Frequently Asked Questions: Missionary Support

1. Why support a General Board of Global Ministries' missionary?
2. How does a financial gift support a missionary?
3. What is the total cost of a missionary?
4. If a missionary is raising $55,000 per year or more, why should a church covenant with him or her?
5. From what sources are missionaries funded?
6. Are missionaries required to raise financial support before they are commissioned?
7. How can I find a missionary's Advance support code?
8. How do we choose a missionary to support?
9. What is the role of The Advance in Covenant Relationships?
10. What happens after The Advance receives a Covenant Relationship Acceptance Agreement form?
11. Are there missionaries available for speaking engagements?
12. What do Global Ministries' missionaries do?
13. Where do Global Ministries' missionaries come from?
14. What is the benefit of an official Covenant Relationship?
15. Can a local church support a missionary not otherwise connected to its conference?
16. What happens if a church in a Covenant Relationship cannot maintain its financial commitment?
17. How many missionaries need support from local United Methodist churches through Covenant Relationships?
18. How many churches participate in a Covenant Relationship with a missionary?

1. Why support a General Board of Global Ministries' missionary?

As United Methodists, we are responsible for supporting the missionaries that represent our connection in the world. The missionary is accountable to Global Ministries and will minister and serve responsibly. Global Ministries trains, commissions and supervises United Methodist missionaries who work within the Four Goals of Global Ministries:

1) Make disciples of Jesus Christ.
2) Strengthen, develop and renew Christian congregations and communities.
3) Alleviate human suffering.
4) Seek justice, freedom and peace.

2. How does a financial gift support a missionary?

Gifts support the entire missionary community on behalf of one missionary through a Covenant Relationship.
All United Methodist missionaries are placed in service with a salary and paid living expenses. They are not paid based on what is received in their name from supporting churches. Instead, gifts support the missionary community, enabling missionaries worldwide to serve without fear of losing their funding. Supporting churches ensure the work of current missionaries and make it possible to send new missionaries around the world.
Please do not give gifts directly to a missionary. Send gifts through The Advance to ensure they are credited and disbursed with accountability. You may view all gifts to missionary support online.

3. What is the total cost of a missionary?

The approximate cost of $55,000 per year varies depending upon the missionary's location, family situation and program. About 20-25 percent of the $55,000 goes toward salary support, while the remainder provides training, itineration costs, housing, insurance, pension, travel costs, language training, visas, cost-of-living adjustments and children's education.

4. If a missionary is raising $55,000 per year or more, why should a church covenant with him or her?

Because of the connectional system, missionaries raise funds on behalf of each other and the entire missionary community. Missionaries who have covenants that exceed $55,000 per year support the United Methodist missionary community to which they belong. Approximately 10 percent of missionaries have covenants at this level.

5. From what sources are missionaries funded?

A missionary receives support from four combined financial sources:

1) Covenant Relationships
(The Advance)

2) World Service Fund (apportionments)

3) United Methodist Women Mission Giving

4) Residuals from trusts and investments

Covenant Relationships through The Advance, the largest of these sources, are crucial in order to continue sending missionaries.

6. Are missionaries required to raise financial support before they are commissioned?

No. Global Ministries does not require missionaries to raise support before they start their term of service. Because gifts support the entire missionary community, funds are available for new missionaries. They can begin serving immediately. However, all missionaries are expected to foster and cultivate Covenant Relationships.

7. How can I find a missionary's Advance support code?

Find the missionary's biography by searching the Missionary Biography web page. Each missionary's biography has his/her code, a link to track gifts, as well as background information and links to family members in mission service.

8. How do we choose a missionary to support?

The choice is yours! Find missionaries related to your annual conference by visiting the Missionary Biography web page or contact your Conference Secretary of Global Ministries. Choosing a missionary related to your annual conference ensures they itinerate in your area while on itineration assignment.

9. What is the role of The Advance in Covenant Relationships?

The Advance office communicates with covenanting and supporting churches and relates to missionaries regarding gifts and Covenant Relationships.

10. What happens after The Advance receives a Covenant Relationship Acceptance Agreement form?

A confirmation letter is sent to the contact person on the form and a copy of the letter is also sent to the Conference Secretary of Global Ministries. Missionaries are notified of supporting churches in quarterly donor reports from Global Ministries

11. Are there missionaries available for speaking engagements?

Click here to see more about "Missionaries Visiting Churches" .

12. What do Global Ministries' missionaries do?

Missionaries represent The United Methodist Church and share Christ with communities through unique roles as teachers, church planters, preachers, doctors, community developers, agriculturalists, area financial executives, counselors and attorneys.

13. Where do Global Ministries' missionaries come from?

They come from and serve in all parts of the world. Examples are a Brazilian doctor in Mozambique, a Kenyan accountant in Nigeria, a U.S. woman serving with Native Americans in Oklahoma and Vietnamese church planters in Vietnam.

14. What is the benefit of an official Covenant Relationship?

A covenant church:

1) Will be recognized for its commitment to support the United Methodist missionary community.
2) Will receive priority for a missionary visit during itineration.
3) Will receive newsletters or e-mails from the missionary it supports.
4) Will receive reports and updates from The Advance regarding itineration, retirements and other changes.

15. Can a local church support a missionary not otherwise connected to its conference?

Yes, but Global Ministries cannot guarantee that the missionary can visit during itineration because of time and costs. Choosing a missionary from the annual conference list assists the itineration process.

16. What happens if a church in a Covenant Relationship cannot maintain its financial commitment?

A covenant is not a legally binding contract. It is, like a personal pledge to the local church, a commitment to a relationship. Congregations may adjust the financial commitment by contacting The Advance.

17. How many missionaries need support from local United Methodist churches through Covenant Relationships?

More than 300 missionaries are available for Covenant Relationships in more than 60 countries, including the United States.

18. How many churches participate in a Covenant Relationship with a missionary?

In 2007, about 9 percent of United Methodist churches gave to missionary support. However, only about 5 percent of congregations are in an official Covenant Relationship.