08/29/2026
Overly sensitive post coming 🤪😅 because I’m in my feels today.
I currently have 8 monthly donors for Good Shepherd Advocacy Ministries. I also have one yearly donor. These now average several hundred dollars a month! I’m so grateful.
I had 2 additional monthly donors at one point but they dropped out. That was hurtful at first but ultimately I realized that that is ok.
* I appreciate all of them!* 🙌🏼💜 Whether you’ve given once or every month you have helped people who needed it most 🥹
That is the nature of being a non-profit—donors come and go.
Some folks give to me regularly for specific needs, some give sporadically, some folks have shared my posts, given me moving boxes, suitcases, personal hygiene items, etc. to serve these ladies and their kids. And what a blessing each time to see the community come together to do this!
Sometimes though—it does get discouraging. Especially lately. Here’s why.
I’m not making anything from this. I reimburse my expenses and “pay” myself by buying my lunch when I talk to ladies on my lunchbreak during my insurance job. Or reimbursing my gas.
I’m doing my best and sometimes people decide it’s not good enough or not what they think I should be doing.
Here are some real life examples of what I’ve been told before: “I/our church would give to Good Shepherd but…”
-“You don’t personally use the KJV Bible”
-“You’re too conservative”
-“You’re too liberal.”
-“I’d feel more comfortable if a man ran the ministry since it involves teaching the Bible” (I’m not a pastor/elder, nor am I serving a local church, and I am often alone with women and children; is that wise for a man to do that? No. Plus, not sure what hermeneutical approach to the Bible that this is coming from)
-Some folks have gone out of their way to tell me they’ll support me and then they ghost me
Look, I do it because I want to serve the Lord and others in this way. It’s an honor, a joy and a privilege.
I’d do it if I had no money (I did to begin with!) **but the overwhelming majority of funds
goes to helping local victims and survivors of abuse** or the occasional other unique scenario where a vulnerable person needs advocacy and *no one else will do it*
So know when you say you’d give but you don’t become of some **personal tertiary conviction, non-Gospel issue**, just know it’s the survivors that suffer, not me.
✅Why become a monthly donor?
-This provides **Immediate available funds** for emergency situations, which is the case for most of the needs that come through. Even small amounts can be stretched a long way!
If I had to try to fundraise for every individual need, that would take hours upon hours 🕰️each week, that frankly I don’t have.
I work a nearly full time secular job and I am raising a family. I’d be posting constantly. I’d burn out.
(Plus sharing every need publicly would potentially compromise families’ confidentiality)
EVERY DONATION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE! I am a registered 501(c)3 non profit in NC 🙂 I have a board of 5 people who see the financials and keep me accountable
✅What Other Ways Can I Help Your Ministry Other Than Money?
-Commit to praying 🙏🏼 daily or weekly for all the women and children (and occasionally men) who come through this ministry
-Share ➡️My Posts!
-Buy💲💳💶 our Merchandise (I’ll link it below).
-Hand out my pamphlets/card/brochures at your churches and places of business (message me and I’ll send you some!)
-Send me encouraging messages. I need to be reminded that what I’m doing matters 🥹 I’m a big softie who gets my feelings hurt easily and doubts myself a lot.
Also, I am a religiously ✝️⛪️affiliated nonprofit.
Because of this I am not ❌eligible for most government grants 💰or funds
Could I just become non religious in nature?
Sure! But that’s not something I’m willing to do.
Jesus comes with me everywhere I go and I’m not willing to tell him to stay behind from now on, so I can get more money.
I’d rather just have no money and stay small than to compromise for the sake of the illusion that “success” lies in getting bigger or doing more.
I just share this so you’ll know how this journey has gone so far. And to clear up any misconceptions that I have a lot of resources and funds. I really don’t.
If you read all this, you’re a real trooper 😅🤪 thank you!
In Christ
Amber
To give:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/5f1929cf-633e-4966-a233-e5af5d38b1c1
To buy merchandise:
https://www.bonfire.com/store/good-shepherd-advocacy-ministries/
