World Missions Releases Missionary Support Statement
For the information of those who have asked about missionary support and funding, Dr. Tim Hill, director of World Missions, shared today with donors the World Missions policy in place for the past 25 years.
“Hopefully this will assist our missions-loving partners as they prayerfully consider sponsoring our wonderful missionaries and their families,” said Dr. Hill. “We haven’t changed our practices regarding missionary support in many years. This statement may inform new givers and challenge those who have been on board with our missionaries for a long time.”
Statement on Missionary Support
In 1988 World Missions changed its method of missionary support. Before that time, missionaries’ salaries, benefits, and expenses were paid from the income of the tithe fund and monies raised by office-based personnel. Since the altered system went into effect, missionaries have been responsible for raising their own support. This change was made for several reasons.
• It permitted the sending of more missionaries.
• It allowed a personal relationship between the missionaries and their sponsoring churches and individual givers.
• It could lead to prayer and personal support beyond the financial assistance.
• It brought World Missions into conformity with about 95 percent of other agencies and denominations in their manner of missionary support.
• It released the tithe income for other vital needs, such as Bible schools and other field necessities.
The change has accomplished its goals for those missionaries who have accepted its obligations. The number of appointed missionaries doubled within a short time. New missionaries have understood and accepted the responsibility to recruit and maintain donors, believing that part of God’s calling to be a missionary included His assurance that they would be cared for.
World Missions is committed to missionary well-being. On numerous occasions in the past when support languished for individual missionaries, the leadership has made up the arrears. In the 2012 General Assembly, for example, an offering was taken that eliminated all deficits. In a new era of economic decline and diminished funding to the basic budget (the percentage of tithe received by World Missions), allocations of this nature are not now typically available. World Missions is thankful and appreciates our donors who are so faithful in their giving, and asks all missionaries to remain in regular contact with those who are paying their salaries and budget.
World Missions will continue to cooperate with missionaries in other ways, short of wiping out deficits. Reasonable leaves from the field will be permitted for fundraising purposes. Efforts will be made by Missions Representatives to augment income. Personal missionary testimonies will be placed on the website for those who write them. It is our desire to keep all God-called missionaries in the place God has called them. For those who determine they are unable to remain on the field, World Missions will help, to the extent we are able, to place them in touch with church leaders who may help them find another place of ministry.
“We know our church believes we should continue to send and maintain missionaries, because we understand the biblical principle enshrined in Romans 10—“How shall they preach unless they are sent?”—and the Church of God is committed to obeying the Great Commission,” Hill affirmed. “We sincerely expect that missionary support will continue to come in, and we offer our gratitude to pastors and donors who are committed along with us.” □
