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Jean: “What frightens me is the actual fund-raising process. I see various people organising
coffee mornings etc. and that seems ok for one-off needs. But I really can’t face asking people
for regular donations. I would die of embarrassment & probably ruin entirely any relationship I
had with them. Why can’t sending churches just pay their missionaries a salary? Larger
churches don’t seem to have a problem fi nding money to hire more staff.”

Alan: “Some larger churches pay salaries and when missionaries return on home assignment,
incorporate them as far as possible into the staff team. Most churches, however, are small and
can’t afford to take on a full missionary salary. But they can share in supporting a missionary.
Some churches in England are doing that – two churches sending a missionary with each
contributing to their support. Typically, most churches in Northern Ireland will only support
missionaries who are already members of their church. Churches partnering together to support
a missionary family doesn’t usually happen. The missionary is typically left to try and raise the
remaining support she needs from friends and family.

So, what should you do? Start by drawing up a budget with your mission and then discussing it
with your church leaders so that they are fully aware of the situation. In some cases, they may
be able to increase their missionary budget a bit. Otherwise church leaders, in addition to the
church’s missionary budget, can commend your need to church members or other Christians who
may be able to help. Then you subtract what the church can commit to, from the total budgeted
fi gure and divide it. So, for example, a couple has been promised £18,000 p.a. by their church.
But they need £42,000 in total, so they need to raise another £24,000 p.a. or £2000 per month.
Sixty-three people who each Gift Aid (20%) their donations of £27 per month will meet that need.
Put that into writing and ask your prayer partners and fellow church members to pray that the
Lord will provide those supporters. Mention the need in your prayer letters so that people can
read about it in their own time.

The fantastic thing is that the Lord provides, and often through the most unexpected sources.
Usually, He ignores those who are comfortably off but are too preoccupied with other things.
Instead, He uses widows, pensioners and sometimes other missionaries. People who pray
regularly and have a vision for what the Lord is doing in the world & want to be part of it. Just
think of how Elijah was provided for by the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17 – she was a Gentile
and not Jewish. Yet God sent Elijah to stay with her for several years while the famine continued
in Israel. Expect God to do the unexpected.

As for talking to people, often God will get them thinking, and they will raise the topic with you.
And if they don’t mention it, don’t raise it but stay friends. Only the Lord knows their hearts and
the commitments they already have.

Maggie: Yes, that is so true. We asked our friends and family and fellow church members
to pray about it. And the Lord has supplied all that we need. We have set a date for our
commissioning service, bought our tickets and applied for our visas. On top of our regular
support needs, we have also been given several substantial gifts to help with buying a car
and furniture in Brazil and renting a fl at. Most of this has come from totally unexpected sources.

Alan: “Thanks, Maggie, for that encouraging news. The Lord is faithful to those who put Him
fi rst. But we have run out of time. So, until next month. . . “