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Featured Recommendation for this mission Board?

Discussion in 'Evangelism, Missions & Witnessing' started by Salty, Dec 4, 2021.

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  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Came across this mission board on the net

    This mission board has a Director, Assist Dir, and a secretary.
    There are two missionary couples on the field.

    Should they merge with another mission board?
    Are they really using resources wisely?

    Open for discussion.

    Missionaries - Church Planters To America
     
    #1 Salty, Dec 4, 2021
  2. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    I do a ton of evangelism and have planted churches while working full time

    not sure about their situation
     
    #2 Marooncat79, Dec 4, 2021
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  3. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    The last Church we worked to establish ran on a shoestring. Basically, a couple of ministers, one highly acclaimed in Reformed circles, drove from Chicago and shared teaching. A couple hosted their weekly bible studies in their home. I think the OP describes an unnecessary component to getting the job done.
     
    #3 1689Dave, Dec 4, 2021
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  4. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    This is part of a trend nowadays of small, local church oriented mission boards with just a few missionaries. In general, I don't think it's a bad idea.

    As to whether they are using resources wisely, to me that depends on how old they are. If they've been around for a few decades and haven't grown, maybe they should merge with someone. If they are a brand new board, maybe they'll grow.
     
    #4 John of Japan, Dec 16, 2021
  5. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Small churches might consider the "Coffee House" approach. It's a great way to reach teens and 20s. Also, it gives an outlet for many with music or lyrical talents. Not much use for a "mission board" and red tape in these little storefront churches. We've seen some success in this area.
     
    #5 1689Dave, Dec 16, 2021
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    If I'm not mistaken - they used to have 5 missionaries
     
    #6 Salty, Dec 16, 2021
  7. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Not a good sign for their future.
     
    #7 John of Japan, Dec 17, 2021
  8. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    If churches become "mission boards" for laborers on the field, I pray the church does due diligence. I've worked with some who had no ideas of the red tape that must be done for US regs on finances, giving, social security, medical, etc.

    We are holding the lifeline in the US to those working abroad and must be faithful in the painful details of paperwork, etc
     
    #8 Dr. Bob, Feb 28, 2022
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  9. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    We have classmates of ours now retired from the field. For 40+ years they raised support on deputation, served, came home on furlough and report to supporting churches, then back again. Repeat and repeat, faithfully.

    Now they came home to a "mess" financially. Money that was received and dedicated to retirement was invested poorly. Social Security was paid ONLY for the husband and now the wife has ZERO benefits (and I'm guessing, worked harder than he did all those years, ministering and having kids). 72 and working at Walmart to get enough money to pay rent and a beat-up car.

    This is not right.
     
    #9 Dr. Bob, Feb 28, 2022
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  10. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Very sad. I am blessed in that we were able to retire from the field after 33 years and then teach. Hopefully I can teach as long as I'm alive, because we have little "retirement."
     
    #10 John of Japan, Mar 1, 2022
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  11. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    Out of curiosity, do many pastors still exempt out of Social Security?
     
    #11 Reynolds, Mar 1, 2022
  12. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    My generation knew the horror story that was ahead, so many of us opted out. As I see it today, it is still a mess, but most young men are staying in because of its ever-expanding programs of the past 50 years.
     
    #12 Dr. Bob, Mar 1, 2022
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  13. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    After seminary I took my first full-time pastorate (Dec 1970) and the next year had a well-known tax firm do my taxes to show me the "way". Tax fellow from my church showed two truths:

    If I gave $500 to the church, I would owe $1000 to the government. If I gave $1000 to the church, I would owe $500 to the government. (1971 dollars)

    and

    If I stayed in Social Security, I would pay a percentage double what a factory worker paid (my share and business share as "self-employed"). I would pay on my parsonage as if I owned the house. I would probably never get back what I paid in unless I lived 20 years past age 65. And the system would be bankrupt well before then unless higher and higher taxes (for all) or rate for self-employed skyrocketed.
     
    #13 Dr. Bob, Mar 1, 2022
  14. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    It's weird how different CPA give different advice. Our CPA told church that pastor was an employee just like any other church employee. Church was liable for all employer portions of taxes.
     
    #14 Reynolds, Mar 1, 2022
  15. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Ours (finance guy for church, too) said that the church should pay NO TAX, Zero. For the government to require payment would violate church/state issues.

    So, if I wanted to be in SS, the church would give $$ extra to me so I could pay tax myself. If I didn't want SS, church would set up equivalent of 403b retirement to allow ME to invest money and not the fiscally-inept US congress.

    This may still be an issue today - if a church writes a check to government for SS tax, is that "taxation" of a "tax-exempt" organization. Interesting thought
     
    #15 Dr. Bob, Mar 1, 2022
  16. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    How did you pay your Janitor?
     
    #16 Reynolds, Mar 1, 2022
  17. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    my wife and continue to send support to our missionaries that are retired from the field.

    Why do churches think they should be dropped?

    Put them on staff as an evangelist to those homebound saints.

    Put them on staff as a home missionary to start another local church in the area.

    Put them on staff as an associate pastor.

    But do not drop their support.
     
    #17 agedman, Mar 1, 2022
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  18. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    My (former) home church decided they needed to do a lot of work on their building - so they dropped ALL support of ALL misionaries- including Carl, (about the time he retired) who had been a member of the church when he worked with BMM
     
    #18 Salty, Mar 1, 2022
  19. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    I don’t know of a church I have been a member in which I have not encouraged them to be involved with retired missionaries.

    Why not provide them housing given by members as part of their last gifts upon crossing into the care of our Lord.

    They then can receive meals on wheels if necessary, and be used in the outreach of the church.
     
    #19 agedman, Mar 1, 2022
  20. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    That hurts to read. They must have thought that God couldn't supply both the missionaries' needs and the church needs at the same time.
     
    #20 John of Japan, Mar 1, 2022
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