How are we going to finance
all these missionaries we
have to send?
God’s Plan for Provision
• 12 tribes (Genesis 49:28)
• The tribe of Levi was set apart
(Deuteronomy 10:8)
• The tribe of Levi had no inheritance
(Numbers 18:20,21)
• Levi received the tithe from the other
tribes (Num. 18:12)
Of the 12 tribes of Israel, only
11 had received land as an
inheritance. Let’s say that each
of these tribes produced 100
measures of wheat in the
harvest. If each one tithed 10
measures of wheat, Levi’s tribe
would receive 11 X 10 = 110
measures. So the tribe of Levi
would receive a little bit more in
produce, to compensate for the
fact that they didn’t have their
own lands.
©Depositphotos.com/
Pakowacs
Elijah and the widow of Zarephath
(1Kings 17:3-14)
• Some Christians think that
God always provides for
his servants by sending the
ravens!
• A principle of God’s
economy is: If we provide
first for his servants, he will
provide for us.
©Depositphotos.com/neyro2008/
Vladimir Gorban
Where the Tithes Go
• In the Old Testament the tithes were
destined for those who ministered at the
temple (Malachi 3:8-12).
• Jesus affirmed the tithe (Matthew 23:23).
• The first Christians gave more than the
tithe (Acts 2: 44,45).
The Apostles in First Place –
in Sequence and in Urgency
“It was he who gave some to be
apostles, some to be prophets,
some to be evangelists, and some
to be pastors and teachers…”
Efesios 4:11
“And in the church God has
appointed first of all apostles,
second prophets, third teachers,
then workers of miracles…”
1 Corinthians 12:28
But wasn’t Paul a tent maker?
©Depositphotos.com/
Alexey Burmakin
• The Philippians
supported Paul.
• Paul received support
from other churches
(2 Corintios 11:7-9
and 12:13).
• Jesus received
financial support
(Luke 8:1-3).
Other Bible passages teach about
financial support for missionary work.
• The parable of the unjust steward
in Luke 16:1-15
• The missionary project proposal to
the Roman church (15:23)
An Analysis of Our Spending Habits
It’s time to play…
100 Christians
Said!
How to discover a
gold mine for
financing crosscultural missions!
Missionary candidates approach our churches
trying to raise support, and many times the
answer they hear from us is…
©Depositphotos.com/
Andres Rodríguez
But we
don’t have
any money!
Is it true? Have we given all we
can to send these new
missionaries to the 7,000 ethnic
groups in the world that are still
waiting to hear about Jesus?
Let’s analyze our
missionary economy!
©Depositphotos.com/
Viktoria Protsak
The evangelical church in Mexico is
currently supporting about 400 missionaries.
That’s a
lot of
money!
Praise God!
If each missionary receives about
$15,000 pesos (about $1,200 dollars) a
month in support, the total in missions
offerings is:
$15,000
x 400
$6,000,000 every month!
(about a half a millon dollars)
©Depositphotos.com/
fuzzbones
Yes, that really is a lot of money, and many people
are giving with much sacrifice, but now it’s time to play…
One Hundred Christians Said!!
We asked 100
Christians the
following
question…
Junk food means:
Sodas
Chips
Wrapped sweet pies and cakes
Gum
Candy
After interviewing thousands
of Christians, we calculated the
average, and the divided it in half
To arrive at a conservative figure.
One Hundred Christians Said:
How much money
does a Christian spend
every week on junk
food?
Fifty
Pesos!
(That’s about four dollars)
So let’s work with the figure of
$50 pesos per person per week.
Population of Mexico: 100,000,000 people
Percentage of Christians in Mexico: about 7%
Christians in Mexico: 7,000,000
Money spent by Christians on junk food every week:
7,000,000 X $50 = $350,000,000
Every month: $1,400,000,000 (about $110,000,000 dollars)
One billion, four hundred million pesos, every month!
(one hundred and ten million dollars!)
(That´s about 230 times more than the
Christian church gives to send their missionaries!)
God asks us in Isaiah 58:5:
“Is this the kind of fast I have chosen?”
What are the benefits of eating so much junk food?
Diabetes!
Obeisity!
Cavities!
Everyone, making a small daily
sacrifice, would unleash the resources
to finish the Great Commission!
©Depositphotos.com
/R_lion_O/Denis Barbulat
/Liviu Peicu
How the Evangelical Church Invests Its Offerings
We already saw
how the
Christian
church invests
its offerings.
©Depositphotos.com/Aaron
Amat/Joe Belanger/Vladimir Wangel
4.5% is spent for missions
among the reached ethnic
groups.
Only 0.5% is spent for
missions among the
unreached ethnic groups.
Models for Financing Missions
Where the Missions Offerings Go
©Depositphotos.com/Aaron Amat/
Joe Belanger/Vladimir Wangel
• Through the
denomination
• The local church
deposits directly to the
missions sending
agency.
• Individuals can deposit
directly to the missions
agency.
The Collection of Missions
Offerings
• A fixed percentage
of the church’s
budget
• The Faith Promise
• An annual offering
• Special projects…
©Depositphotos.com/Aaron Amat/
Joe Belanger/Vladimir Wangel
What did Paul promise the
Philippians after receiving the
missions offering?
(Philippians 4:19)
God blesses the
church that blesses his
missionary cause!