Fiona 

After graduating I chose to do a year of ministry training which has now turned into two. I had to raise support to cover my basic living expenses for each year - around £10k. I had some savings but aimed to raise the whole amount by partnering with people first.

I have nether a Christian family to support me, nor a non-Christian family who are happy to anyway, nor a home church congregation. So I set about raising funds mainly from people at the church where I would be training, where I was already a member.

At the start of each year I wrote letters to people in church outlining what I would be doing, my budget for the year, an illustration of how I would raise that money (I would raise what I need if x people gave me £y per month) and asking them to partner with me in prayer and financially.

I also gave them information in how to support me through a company called Stewardship, so I could collect gift aid if they were a UK tax payer, which helped reach my goal a lot. I applied to trusts to then make up any shortfall.

I was encouraged to see just how willing people are to give to gospel work, and grateful to God in providing all I need.  

Steve

I was planning on being a trainee with the church I was at during university - my budget was £8k

The church had committed to covering half my budget and I had £1k in savings.

I  approached family members and friends by speaking to them in face to face conversation explaining what I would be doing (serving practically, teaching the Bible to students, being trained to serve the church), and why I was doing it (to serve the UK church as well as possible).

I also produced a letter at the beginning of the year as a more widespread method to give to people at my parent’s church, explaining similar things.

Richard

I am a full-time ministry trainee and needed to raise £7,300 to cover annual rent, food and other living costs.

I wrote to numerous Christian friends and family telling them about what I was going to be doing, why I was doing it and my hopes for the future.

At the end of the letter I asked them to fill out a very short form saying whether or not they were able to support me and asked them to send the form back to me, in a pre-stamped and addressed envelope, by a set date.

I was surprised to receive nearly £4,500 in pledges. The remaining funds came from personal savings and the support of two trusts.