CEE Story From The Mission Field
Number of New Missionaries Restricted
June 13, 2003
Southern Baptists set another record in giving to their Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in 2002, the International Mission Board announced June 5. However, the offering fell short of the $125 million goal, complicating a financial situation already stressed by declining investment income and a rapidly increasing missionary force. As a result, the IMB will be forced to move ahead with plans to cut budgets as well as to restrict the number of new missionaries appointed to overseas service.
Although the leaders had anticipated sending another record number of long-term missionaries this year, the number is now being limited to about 400. In addition, two of the remaining three ISC/Journeyman Conferences this year have been cancelled, and the number of short-term workers being approved will be limited to 400.
"Since 78% of the total budget is for staff and missionary support, remaining fiscally responsible requires us to send only the number of missionaries that can be supported with the gifts of Southern Baptists," said David Steverson, IMB vice president for finance. "Giving has not declined but has in fact continually increased. It simply has not kept pace with the growth in the number of missionaries God is calling out from Southern Baptist churches," he said.
This means that in 2004 Southern Baptists will send out less than 60 percent of the number of new missionaries sent out in 2002, unless Southern Baptists respond with the needed support. It is a painful irony that a budget shortfall will restrict missionary appointments at a time when there is great openness to the gospel around the world.
“It wouldn't take an economic miracle to solve the board's budget dilemma,” said Larry Cox, vice president for mobilization. "Last year, Southern Baptist churches reported a total of $9.4 billion received in their offering plates for all causes. Less than 2.5 percent was channeled through CP and LMCO to reach 95 percent of the world’s population overseas. The average percentage that churches contribute to CP Missions beyond their own programs is about 7 percent,” he said, adding, “it would be sad if we failed to find ways to channel more of the financial resources with which God has prospered us to reach a lost world."
However, IMB leaders are looking for what God wants to accomplish through the budget challenges. "Lack of funding will help us to refine overseas strategies and methodologies, to practice better stewardship and to give more emphasis to ensuring that the missionaries appointed are going to the most strategic assignments,” IMB President Jerry Rankin said.
"We are also praying that this will be a wake-up call to Southern Baptists," he said. "This should challenge us to evaluate our lifestyles and give more sacrificially to things of eternal value, to rethink our church budgets and allocate more to Cooperative Program Missions."
– article compiled from a Baptist Press Release by Mark Kelly
– See also "IMB eliminateds 61 jobs to keep expenses in line with income" on the BPNews website.