As I began gathering my thoughts to write this fund appeal letter (FAL), I read through some past years’ FALs from our founder, John Kippley, looking for possible ideas. I saw that NFP International has been consistent in its mission of instructing couples about the teachings of Humanae Vitae and about ways to live out those teachings. Our instruction to couples about covenant theology, the Prem method of systematic NFP, and ecological breastfeeding is certainly a positive influence for society. This approach (what founders John and Sheila Kippley call The Triple Strand) is only found here at NFPI. So your contribution to this apostolate is a concrete way to promote healthy, happy marriages and families, which, of course, are the building blocks of healthy, happy communities.
We are a very small organization, but we have the capability, through our on-line Home Study Course, to reach all English-speaking people who have access to the internet. Please promote our NFP course to anyone you know who would benefit from it. We will be happy to serve them. Frequently our “customers” are engaged couples. But according to statistics, many married Catholics are using contraception. We can also teach them how to use Natural Family Planning, with all its accompanying advantages.
One way to promote our NFP course would be to submit a bulletin announcement for us at your church. It could read:
Natural Family Planning (NFP). Learn NFP at home and at your own pace with the Home Study Course from NFP International, www.nfpandmore.org. Includes Ecological Breastfeeding (it really can space babies), a double-check system of fertility awareness, and Catholic teaching that’s easy to understand. Work with a live instructor by email. Completion certificate. Only $70.
Because our apostolate is small, our budget is also small. If everyone receiving this letter gave $10.00, then our annual budget of $70,000 would be obtained. Of course, such uniform giving is unlikely, so for those of you who can give more, please do so to offset the letters that will not be answered. Also, for those of you who give $1.00, or $5.00, we appreciate it very much. Last year we did not raise enough funds to cover our budget, so we had to use savings to make up the difference. Obviously, we cannot continue to operate at a deficit.
Please help. We really do need both your prayers and your financial gifts. God loves a cheerful giver.
Sometimes we get notes of appreciation from students and other donors. My wife Ann puts some of them on “Monday Mailbag” at the NFPI Facebook page. If you have any stories about how covenant theology, systematic NFP, or eco-breastfeeding has been a part of your life, we would like to hear about that. Your input is valuable for others who may be unfamiliar with one or more aspects of the Triple Strand. It’s also valuable for us to evaluate how our program is doing.
Mary, first receiver of the Word, and perfect disciple, pray for us.
Sincerely,
Stephen Craig
Executive Director