How is my money spent?
Are we done with the shotgun approach to distribution of our limited resources that leaves the critical work of missions unfunded and called men of God chafing at their inability to follow God’s leading?
As we conclude this section on support, can we step back and look at how our missions money is being spent? Hundreds of thousands of dollars, millions of dollars, are invested in missions every year! God’s people are incredibly generous. While some people find that paying someone else to do their responsibility sooths their conscience when it comes to local church ministry and fulfilling the Great Commission, most believers are simply desirous of seeing the work of God expand to their world for the Glory of God.
Missions takes money and sending someone to another place, especially overseas, is extremely costly. Supporting national individuals may be less expensive but accountability is a major issue. One ministry I am familiar with works through national churches in a partnership that assists them to send their missionaries to the places our traditional missionaries cannot go. This involvement of the national church is commendable as a new strategy to be examined and pursued.
Yet, even with the significant funds that are given every year, many missionaries on deputation face another long year of travel. One missionary I met was at his 189th church that weekend, and headed to 190 the next week. What is the problem?
Let’s start with how our money is being spent. Do these options make sense in a world of 8 billion people and a majority living in countries where we cannot send a traditional missionary:
- Sending a church planter to a major city to plant a church in a suburb. After 10 years and a million dollars, a church of 50 looks for a national pastor.
- Gather funds to build a church in a foreign country and, having done so, wonder why all the other churches in the area believe you should do the same for them.
- Gather a group of people who compete for funds to take a short-term trip to paint a wall, plant trees, work construction, etc. while the local people watch.
- Send a singing group over to present their inspiring program.
- Bring a children’s choir from Africa to entertain your audience (and raise funds).
- Send a missionary to homeschool another missionary’s children.
- Fund missionaries leading a children’s home, Bible college, etc.
- Send your missionary as a social worker, (and multiplied other new missionary roles).
- Add your illustration…
While many national people believe that ALL AMERICANS are rich and should be obligated to support them, the truth is not convincing to many nationals. Try explaining, “Yes, America is rich but most of the money is not in the Christian’s pocket” or “I would be rich if I could use my income in your standard of living, try using your income in my standard of living”. Many, if not most, donations come from sacrificial giving by believers who love the Lord and want to obey His command to reach their world; asking them to give to reach those they will never meet, in places they will never go. Dedicating a tithe or more from general giving is ok to most, but then there are those churches who promote faith-promise giving, asking their members to dig deeper into their pockets.
Many mission agencies in the past forgot to impose upon the missionaries under their board to set aside retirement funds. Now, many churches find their missionary dollars going to retired people who left the mission field long ago. That problem has been resolved with new missionaries but many churches still face the consequences and dilemma of what to do with retired missionaries of days gone by.
Many
truly called evangelists, educators, and church planters languish in our
country, traveling multitudes of miles, dragging families across the country,
for 4 and 5 years, to achieve their goal of following their call to the mission
field. Reaching 50% support is a
difficult and daunting task. My
experience is that many churches will not consider anyone until they reach at
least 60%. Only then is there the sense
that these people might actually go somewhere.
Well…you know…why should we support those under 60% when our money will
only keep them traveling from place to place.
I believe in faith-based missions and have no desire to take away from churches deciding whom they, by faith and with persistent prayer, support. Turning over the decisions to a denominational hierarchy to determine who will go where is not my belief in God’s plan for the local church.
So, what can be done? Our Commission is Great, our resources are limited, costs are increasing, time is short (or so it seems but really unknown), and the population of the world exploding.
The challenge is to step back, look at what we are doing, consider what needs to be done, and choose the wise stewardship of our limited resources.
