How to Have a Missions-Minded Church: More on Finances
I am leaning more and more towards taking on fewer missionaries for much more money, rather than a plethora for pennies each. I really appreciate this series by Dr. Straub.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
they are wonderful— they have had a missionary heart since the beginning (about 37 years now). Over the years, htey first moved to increase support— missionaries who are members (called from that church) they support for 500/month and non members for 250.
They then raised our support (and several others who were severely undersupported) to 750/month. The pastor also lets missionaries ask members to individually support them outside of the church’s faith promise giving (and the general missions budget increased, too, with that).
Over the years, they bought up three houses that border the property and maintain them as missionary houses, which allows us to live well as a familiy (we have a 6-member family now) without paying rent. They had a van for us too the last time we were there.
They have a wonderful vision and implemented it as God’s allowed. Their financial long-term goal is to support a missionary for one third of his support level. I would highly recommend talking to them. They’ve done the lots-for-little and they’ve transitioned very well without dropping people, etc. They make it a priority during Sunday services, etc. There are lots of missionaries in the church, too, as BIMI and several other mission agency home offices are in that place.
Discussion