…..you realize that people have more questions about the financial aspect of your trip than the purpose and people behind it. I definitely understand why people have questions about the funding aspect of my World Race and as potential supporters, you have every right to ask them. No question is too small or uncomfortable for me as I firmly believe in what I am going to do and why, and I’m glad to shed more light on any aspect of it all. I also get that money does not grow on trees and there are thousands of people on any given day raising funds for this cause or that one, so it is not only understandable, but also wise to make sure that you are giving to something/someone you trust and believe in. The difficulty I am having currently is not with any of those things….it is in dealing with some of the cynicism that arises when money is at stake and the apathy observed over people and a mission that I feel on fire for.
I’ve got so many different things that I want to share which I believe will help everyone better understand why I am doing this particular trip at this particular time, and also why some of the responses have been so frustrating and difficult for me to accept. It will probably take me several posts to cover it all, so I will leave those thoughts for another time. For now, I want to specifically address some of the financial questions and concerns many of you might have before moving forward with a financial donation. This will be a two part post due to the length. Here are the first two:
- “Are you contributing any of your own money?”
Of course I am! I feel very passionately and strongly about the fact that we as Christians are called to sacrifice and give of our talents, money, time and blessings in order to help others and further God’s kingdom. This includes sacrifices for the sake of both our brothers and sisters within the church and for those who are lost. I would not ask you all to participate in a vision and calling that I myself don’t support. As such, I am currently donating 67% (update) of my disposable income each month towards my fundraising goal of $16, 267. In addition to this, I am using my own income and savings to help pay for my fundraising costs (letters, stamps, envelopes, cards), antimalarial meds (please let me know if any of you know how to get an 11 month supply for less than $1000) and most of my gear/equipment (which also adds up very quickly). I will also have to go 2 weeks without pay in July for the mandatory training camp in Georgia, as I have no PTO left. Lastly, there are some additional travel costs at the very beginning and end of my trip which are not covered by the World Race funds. All of these items are being paid for by me. UPDATE: I will also need additional money while overseas for any personal items I want (special food, grooming supplies, excursions for my days off, etc.). It is estimated we bring roughly $100 monthly for this, which will be covered at my own expense.
2. “I already tithe my 10% to my church.”
That’s awesome! Tithing serves several functions, from honoring and acknowledging God’s sovereignty, building up faith and trust for the individual giving, providing for the church body and supporting missions locally and globally. Not everyone is called to go on, or even be a part of, this particular mission trip, but all Christians are called to be involved with world missions. The entire Bible is a story of God, His love for us and His command/desire for us to share that story so that as many people as possible will accept the grace and forgiveness that He offers and glorify His name throughout the nations.
Most churches hopefully are actively involved in missions, both in giving and sending out, since it really is the main purpose of the church. However, do you know exactly where your tithes are going and how much is set aside specifically for missions? Do you know which missionaries or organizations the money is going to? If not, I would challenge you to ask. It is important that all types of missions are supported, from those that help support locals to those that go out into the unreached people groups. However, did you know that while roughly 42% of the world population belongs to an unreached people group, almost 95% of Christian missionaries are working within the Christian world?! It is estimated that there are roughly 900 churches and 78,000 Evangelical Christians for every one unreached people group! Worst yet, roughly 87% of all church money donated to missions goes to areas of “reached” status, or those already with access to the gospel. It is estimated that $450 million is going to unreached peoples, which sounds great, right? Well, let’s break this down even further…. that puts 1% of all missions donations going to these who most desperately need it; that 1% equals the amount that Americans spent on Halloween costumes (in 2011)…for their pets!!
I’m beginning to more fully grasp the magnitude of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 9:37 when he says “…the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Yes, there are plenty of hurting and lost people locally and I fully believe we are supposed to be pouring into ALL that do not yet know Christ, but let’s not forget the billions of people who are out there who still have yet to so much as even hear about God. That honestly isn’t even a plug for my trip specifically as the World Race is not targeted specifically at the unreached groups. I hope we will get the opportunity to work with some in such places as Laos, but we will also be working with many reached areas who still have many unsaved and unknowledgeable about the gospel.
My World Race will involve a mixture of countries, from those who are largely Christians such as Malawi to places where Buddhism and animism reign. I’m very excited that I get to see and experience such a wide variety of countries as I hope it will give me a better idea of the current barriers and successes on a more global level. This, in turn, will help me figure out how I can best help support missions upon my return, particularly among the unreached. So, if you tithe or donate now, that’s great and I by no means wish to take from that. I just encourage you to be better informed and also remember that 10% is a minimum, not a limit 😉
I know these were some lengthy answers and responses (I really can’t seem to help myself), but I feel they are all important, so wanted to give them the proper time and attention. PLEASE let me know if you have any other questions that have not yet been answered and I’ll be glad to cover those as well. Also, I’ll be glad to provide info on where I got the stats listed above if anyone is curious.
