Willemina Zwart's ministry with the South Coast Beach Project in Port Dover, Ont., gathers six to seven young adults for four months of communal living and mentorship each summer, but that's not stopping her from exploring the recreation opportunities of Lake Erie in the winter. She's signed up for the Jan. 1, 2026, “polar bear dip,” which takes place each year on Port Dover’s beach.
This will be her first time participating in the annual event that draws hundreds of people willing to take the plunge into the frigid water and even more spectators on the beach. This year she’s going it alone, but she said she’s considering asking others to join her next time. And it's not just for fun. As a missionary, Zwart is responsible for raising her own support by partnering with churches, her local classis, and individual donors. The polar dip is one fundraising effort, tying the level of funds raised with how deep Zwart will plunge.
“I think there should be some ‘fun’ in fundraising,” Zwart said. Community connection is one of the values of the summer ministry, so fundraisers that invite people to share an experience or join a popular local event align well with that value. “It excites me to see how much people want to invest in young adults—especially (in) their leadership and faith formation.”
Related: Church in Ontario Tourist Town Creates Young Adult Summer Community Experience (May 21, 2021)
Career missionaries with Resonate Global Mission are expected to raise most of their support before they are deployed to the field, explained Raf Alaskarov, a donor relations officer for Resonate. With training and coaching support from the mission organization, missionaries work to create partnerships with congregations and individuals to get as close as possible to being fully funded through pledges or guaranteed giving.
“Our career missionaries are very focused on fundraising as a relational partnership,” said Cassie Marcionetti of Resonate. Through newsletters and visits, they connect with churches and individuals, sharing stories of their work and inviting them to partner in it by prayer and giving.
Williamsburg (Ont.) Christian Reformed Church invites support for local charity Community Food Share by hosting an annual Empty Bowls fundraiser since 2017. Every February, neighbors buy tickets to the event and receive a handmade, ceramic bowl, which they fill with soup and then take home empty as a keepsake. Event organizers said local artisans create the bowls, which “have become something of a collector’s item,” according to a press release about the 2025 event.
Resonate’s director of advancement, James VanderLaan, said that in fundraising, “The ‘ask’ is important.” He noted that when missionaries are intentional, clear, and specific in their requests, people respond. Recognizing this, Hesed Community Church in Detroit, Mich., uses a year-round gift guide of sorts to communicate and encourage support. “We've seen this approach modeled by World Renew and other organizations that we admire,” said Resonate local mission leader Mark VanAndel, a pastor at Hesed. “We have also seen that donors like to know some practical things that their financial investments go toward. It makes it a more personal experience to give toward something that interests us and we believe in,” he explained.
From the Network: Fundraising 101: Five Lessons Learned (Aug. 11, 2025)
Brian Geers, director of marketing and communications for Resonate, noted that missionary support is up so far this fiscal year (July to November), explaining that missionaries with the strongest support cited prayer and intentional relationship as the main factors in meeting their ministries’ financial needs. As Zwart has discovered, putting the “fun” in fundraising can help to build those relationships and spread some joy in the work.