Misssionaries With God Complexes - Page 4

Owl · #31 09-15-2010, 01:15 PM

Can you imagine how blessed a Home Missionary would feel if he received life time funding like Foreign Missionaries do?

coadie · #32 09-15-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owl

Would there be foreign missions without Americans?

There have always been missions that didn't originate in America.

coadie · #33 09-15-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owl

Can you imagine how blessed a Home Missionary would feel if he received life time funding like Foreign Missionaries do?

Don't forget foreign currencies can suffer severe fluctuations and loss of value.

berkeley · #34 09-15-2010, 01:20 PM

OWL really neeeds to REPENT of her bitterness, or fly to a different tree.

MissBrattified · #35 09-15-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owl

Would there be foreign missions without Americans?

Both missions and Christianity originated outside of America.

Owl · #36 09-15-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

If missions is a priority for God, how is it reflected in local churches? A George Barna survey of senior Protestant pastors taken in December 2004 found that only 15% had missions as any one of their top three priorities for the coming year3. One-tenth of one percent (ten cents per hundred dollars) of all Christian income went to global foreign missions, estimates David Barrett in his annual “Status of Global Mission” report for 2005. Seven-tenths of 1% went to churches and another 1.2% went to parachurch organizations globally4. Fundamentally the issue is stinginess among Christians (at least nominal ones)—churches being composed of Christians—and even more fundamentally, the issue is failing to avail ourselves of the grace of God5.

In twenty-nine American denominations, benevolence giving as a part of total church income declined from 21% in 1968 to 15% in 20026. Giving to “benevolences” is defined as funds given to the local church for local, national and international missions, as well as for denominational support. Benevolence giving declined from .66% of personal disposable income to .38% of disposable income in that same time span, remembering again that probably not more than half of even this tiny income did not go to global missions. In real numbers, this means an average of $101.00 per member was designated in those denominations for all church benevolences in 2002. This does not include giving directly to missions, apart from giving through the church, but overall, giving to missions was minimal. Denominations vary considerably in the amount given per member for missions. Giving by Christian Evangelicals is considerably higher (14% of them tithe, compared to 5% of the general population7), but they represent only 7% of the US population8.

http://www.rmni.org/financial-minist...-missions.html

Maybe the local church struggles to stay afloat? Maybe they view their own community as a mission field? Maybe they don't trust overseas charities?

Owl · #37 09-15-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Both missions and Christianity originated outside of America.

True, but if America is so insignificant, why all of the whining about our lack of giving? Why do missionaries come here to deputize? They come here because they know Americans are compassionate and giving.

Owl · #38 09-15-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berkley

OWL really neeeds to REPENT of her bitterness, or fly to a different tree.

That's not very nice. Good thing I don't give a hoot.

whoami · #39 09-15-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

. When we "give till it hurts", truthfully we are not hurting, and we still have our needs (and our families' needs) met.

This is the case for most, not all though. Just saying. I don't know Owl or Sis. Alvear, but I do remember a time several years ago when I was working 3 jobs and missing meals and my electricity and gas were turned off in the middle of winter, etc. I walked to the church in my neighborhood one night during this time to attend service and a missionary was there that night and railed at the congregation for not giving more, us rich lazy Americans. I am thankful that I live in a country where I was able to work myself up out of that situation. I realize that many people in third world countries don't have that opportunity. My point is though, the 'truths' you pointed out Mrs. B don't always apply to everyone, and when you're in a bad situation and struggling hard against cold and hunger, the broad brush used by people (usually people with good intentions) hurts.

From everything that I've seen of Sis. Alvear on here she appears to be a very kind lady who's doing a great work. I don't know Owl and don't know what their driving factor was for posting this thread, I just wanted to present another perspective.

rgcraig · #40 09-15-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owl

Can you imagine how blessed a Home Missionary would feel if he received life time funding like Foreign Missionaries do?

Maybe there's a bit of a personal rub in the response.

My cousin is a UPC foreign missionary and their "funding" is HARD WORK. I think deputation is wrong, wrong, wrong, but that's how it's set up and they are willing to spend their time back at the states going from church to church trying to raise their own funding.