Q's and A's Brochure

Download the 2011-12 
Q's & A's Brochure

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers


1.  How extensive is the work of the Christian Reformed Church through CRWM?

2.  How does World Missions meet its financial needs and how are the funds used?

3.  How much does it cost to support the ministry of a missionary for one year?

4.  Do missionaries with World Missions need to raise their own support?

5.  What about denominational ministry shares?

6.  What is a missions partnership?

7.  How "healthy" is financial support for missionaries?

8.  How can a church support its missionaries?

9.  How can my congregation learn more about World Missions? 
 


1. How extensive is the work of the Christian Reformed Church through World Missions?

World Missions has missionaries in more than 20 countries, and through partnerships our work extends to more than 40 countries. World Missions has about 60 career missionary positions (110 adults). World Missions also has more than 100 short-term missionaries at work overseas during any given year.

World Missions has a budget of $13.8 million (US) for the 2011-2012 fiscal year (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012).

2. How does World Missions meet its financial needs and how are the funds used?

World Missions receives its income from several different sources, including: 

For more information about World Missions income and budget breakdown, please see Where Does My Money Go. 

3. How much does it cost to support the ministry of a missionary for one year?

Missionary couple: $114,000 CAD / $121,000 USD

Single missionary: $102,000 CAD / $108,000 USD

Allocation of personnel costs for a missionary serving with World Missions:

There are several things to note about these figures: 

For more information about allocation of personnel costs for a missionary serving with World Missions, please see Where Does My Money Go.  

4. Do missionaries with World Missions need to raise their own support?

Yes and No... 

Because of the partnerships developed with supporters, missionaries are in the best position to present their support needs (prayer, care, and financial) to churches and individuals.  World Missions does ask its missionaries to actively challenge churches and individuals to help raise at least 60% of their total costs:

If a missionary's support is short any given month, World Missions has covenanted to provide for their financial needs.  Career and associate missionaries are assured that their salaries will be met.

The support teams of World Missions USA and Canada are busy seeking to inform churches and individuals about the support needs of our missionaries and their ministry. The Christian Reformed Church has a wonderful record of missions support. Support raising is a joint effort involving the church, World Missions, and the missionaries.

5. What about denominational ministry shares?

Of church-related giving to CRWM, ministry shares supports about 40% of the cost to send and keep missionaries overseas.  It is a wonderfully efficient way for the members of the CRCNA to be involved in international ministry.  

6. What is a missions partnership?

In Romans 10:15, the apostle Paul identifies two important components of missions – those who "go" and those who "send." You can’t have one without the other. Therefore churches and missionaries become Partners in Missions. In order to be most effective on the mission field, missionaries need to have a strong prayer, care and financial support team of committed churches and individuals behind them. Those who "go" and those who "send" are two halves of a whole team which God uses to proclaim Christ to the ends of the earth.

A partnership by definition is one in which both parties are committed to a common goal and work together to achieve it. Missionaries and churches work together to tell the world about Jesus, one person at a time. They encourage one another, pray for each other, and share progress and challenges. As a result, both parties are strengthened in their vision and mission and God is glorified.

Missionaries and staff are committed to encourage partner churches through prayer, regular communication such as prayer letters and visits, and a promise to receive the financial support with gratitude and use it wisely.

7. How "healthy" is financial support for missionaries?

Of church-related giving to CRWM, about 60% is through what we call "above ministry share giving" -- this is churches and individuals financially supporting a missionary or field project.

Over 73% of the organized Christian Reformed Church congregations in North America are in partnership with at least one World Missions missionary or project.

8. How can a church support its missionaries?

With a large number of churches involved in many missionary partnerships, it is important to focus on the quality of these relationships. Email and Skype make it easier and more efficient to give encouragement and share mutual prayer requests.

Our missionaries count on this committed prayer, care and financial support.

Additionally:

9. How can my congregation learn more about World Missions?

World Missions has Regional Missions Mobilizers (RMMs) in various areas who are trained and eager to help individual congregations develop their vision for missions. Find the RMM in your classis.

World Missions encourages congregations to appoint a Missions Advocate who serves as a contact person between the church and CRWM. These Missions Advocates work with the RMM.

The World Missions resource brochure lists materials such as videos, posters, brochures, etc. that you can use to raise awareness for missions. For more resources go to www.crwm.org/resources. Bulletin covers and inserts are also available through Faith Alive. 

World Missions’ website can provide you with a great deal of information. Visit www.crwm.org to learn more.