monthly focus ~ idea for a missions budget plan

IDEA FOR A MISSIONS BUDGET PLAN

In 2003 the missions committee of Heritage Baptist Church in Clarks Summit, PA initiated the following guidelines for increasing and adding missionary support. It is a framework and to date Heritage has realized these percentages for nearly all of their active (not retired) missionaries. They have found these guidelines to be an effective means of taking the guess work out of what amount of support to give initially and when and how much to increase. Also, their missionaries know what to count on making life and ministry less stressful both and off the field. A basic philosophical point at Heritage is that missionaries are considered to be part of the church’s ministry staff, thus the expectations during furlough detailed under the goals and the plan.

• Our Goals
  • To support all missionaries with sufficient funds to allow for a limited number of supporting churches.
  • To support missionaries in both finances and ministry.
  • To expect missionaries to participate at Heritage during furlough.
  • To raise interest and partnership between missionaries and Heritage.

• Our Plan
  • Support all missionaries at the following minimum levels:
    • Sent by Heritage: 15%
    • Family of Heritage: 10%
    • Other missionaries: 5%

  • Expectations during furlough:
    • Sent: 1 month of ministry
    • Family: 2 weeks of ministry (3 Sundays)
    • Others: 1 week of ministry (2 Sundays)

  • Additional support from Heritage:
    • Missionary Interest Ministry (Heritage people/families adopting missionaries)
    • Missionary team to their field every five years

For more information about structuring a plan for missionary support contact Dr. David R. Culver (dculver@epix.net), Lead Pastor at Heritage Baptist Church.