able to to do that.

Jesse Crawford (44:05.122)

Yeah, I that's not something I'm immune to, because you you hear stories of churches that have kind of, you know, been well not faithful or not, you know, not on the up and up, and so don't there have been times I've I personally, you know, I know the Bible talks about it, Jesus talks about money more than just about anything else, and so I have to push through those fears and just simply talk about it.

had my worship guy one time just kind of give me some feedback like you don't apologize for it just just talk about it I mean Jesus talked about it and let the chips fall where they may and you may have people walk away because you talk about it but in the long run just have to be faithful with it and so growing in that over the years and just just try not to be fearful of it.

Andrew Estes (45:01.954)

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Anything anything else, man, on on your heart when it comes to just this this idea of of being able to raise up leaders, raise up partners in ministry to to do the kingdom work that God's called us to.

Jesse Crawford (45:15.832)

I don't know. I I think for me, just my heart in all of it is I love to see what God did for us in and the ability to expand the kingdom and to be able to have a place where more people can come and encounter God on a very meaningful level, that I see how it affected me and even though I got some challenges and challenged when I went and raised support.

in the long run, when I look back, I go, you know, that was just a beautiful thing. And and I love the opportunity to be able to for those who would like to through coaching, through Nexus, through the guys coming online and some even some other churches that have been further along in the process who need to retool and raise support. I just being able to speak into that brings me joy to see the kingdom work kind of like grow.

and expand. And so that's that's what makes me tick. That's my heart. And kind of enjoy it. I know that sounds weird, but

Andrew Estes (46:20.45)

Right. Just a just a sick satisfaction is what it is. No, it's good, man. Well, dude, so thankful for for you for just the example that you've set, the ministry that you have, the the bold faith and the vision that God has placed inside of you guys, praying for continued just a deep work in in Blanchard and and well beyond that. And just for yeah, grateful for your ministry that you do with

Jesse Crawford (46:24.386)

I guess so. I guess so.

Andrew Estes (46:47.5)

Within Nexus and coaching some of our guys, but man, this is such an important topic and being able to yeah, just encourage guys, walk with them and and just see the stories of blessing that kind of come out on the other side is really unlike too many other things that I know about. I mean, just seeing God work in in crazy ways and seeing people step up and and bless kingdom work in ways that you never thought possible is just humbling.

to be a part of stuff like that. So thanks, man, for for who you are, for what you do and for joining us on the podcast, man.

Jesse Crawford (47:23.928)

You bet, thanks for having me.