Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant
I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be a fundraiser. In high school, I was the VP of just about everything—driven, eager, and definitely not imagining I’d one day lead a consulting company helping others raise money for Kingdom work.
And yet, here I am.
Most of the time, when I speak, I’m focused on the how-to of fundraising: how to craft a compelling case statement, identify potential prospects, and ask with clarity. But every now and then—like at our recent West Coast Symposium—I get to go deeper. Because before the strategy, before the plan, before the ask, comes something much more important: your own transformation.
It Starts With Who You’re Becoming
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” If you’re in ministry or nonprofit leadership, let me remind you: your value isn’t defined by the money you raise. You are a child of God. Fundraising, at its best, flows from that identity.
Henri Nouwen once wrote that both the donor and the person in need come to the table with problems. One may be desperate in obvious ways—lacking shelter, food, or opportunities. The other’s needs may be more hidden; they may be unsure of what to do with their wealth, feeling isolated, longing for meaning. Between them stands you. Not as a broker. Not as a beggar. But as a bridge.
Nouwen said, “In fundraising as ministry, we are inviting people into a new way of relating to their resources.” That’s Christian fundraising.
Not pressure. Not manipulation. Invitation. Transformation. That’s the kind of work I want to do. That’s the kind of leader I want to be.
A Story of Restoration: 2 Samuel 9
Let’s talk about King David and a man named Ziba.
In 2 Samuel 9, David asks, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness?” Ziba, a servant, more or less responds, “Yes, I know a guy.” And that guy is Mephibosheth: physically disabled, forgotten, and living in Lo-debar—a place that literally means “no pasture.”
Ziba isn’t the hero of the story. He’s not the king. But without him, the story doesn’t happen. He’s the bridge. He’s the connector. That’s what leadership looks like in God’s Kingdom: showing up, remembering names, and making connections.
We all have Mephibosheths in our world—those who feel invisible. And we all know kings, people with resources and influence. The beautiful work we’re called to do happens in the space between these two.
Four Lessons for Leaders Who Want to Be Bridges:
- We are connectors, not saviors.
Ziba didn’t heal Mephibosheth or write a check. He simply said, “Yes, I know someone.” That’s our role too—faithfully and humbly making introductions between people and their purpose. - God has a heart for the forgotten.
Lo-debar is a place of exile, silence, and lack. But David doesn’t leave Mephibosheth there. He brings him to the table. Our work isn’t just about generosity—it’s about restoration. About seeing those the world overlooks and saying, “Come, eat at the table.” - Restoration comes through relationships.
David’s kindness wasn’t a random act—it was rooted in his deep friendship with Jonathan. The same is true for us. Lasting change comes through the context of relationship—with our donors, our teammates, and with Christ. - Respond with courage.
Ziba didn’t know what David would do. But he spoke up anyway. Sometimes leadership just looks like courageous availability. It looks like saying “yes” to the nudge of the Holy Spirit and trusting that God will do the rest.
So, let me ask you:
- How is God calling you to be a connector right now?
- Who are the “Mephibosheths” in your world—the people waiting for restoration?
- Where is God asking you to show up with courage?
At the end of the day, our work isn’t about transactions; it’s about transformation. It’s not about raising more money; it’s about making space at the table.
Because somewhere, someone is asking, “Do you know a guy?”
Let’s be the ones who say, “Yes, I do.”
We’ve been privileged to help many organizations be more effective in their fundraising by learning and implementing relational fundraising principles in their work with donors. Want to talk?