Mother Teresa’s Unique Way of Raising Funds for Charity

Mother Teresa was the founder of Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation that spread to over a hundred countries, helping the poorest of the poor. Having begun with only pure trust in God, what she achieved was nothing short of a miracle.

She never started with vast resources. She never won a lottery. And yet today, even after her death, her legacy lives on.

When asked about her strategy for raising funds, her response was simple:

"Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God - the rest will be given."

Mother Teresa simply followed what Jesus said in the Bible:

“But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,[s] and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil. - Matthew 6:33-34 (NABRE)

What’s wonderful is that Jesus’ words were not only meant for saints like Mother Teresa. It was also meant for us in the course of our ordinary lives.

• It’s meant for the wage earner who has to earn a living for his family.

• It’s meant for the parish priest who needs to take care of his flock.

• It’s meant for unmarried people who must take care of their own finances.

• It’s meant for the single parent who must raise one’s children alone.

• It’s meant for the businessman who’s afraid of upholding one’s beliefs for fear of going bankrupt.

We all need some material things to continue our journey here on earth. And we also need money to an extent to accomplish some good such as providing for our families and helping the poor.

This doesn’t mean that we should no longer work! Even St. Paul warned against those who may use religion as an excuse to be lazy:

“In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.” - 2 Thessalonians 3 (NABRE)

What this means is that we should not worry about food and other material needs as long as we are seeking and doing what is right.

Because of this, we can work without being preoccupied with work all the time to the extent that we already have no time for prayer or for the ones we love.

This also means that in case we realize that we may have a calling similar to that of Mother Teresa’s, we should not lose heart. Even if we think we have no material means to accomplish it, God Himself will provide for everything we will ever need to accomplish that mission.

Here are the words of Jesus as reflected in St. Faustina’s diary:

“My daughter, I assure you of a permanent income on which you will live. Your duty will be to trust completely in my goodness, and my duty will be to give you all you need. I am making Myself dependent upon your trust: if your trust is great, then My generosity will be without limit.”

These were the same words that I held on to when I felt God calling me to leave my job as an auditor and start as a full-time Catholic writer.

To be honest, I have a lot of ups and downs. My faith is not as strong as that of St. Faustina’s or Mother Teresa’s. But what I can attest to is that God has been faithful all this time.

When I was weak and struggling, He carried me through. He led me through each and every difficulty not to break His promise of provision but to let me see how He can accomplish the impossible with His grace and power.

I hope that you think about these things whenever you encounter some financial difficulty. Don’t be afraid! God will provide.

Let us do our part, and we can count on Him to be faithful until the very end. God be with you!

“Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.”
- Mother Teresa

“Be strong and steadfast, and go to work; do not fear or be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you before you have completed all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NABRE)

“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. - Isaiah 40