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Cross Cultural Ministries/MissionariesI would be interested in hearing from pastors and others their opinion and views on current trends in missionary support and the sending/appointing of ministers to be cross cultural ministers. It appears many churches are moving toward short term investment in projects and support of national workers. How do others see this? Do we consider the need for accountability? Are we concerned about project administrative costs? Is the future of world evangelism going to be project managers overseeing social projects around the world? What percentage of funds raised will actually get to the field after administrative fees and salary for project managers is taken out? Who will be accountable for projects after the project manager leaves the field? Many questions but intended for discussion points Dennis TannerAdministrative Bishop Scotland

It's been a while since you were at our Church, We want to see you in that kilt again questions about your questions:Maybe I am overanalyzing what you are asking but are there administrative costs for sending monies to missionaries, is there not a steady stream of funds flowing from the COG/churches? Do you feel like you are being pushed into a project manager role?I have had some personal frustration with COG missions. We recently brought a congregation into the COG in El-Salvador. I know this gentleman personally because he was a member of my church until he was deported back to his home country. After being returned to El-Salvador, God saw fit to position him in a church to take over for a Pastor that had passed. Our Church has been supporting him for over 2 years now and it took a lot of phone calls and emails to get his church brought into the COG and after being brought in - it was a nightmare to get our funds sent to him. I send a message through LinkedIn once a month to make sure the funds have arrived and that they will be given to Tito. If I didn't/don't harass, this congregation would not be in the COG today and he would never get the money we send him.

Hello Pastor, No, there are no administrative costs for sending monies to missionaries through COGWM but there are administrative costs for missionaries. We have to pay for promotional material, travel expense, VISA and residency applications, IRS forms and reporting and health (special requirements for those living overseas) and life insurance. I wish we could enact a policy where missionaries donated or gave to COGWM and then the administrative staff at COGWM did the administrative work for the missionaries giving us more time for ministry.Sadly there is not a steady stream of funds flowing from churches. Many churches with a 'project mentality' will take a new project each year. That means that once a missionary raises faith promises and support, many churches, after one year, will drop that project number (even though the missionary is still living overseas and in ministry) and start supporting another project number. Other churches, because of finances and other budgetary items with just drop their missionary support. Many times the church or individual will drop individual missionary support to fund or support a specially promoted project ie: 'feeding program'; 'orphanage'; 'special one time evangelism meeting'; 'medical project'; etc. Today I believe there are less than 40 career appointed missionaries' with the COGWM, the others are associates, or those who only travel for 1-2 weeks on special projects. In Europe we only have 4-5 career appointed missionaries, and 3 of them are currently in USA raising funds Dennis TannerAdministrative Bishop Scotland

There is a lot to discuss and digest here I think. I hope this thread gets some traction, it sounds important. I was raised in a family that held a life time commitment to Missions. In the early days I think I THOUGHT that missionaries were only in Africa. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

only real missionaries go to live in Africa, learn the language, and raise their children Dennis TannerAdministrative Bishop Scotland

One former missionary in post Ceaușescu Romania, Rodney Friend, was an example of a real missionary committed to living among the people and sacrificing the comforts of USA to live in a small cold apartment where he had to walk and stand in line for several hours for a loaf of bread to feed his small children! He loved the Romanian people and learned their culture! A book should be written about his work in Romania, Europe, and at ETS in Germany. He is a walking miracle having won over cancer and is now pastoring in Michigan. We miss him in Europe Dennis TannerAdministrative Bishop Scotland

One former missionary in post Ceaușescu Romania, Rodney Friend, was an example of a real missionary committed to living among the people and sacrificing the comforts of USA to live in a small cold apartment where he had to walk and stand in line for several hours for a loaf of bread to feed his small children! He loved the Romanian people and learned their culture! A book should be written about his work in Romania, Europe, and at ETS in Germany. He is a walking miracle having won over cancer and is now pastoring in Michigan. We miss him in Europe. I love that comment my brother, thanks. I made me feel good. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

I have never been on one. I have visited a couple missionaries and knew many missionaries from growing up in a parsonage when the Missionaries and evangelists stayed in out home. I really did enjoy the tales around the breakfast and supper table.My guess the short trips are more beneficial to the short term guys, especially the youth, for a first hand view of living in another country. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

There are many pros and cons on the value of short term mission projects. But, if the trend of churches and mission leaders is moving more toward projects rather than long term cross cultural missionary assignments, How do we improve on the effectiveness of the projects? How do we deal with integrity and accountability in Foreign Countries and in other cultures when we have no way to follow up on the project and no authority in the country to enforce accountability? How do we guard integrity in the financial cost and overhead of a project: travel expense, promotional expense, short term insurance; salary or financial support of project coordinators or workers? Do we really want to see a Church Organization entirely focused on projects and social ministry? Or do we value training and sending out Cross Cultural Ministers to learn the language and work with the people? Are we willing and committed as a church or pastor to financially and prayerfully support the long term career missionary Dennis TannerAdministrative Bishop Scotland

Short term missions