CrossCurrent Podcasts

How do you know God is actually calling you to write this book? Not "would it be nice." Not "people keep telling me I should." How do you know it is Him?

Most of us are waiting for something unmistakable, and while we wait, we walk right past the ways He has been confirming it for years.

In this episode CJ and Shelley walk through five signs you can actually look at. The idea that will not leave you. The material you have already been collecting without calling it that. The story that lines up with the message. The people who keep saying the same thing without ever having met each other. And the fifth one, the sign almost nobody counts, which is usually the clearest confirmation of all.

No seminary degree required. No platform required.

Have a thought on this episode? Share your comments on YouTube here.

We all want our kids to be readers. 

Not just kids who can read, but kids who actually do read. Who then grow up and keep choosing to read because they want to, not because they have to.

But there’s a curious thing that those of us who care deeply about raising lifelong readers tend to do, which is to treat our kids’ reading lives in exactly the opposite way that adult readers actually read. 

We choose all their books. We tell them how long to read for. We ask them questions to prove to us that they read and understood the story. We make them write essays to prove their comprehension even further. And somehow, we expect that when no one is making them do any of this anymore, they’ll choose to pick up a book for the joy of it.

So today, I want us to think about this differently. Instead of asking, “How do I get my kids to read,” let’s ask the question, “What do real, lifelong readers actually do?”

Then give our kids more chances to do those things.

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• Why letting your kids develop their taste by choosing their own books is part of their becoming lifelong readers
• The question to ask yourself when you’re considering what reading to require of your kids
• How to gauge comprehension without making conversation a pop quiz

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/lifelong-readers

Grief is a powerful and often overwhelming process that no one voluntarily wants to experience. But it’s a normal and inevitable part of life. Jane Daly and Geremy Keeton share their personal stories of loss and insights they’ve learned in the journey. They describe how grief can draw us closer to the Lord if we are willing to go through it, stay connected with others, and trust God for the results.

Receive a copy of "Hole in My Family Portrait" and an audio download of "Grieving the Loss of a Beloved Family Member" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

 Families, churches, and Christian schools have the opportunity to cultivate the kind of convictions that can undergird the religious freedom consensus.

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For more resources visit breakpoint.org. 

What if the biggest thing holding back your nonprofit fundraising isn't a lack of money, but the way you're thinking about your donors?

In this conversation, Kurt Luidhardt talks with nonprofit fundraising and marketing strategist Paul Bigham about how organizations can raise more money by shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset and building stronger relationships with the people who support their mission.

Paul has helped organizations raise more than $3.2 billion and explains why successful fundraising starts by making the donor the focus of your message.

Paul shares the story of helping a nonprofit grow from 17,500 active donors and a $5 million annual budget to 500,000 active donors and a $126 million budget.

He explains why organizations need systems for attracting, nurturing, appreciating, and retaining donors instead of only communicating when they need money.

The conversation also explores the continued power of direct mail. Paul shares an example where the same donor audience generated $15 million online compared with $80 million through direct mail over the same six month period.

He explains why digital and direct mail should work together, why attribution can be misleading, and why organizations shouldn't decide on behalf of donors when they've heard from them enough.

Paul also reflects on his unconventional path into nonprofit fundraising, including the layoff that ultimately led to three new clients and became a turning point in his career.

He discusses mentorship, faith, relationship capital, teaching the next generation of marketers, and why flexibility will become increasingly important as fundraising and communication continue to evolve.

Paul closes by sharing his desire to leave a legacy for future generations and his belief that fundraising can help organizations feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and serve causes that matter.

Key Takeaways

00:00 The Layoff That Changed Everything

00:25 Meet Paul Bigham

01:44 Scarcity vs Abundance in Fundraising

02:39 Make Fundraising About the Donor

03:04 Four Ways to Improve the Bottom Line

04:44 Building Sustainable Donor Growth

06:18 Why You Need Proof of Concept

07:16 Growing From 17,500 to 500,000 Donors

08:58 Why Direct Mail Still Works

10:17 $15 Million Online vs $80 Million in Mail

11:20 Building the Right Fundraising Cadence

14:49 Why Donor Relationships Matter

16:15 Making Direct Mail and Digital Work Together

19:09 Don't Say No for Your Donors

21:39 Paul's Path Into Nonprofit Fundraising

27:00 The Turning Point in Paul's Business

30:04 Mentors and Relationship Capital

32:46 Faith When the Path Isn't Clear

34:15 Why Paul Teaches Marketing

36:18 Preparing for the Future of Fundraising

38:35 The Castle Roads Philosophy

40:17 Building a Legacy for Future Generations

41:34 Understanding the Marketing of Hate

42:50 How Paul Helps Nonprofits Grow

Resources

Bigham Nonprofit Advisors

https://www.bighamagency.com/

Bigham Agency

https://www.bighamagency.com/

Paul's Fundraising Newsletter

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/castle-roads-7450910196572504065/

Castle Roads

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/castle-roads-7450910196572504065/

Southern Methodist University

https://www.smu.edu/

University of Texas at Dallas

https://www.utdallas.edu/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/libertyspenders

• Instagram:

You may not think of yourself as controlling. You’re just trying to protect the people you love and keep things from falling apart! Lysa TerKeurst reveals how fear can quietly drive our need for control, but how trusting God with the things we can’t fix can bring freedom and peace. You can’t control every outcome…but you can trust the One who can.

Receive a copy of "Making Peace with What I Can't Control" and an audio download of "How to Make Peace with What You Can't Control" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

We need to remember the faithfulness of God, repent of our sins, and return to His ways.

__________

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