Great Commission Giving
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Have you ever wondered how missionaries make a living? Do they raise their own support? Do they work regular jobs and do ministry on the side? Do they get a regular salary from a church or denomination? Well, the answers are yes, yes, and yes! Missionaries are supported by several different means depending on where they serve and what organization sends them. In the Christian & Missionary Alliance, missionaries do not have to raise their own support but rather receive a monthly salary based on the economy of where they are serving. For example, Japan is a lot more costly than the African bush. Another key factor is the size of their family.
Additionally, C&MA missionaries can receive special gifts from donors for ministry projects and incidentals. The salaries of our missionaries come from the Great Commission Fund or GCF. Every church in the denomination is asked to donate a portion of money to the GCF each year in order to support the work of the missionaries and the spreading of the gospel throughout the nations. Last year, our church gave $67,654 to the GFC. This is where you come in. This Sunday, you will have the opportunity to pledge to give directly to the GCF and support C&MA missionaries like the Kindervaters and the Woerners. The opportunity to give comes in the form of a Faith Pledge. The Faith Pledge is just that – a pledge to give generously to missions based on your faith in God’s provision for you. Only you will know how much you determine to give and only you will be responsible for continuing to give. The Faith Pledge card will be in your bulletin and you can pledge to give weekly, monthly, or annually beginning in January 2009. The Faith Pledge cards are sent to the GCF office to estimate how much they will receive for the coming year. This is important so the office can develop an annual budget, determine missionary salaries, and plan outreach projects. Just like in our own families, the GCF must consider its income and how the budget can work out from month to month. Giving to the Great Commission Fund (as evidenced in the next article) is vital to missionaries continuing their ministry of sharing the gospel to the nations. Prayerfully consider pledging in faith this upcoming year so “that all peoples may know Him.”
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