By: Heather Kaufman, director of development for the Comboni Missionaries North American Province
As I’m writing this article, my family has just finished several weeks of binge-watching soccer games. Both the Euros and Copa America tournaments monopolized conversations and televisions in our house. The MVPs of the soccer world donned their cleats and proudly wore their country’s jerseys during the games.
Those soccer MVPs had me thinking about the other MVPs in my life — my close-knit group of friends, nurses who have gotten our family through countless medical journeys, and, finally, my family, or as I like to call them, “my people.” Each of these groups has supported me in countless ways. They wear the “I’m on Team Heather” jerseys and I’m grateful!
The Comboni Missionaries also have MVPs that support our ministries. These include our volunteers, those who pray for us, and our monthly faith promise partners whom we affectionately call MFPs. This special group of donors quietly contributes to our work on a monthly basis. Some donate $10 a month while others give $1,000 —both are impactful and change lives. For $10 a month, a couple of water filters can be purchased, providing two million gallons of clean drinking water to refugee families in Uganda. A $1,000 donation can assist a medical student in the Nile region, an area desperate for doctors. (Did you know in this part of the world there is one doctor for every 58,000 people?) The difference these humble MFPs make to the lives of the most abandoned is awe-inspiring.
Recurring donors play a vital role in ensuring we are ready to take action at a moment’s notice. Giving monthly also allows us to take a planned approach to our work. Monthly gifts also help us save administrative costs and time to ensure the impact of the donation is truly maximized.
Some practical benefits of being an MFP include:
1. It’s flexible — increase or cancel your gift at any time.
2. It’s streamlined — the whole process is automated and you receive a Summary of Giving at the end of the year.
3. It’s reliable — by committing to a monthly gift, you are letting us know how to plan for the future to allow maximum impact.
Quietly, our MFPs are changing the lives of thousands of people in such a simple way. Their small monthly sacrifice makes a life-changing impact for so many. Giving monthly is easy and convenient. Please visit www.combonimissionaries.org/donate and consider joining this special group of donors. Our MFPs are our MVPs — providing the promise of a brighter future to the world’s most vulnerable. Perhaps you would like a Team Comboni Jersey too?
