final cropped 11

8/7/2019 FINAL Cropped 11

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/final-cropped-11 1/1

#:$ SUPPORT US, NOT JUST PROJECTS

Balance your missions giving. Make it your priority to invest in people—inmissionaries, not just missions projects or trips.

Missionaries -terprise is based on people, “boots on the ground” all over the world. Projects and trips only work because ofmissionaries. These long-term missionaries learn language and culture, develop relationships with the nationalchurch, and cultivate goodwill within its leadership, both nationally and locally. In short, the work of the Assem-blies of God Missions cannot function effectively without resident missionaries: family units called by God to

Missions projects and trips can assist the work of the missionary, providing necessary funds and laborers tobuild buildings, evangelize, establish new works, install water systems, and other types of missions projects.When a group from a local congregation travels together, short-term trips can have life-long impact upon theparticipants, and in some cases lead to the call of God toward vocational missionary service. The visiting teamcan strengthen the impact of long-term missionaries.

Think Long-term. At the same time, be careful not to over-spend on short-term trips, at the expense of

-

keep things in perspective: It’s not about us, it’s about them—the last, the least, the lost, and the missionariescommitted to reaching them through the slow, often-painful, process of cross-cultural life and service.

Healthy missionary churches do not do onewithout the other. Prayerfully considerhow your church balances theirbudget. As a general guideline,

consider an 85:15 ratio (mission-aries to missions projects/trips).Even though it may be mucheasier to raise money for projectsand trips than for missionary sup-port, remember it is those on the

most projects to occur, and theywill remain long after you havegone home.

7 TIPS FOR PRIORITIZING MISSIONS SUPPORT:

1. Start somewhere. One thing every church in the Assemblies of God can do, no matter the size, is give to missions. Obedient generosity always

Consider tithing as a church. If it is right for individuals, why not organizations?

3. Balance out the quantity (number of missionaries supported) with the quality (increasing the amount of your support) each year.

4. Prioritize missionaries in some order: For example (a) from your congregation, (b) with relationship to your congregation, (c) from your district, (d)

5. Consider leaving an open slot(s) each year for newly-appointed missionaries, to help them rapidly build their initial support.

6. Increase the percentage of the annual budget each year for missions (trusting God to honor your faith to follow His heart for the world).

7.

(.659&%4'