Reimagining Funding for Missions

by Ben Tobias, Director of Global Reach

Funding for missions has changed a great deal in the past 125 years! Until 1994, mission fields and missionaries were funded by what we now call the “Cooperative Budget,” which is funded by church and conference apportionments (tithes in some cases). When Gordon & Annie Avey went to Brazil in 1994, the era of “faithbased support” began in the CGGC. Now missionaries are responsible for raising their support – both prayer and financial – and Global Reach assists in their training and oversight. This has resulted in a large expansion of new mission endeavors. Below is a chart that provides a historical overview of CGGC missions and the number of missionary families and individuals sent to each field. (Fields in boldface are now led by national leaders.)

Do you see the change following 1994? A veritable “explosion” of mission happened, largely due to faith support. For the first time ever, new fields could be explored without needing to fit within the limits of a pre-existing cooperative budget. Faith support allowed missionaries to dream and explore God’s call.

The Next Wave:

It’s impossible to know how many millions of dollars have poured into CGGC mission efforts over the past century, but we want to highlight these important facts in the chart below.

“Infrastructure” refers to funds given to help pay for a wide variety of necessary field expenses like security, maintenance & utilities, and construction. This accounts for almost 2/3 of total designated giving. The call-out pie chart shows the amounts budgeted for missionary support, field leader support, evangelism & church planting, and education.

1. Of the $1.78 million expenses for the 2023 Designated Budget, $606,900 (or 34%) is designated for missionaries, national field leaders, evangelists, and church planters, and education support.

2. American missionary support accounts for less than HALF of all Leadership and Education funds (46%). This is significant because it clearly shows that we are investing more and more funds into national leaders, evangelists, and church planters, AND we seek to help students of all ages to grow in their faith.

The next wave of missions funding focuses on a “both/and” approach. We want to continue sending and supporting missionaries from churches in the USA, and we also want to support our international field leaders and national evangelists. Many of these brothers and sisters serve in countries where they face persecution, and we are unable to share their names, faces, and locations because of the danger they face. As you might know, ten of our international fields are led by nationals—not cross-cultural missionaries—and we are asking God to raise up support for them.

Your generous support will let them know of our love and support for them. They'll be encouraged by the knowledge of a large spiritual family backing them up. These brothers and sisters give vital leadership to the ministry that is taking place throughout the world, often in very challenging circumstances. Their deep faith, devotion, and love for Christ and their commitment to obediently demonstrate and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in their own countries are inspiring and help to transform people's lives. We have the privilege to partner with these brothers and sisters as they help advance the work of the kingdom of God. Your partnership and support are an encouragement to them, and it also helps provide critical resources needed to ensure that the ministry continues to thrive and grow!

As Hebrews 13:16 says, "... do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Praise God for raising them up, pray for their ministry, and give generously!