Synod Hears that Missionaries Need to Raise More Money

Missionaries serving with Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM) are being asked to raise a larger proportion of funds for their support, Synod 2013 heard.

Under the new formula, missionaries will be responsible for raising 90 percent of their basic living costs, such as housing and food. The other 10 percent as well as “above basic” costs such as airfare, training, and on-field travel will be covered by the agency.

Previously missionaries were responsible for raising 60 percent of both basic and above-basic costs.

Delegates expressed concern that missionaries will have to spend more energy raising funds, limiting their time on the mission field.

“Let’s pay our Ministry Shares so that we can reduce this amount and not get into a situation where missionaries have to devote so much time to fundraising,” said elder delegate George Monsma of Classis Grand Rapids East.

“That can create uncertainty and add stress for them.”

In a letter to World Missions supporters explaining the change, CRWM director Rev. Gary Bekker says that Ministry Shares currently fund about 36 percent of CRWM’s budget.

“As CRWM transitions to this new missionary support model we envision the same amount of Ministry Shares will be used to fund an expanded missionary force,” Bekker writes.

He also notes that, “Over the last two decades, CRWM has increasingly struggled to send out career missionaries amid rising costs and gradual decline of Ministry Shares. In 1990, CRWM reached a peak of 140 career missionary positions (when including spouses, 250 career missionaries). Since then, CRWM has seen its career missionary positions shrink to 52 (under 100 missionaries, when including spouses).

“Unless something changes, CRWM may have fewer than 35 career missionaries by 2020. The fewer missionaries CRWM sends, the fewer people hear and are challenged by the Gospel message.”

For continuous coverage of Synod 2013 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.