Here’s a blog posted by a finance person on Q-squad!
Posted by Aimee Holladay
During training camp we had a “class” on finances. I found it
fascinating to see where every dollar of your support went and why it
was necessary to raise the money. I wanted to share this information
with you to let you see how your donations were being used – how you really are a part of changing the world.
fascinating to see where every dollar of your support went and why it
was necessary to raise the money. I wanted to share this information
with you to let you see how your donations were being used – how you really are a part of changing the world.
$14,300 is the total amount needed to raise to finish this race. Here is the brake down of how that money is used:
training camp – $250.00
support field staff travel – $575.00
administrative fees – $2,500
development/marketing – $1,700
field expenses – $9,255
_________________________
total – $14,280….. $14,300.
The field expenses are broken down into airfare (which is
approximately $3,500) and then $460.00 a month for all other field
expenses.
approximately $3,500) and then $460.00 a month for all other field
expenses.
Each month, each person, has $460.00 for the month (for our team
of 7 people that is $3,220.00). That money can not be held over to the
next month. Each team has a person that will handle the team
finances. They (and the team leader) are given a debit card to allow
access to the funds. As a team we are to decide how we can be the best
stewards of this money… how we can use it most effectively to further
the Kingdom of God. That $460.00 is broken down into a budget to
possibly look like:
of 7 people that is $3,220.00). That money can not be held over to the
next month. Each team has a person that will handle the team
finances. They (and the team leader) are given a debit card to allow
access to the funds. As a team we are to decide how we can be the best
stewards of this money… how we can use it most effectively to further
the Kingdom of God. That $460.00 is broken down into a budget to
possibly look like:
$3.70 per day for food (111.00 a month)
$5.25 per day for lodging (157.50 month)
$3.00 per day for in country travel (90.00 month)
$90.00 a month for long distance travel (when we are taking the 60 hour bus ride to our next country…)
$10.00 a month for miscellaneous expenses (anything from translators to toilet paper…)
______________
total – $458.50 ….$460.00
As a team, each month, when we enter into a country we will have
to decide how we want to budget and use our money. We can decide to
sacrifice and live on rice and beans for every meal for the entire
month and pitch our tents to rough it in order to save as much of our
money as possible. In this case, we can as a group decide to use our
money to put extra money into our ministry – such as buying benches for
a church, buying food for a specific family in need etc… All of our ministry money (putting on a VBS, buying
food to cook to feed the kids lunch, buying some building
materials for a church or house we are helping to build) comes out of this
budget as well. Some months, because of the countries currency
exchange rate, this budget will allow us a lot of flexibility and be
more than enough. Other times, this budget will be a challenge for us
to accomplish what we were sent to do.
to decide how we want to budget and use our money. We can decide to
sacrifice and live on rice and beans for every meal for the entire
month and pitch our tents to rough it in order to save as much of our
money as possible. In this case, we can as a group decide to use our
money to put extra money into our ministry – such as buying benches for
a church, buying food for a specific family in need etc… All of our ministry money (putting on a VBS, buying
food to cook to feed the kids lunch, buying some building
materials for a church or house we are helping to build) comes out of this
budget as well. Some months, because of the countries currency
exchange rate, this budget will allow us a lot of flexibility and be
more than enough. Other times, this budget will be a challenge for us
to accomplish what we were sent to do.
The person in charge of the finances will have to send in all
receipts each month back to Adventures in Missions. We are to keep
handwritten receipts of each dollar spent. Our goal is to stay on budget each
month. One month, if we have money left over, it will go to help
another team who maybe went over their budget for that month, and
likewise for us as well.
receipts each month back to Adventures in Missions. We are to keep
handwritten receipts of each dollar spent. Our goal is to stay on budget each
month. One month, if we have money left over, it will go to help
another team who maybe went over their budget for that month, and
likewise for us as well.
A portion of the money, if we are
way below budget for the month, can go toward fun things for the team,
such as buying ice cream for everyone or deciding since we have eaten
beans and rice all month to actually go out to dinner. Any team
activity, any money spent on the team for something that is not
ministry or necessity related, over 100.00 will have to be approved by
the squad leaders.
way below budget for the month, can go toward fun things for the team,
such as buying ice cream for everyone or deciding since we have eaten
beans and rice all month to actually go out to dinner. Any team
activity, any money spent on the team for something that is not
ministry or necessity related, over 100.00 will have to be approved by
the squad leaders.
But, we
know we signed up for sacrifice. We wanted to give up our riches for
poverty. We are being sent to live in community with the people we
will serve. We will eat what they eat and live as they live. Our
stewardship of the money provided needs to reflect this kind of
lifestyle.
know we signed up for sacrifice. We wanted to give up our riches for
poverty. We are being sent to live in community with the people we
will serve. We will eat what they eat and live as they live. Our
stewardship of the money provided needs to reflect this kind of
lifestyle.
As the finance person for our team, I would like to try to
post a financial statement each month to let you see how your money
tangibly changed a part of God’s world. I want you see how your money
is being spent and to help keep us accountable to be good stewards of
the gifts that you have given to further the Kingdom of God.
post a financial statement each month to let you see how your money
tangibly changed a part of God’s world. I want you see how your money
is being spent and to help keep us accountable to be good stewards of
the gifts that you have given to further the Kingdom of God.
We are the people physically
going out into the world… but, without your support through prayer,
and encouragement, and money – we would not actually be able to go.
You are the senders. You have a huge role and
without you none of this would be possible. So, thank you so much!
going out into the world… but, without your support through prayer,
and encouragement, and money – we would not actually be able to go.
You are the senders. You have a huge role and
without you none of this would be possible. So, thank you so much!
