What perspective should I take towards raising prayer and financial support?
Is there any way other than begging for support?
How do I raise prayer and financial support?
» more related questionsQ: In what different ways do missionaries plan for retirement?
A: There are many options.
Some supporting churches want to require missions to provide a decent retirement and medical care package for missionaries, although some of the same churches occasionally complain about the total cost. It is a bit difficult to be "responsible" and inexpensive.
Our mission, WEC, is one of the agencies that allows missionaries a variety of retirement packages from nothing at all to whatever they can afford on their support. The bottom line on this is that we generally get two to three people on the field for what most missions require for one.
Some are concerned that if we allow a missionary to serve with little or no financial provision for the future, they may not have a future. History is on our side. We began as a mission in 1913. We presently have 2000 missionaries with WEC and have had a multitude retire in the years of our existence. We have never had a retiree who was destitute. God has always provided. Some have gone to retirement centers in Florida built specifically for missionaries from faith agencies. Some have had houses given to them. Some have gone to live with siblings or children. We even have retirement units at our WEC campus.
Our mission, WEC, is one of the agencies that allows missionaries a variety of retirement packages from nothing at all to whatever they can afford on their support. The bottom line on this is that we generally get two to three people on the field for what most missions require for one.
Some are concerned that if we allow a missionary to serve with little or no financial provision for the future, they may not have a future. History is on our side. We began as a mission in 1913. We presently have 2000 missionaries with WEC and have had a multitude retire in the years of our existence. We have never had a retiree who was destitute. God has always provided. Some have gone to retirement centers in Florida built specifically for missionaries from faith agencies. Some have had houses given to them. Some have gone to live with siblings or children. We even have retirement units at our WEC campus.
A: start early and save
I believe you, the missionary, should plan on providing most of your retirement income needs yourself. Many agencies do not assist enough with retirement planning. Most have retirement programs that go with you after you leave the agency but some do not. You may be totally committed to the vision of your agency and can't imagine leaving them. But what if the senior leadership changes and adopts a new vision? What if God calls you in a different direction?
I was sent out by a local church that has no retirement plan, not by a traditional missions agency, so I'm preparing for my retirement by including a monthly contribution in my budget. Any good accountant or financial planner can give you specific advice for a small fee, or you can get a book at the library for free
The most important retirement savings advice is to start early, from the very beginning of your working life. Those who wait until later to begin saving have to save a much higher portion of their income than those who begin earlier.
I was sent out by a local church that has no retirement plan, not by a traditional missions agency, so I'm preparing for my retirement by including a monthly contribution in my budget. Any good accountant or financial planner can give you specific advice for a small fee, or you can get a book at the library for free
The most important retirement savings advice is to start early, from the very beginning of your working life. Those who wait until later to begin saving have to save a much higher portion of their income than those who begin earlier.
A: Store up treasures in heaven.
I subscribe to Jesus' plan from Mt 6:20 “Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven.” I left the states with $3,000 in my pocket and all my possessions sold. I had been sent by a church of only 25 members and they had not promised me any financial support. I arrived in north Africa and two weeks later my money had grown ten-fold. I was able to live the next three years on this. Yes, I was imprisoned, terrorized, robbed, had my life threatened dozens of times, and was thrown out of two countries. My retirement fund is looking good in heaven with Jesus where it belongs. Here on earth my treasure is not. My three years were truly a joyful experience. I would not trade for an IRA or a 401k!
A: Trust God to provide at retirement age.
John Wesley said, "Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can!" As missionaries we can't "earn all you can," but we can save and give! "Give and it will be given to you" is something that you can bet your retirement on!
