Rev. Christopher Marlin-Warfield
Bringing People Together to do Good
I’m a pastor and a nonprofit development and communications professional. My passion, my mission, and my calling is bringing people together to do good, with a particular focus on serving people who are experiencing poverty and other forms of marginalization.
I am ordained in the United Church of Christ. I have been educated at Knox College, Chicago Theological Seminary, and the Fundraising School at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. I am a Certified Fund Raising Executive.
And I am absolutely committed to the charitable mission of the Christian Church.
What to learn about charity, fundraising and communications, and my experiences as a pastor? Read my blog!
What I'm About
Radical Charity
Charity is love in action. I believe in charity’s power to both provide concrete help to people experiencing poverty and help others grow closer to God through their love of others. “Faith, hope, and charity abide,” writes Paul, “and the greatest of these is charity.”
Extravagant Hospitality
The church is called to welcome all people. That means more than being open to strangers. It means enthusiastically embracing people in all of their brokenness. No matter who you are, or where you are in life’s journey, you are welcome.
Christian Community
All Christians are ministers by virtue of our baptism, and all of us have both the privilege and responsibility to serve our neighbors according to our gifts. All of us have a role to play in making this a world of greater justice and mercy.
The bread you are holding back is for the hungry, the clothes you keep put away are for the naked, the shoes that are rotting away with disuse are for those who have none, the silver you keep buried in the earth is for the needy.
St. Basil the Great, “I Will Tear Down My Barns”
What I Bring to the Table
Preaching and Worship
Worship is a central part of Christian life, where we connect with God and prepare to go into the world as representatives of the Kingdom. I bring excellent preaching skills and intentional design to worship services.
Fundraising and Stewardship
I am a fundraising and stewardship expert, with a proven record of developing funds for congregations and other nonprofit organizations. I am a donor-centered, impact-focused, and data-driven fundraiser.
Communications and Marketing
I excel and developing and executing communications and marketing plans. From building websites to creating newsletters to writing press releases, I am able to engage audiences in the work of the organizations I serve.
Strategy
I am a proven leader with experience in developing and implementing strategies that help congregations and other organizations use their resources for the greatest possible impact.
My Background
My Experience
First Congregational United Church of Christ | DeWitt, Iowa | Pastor (2018 to Present)
Back Bay Mission | Biloxi, Mississippi | Church Relations Associate (2012 to 2018)
Northeast Ohio Medical University | Rootstown, Ohio | Coordinator, Annual Fund and Advancement Services (2011 to 2012); Specialist, Alumni and Development (2009 to 2011)
Chicago Theological Seminary | Chicago, Illinois | Special Assistant to the President (2008 to 2009); Interim Coordinator of Development Operations (2008); Development Assistant (2006 to 2008)
Consulting | Various | Churches United of the Quad City Area (2016 – 2018); Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (2016); United Church of Christ, Congregational (Medina, Ohio) (2014)
My Education
The Fundraising School | Indianapolis, Indiana | Developing Major Gifts (2017); Developing Annual Sustainability (2016); Principles and Techniques of Fundraising (2011)
The Council for Health and Human Services Ministries | Cleveland, Ohio | Nollau Institute (2017)
Association of Fundraising Professionals | Columbus, Ohio | Fundamentals of Fundraising (2010)
Chicago Theological Seminary | Chicago, Illinois | M.Div. (2006)
Knox College | Galesburg, Illinois | B.A. (2000)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Luke 4:18-19
The Latest From the Blog
But what if someone uses the money for, say, a glass of wine? (A perfectly Milanese question.) His answer: If “a glass of wine is the only happiness he has in life, that’s O.K. Instead, ask yourself, what do you do on the sly? What ‘happiness’ do you seek in secret?” Another way to look at it, he said, is to recognize how you are the “luckier” one, with a home, a spouse and children, and then ask why your responsibility to help should be pushed onto someone else.
The New York Times Editorial Board (Describing Statements by Pope Francis)