Bio
Michael has worked as a coach and consultant globally for the past 8 years. He has trained and equipped national leaders in strategy development, financial development, and results-based management with a focus on sustainable ministry models. He has seen the empowerment of national ministries that have embraced “The Treasure Principle”: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven …For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21
Michael and his wife Kelly have served in global ministry for the past 17 years, following a career as a pilot. “I followed God’s call into aviation out of a love for flying, but then God called me into ministry out of a love for people.” They have a son and two daughters who have travelled the world and shared the stories and experiences of fellow ministry workers that have graced their home. We have been blessed richly by God’s gift of knowing and sharing life with people from many nations and cultures.
Posts by Michael Renie:
Hey fundraiser, have you heard a great story?
Posted on: 16 Sep 2020
Tell a good story. Captivate the audience. Make your mission and ministry come alive. If you have ever sought to be better in your profession as a fundraiser, you have likely attended a training that demonstrated the importance of good stories. Telling stories about the work of the ministry or the organization is one of the best ways to engage current and potential partners. Stories help us create an illustration of our “case for support”. Stories can answer “case for support” questions: Who we are, what we do, why we do it, and why should someone give to us. Sharing […]
The Fundraiser As Giver
Posted on: 09 Sep 2019
John Wooden was an American basketball player and head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While playing the position of guard at Purdue University, he was named an All-American basketball player three years in a row. While coaching the UCLA basketball team he won the National Championship a record 10 times during a 12-year period. His UCLA teams also won a National College men’s basketball record of 88 consecutive wins. Many sports leaders, business leaders, and biographers have called him the “Greatest Coach Ever”. What did he say about all his success in basketball and in life? […]
Motivation for Giving
Posted on: 20 Apr 2019
Victor is one of my most cherished friends. We have shared life together in celebration and fun, and we have walked together in times of trouble and suffering. Several years ago, Victor attended his first professional baseball game with me. It was a reciprocal gift for the day he shared the experience of attending a cricket tournament. He and his family have prayed over me and attended to me in their home when I was suffering from back pain. I attended to Victor when he suffered a heart attack – taking him to the hospital and then caring for him […]
Giving and Generosity
Posted on: 10 Dec 2018
Is giving something to someone else always an act of generosity? What qualifies giving of our time, talent, or treasure as generosity. I have many times given some candy to my children to “calm” them down, to restore the peace, or to distract them. More recently, I volunteered to “serve”, but I was actually intending to expand my network of business contacts by giving of my time. What is the difference in the stories of Barnabas, the Levite, from the island of Cyprus who sold a field he owned, and that of Ananias and his wife Sapphira who also sold […]
Christian View of Money, Wealth, Possessions
Posted on: 03 Sep 2018
Money, Wealth, Possessions – A Guardian business article published in April 2018 ran with the headline “Richest 1% on target to own two-thirds of all wealth by 2030”. The article stated based on the growing inequality, that the top 1% would hold wealth equating to $305,000,000,000,000.00 US dollars, which is double what they hold in wealth today. Many people, probably a whole lot of people are angry about this, crying out against this injustice. Wherever I travel and speak with people and families across the globe, I find that the person’s view of money, wealth, and possessions depends on his/her […]
The Fundraiser’s Six Rights
Posted on: 19 Apr 2017
Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting in the Lord means safety – Proverbs 29:25 Rejection, feeling as a beggar, or causing harm to a friendship are just some of the thoughts and fears we struggle with as a fundraiser. We often ask ourselves what will be the donor’s reaction when I ask them for money. We worry about how they will see me as a person and respond. Whether we have experience in fundraising and many stories of success, or we are just starting out, these fears and conversations in our thoughts have happened or will happen. The […]
Stewardship – The Gift and the Giver
Posted on: 07 Mar 2017
Identify a need, establish a plan to meet that need, enlist financial support to carry out the plan, and demonstrate to investors the worthiness of their investment. This was the approach of D.L. Moody (Founder of the Moody Bible Institute). Biblical fundraising is about encouraging, challenging and inspiring God’s people to participate in God’s ministry and His purposes. We are to be participating in loving God and loving people: feeding the hungry, responding against injustice, helping the poor, giving the powerless dignity, and at the least sharing the Gospel. God has not left His people helpless or wanting in the […]