Until The Nets Are Full: Should Missionaries Raise Their Own Financial Support?

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Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,

Few things get people as riled up as conversations about money, which is probably why so many pastors are hesitant to preach on the subject. However, Jesus taught often about money, so it we shouldn't shy away from it.

When it comes to missionaries in particular, many people ask the question "Should missionaries raise their own financial support?"

First, the pragmatic answer. To my knowledge, only the Southern Baptist's International Mission Board (IMB) funds its missionaries 100%, using funds given through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Almost all other missionaries from the United States, including those serving with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), raise part or all of their own financial support. So, practically speaking, nearly all missionaries already raise their own financial support to follow the call of King Jesus on their lives. If they didn't raise support, they wouldn't be able to serve where the Lord has called them.

As a general rule, I avoid pragmatism for its own sake, so for a more thorough answer, let's consider the Scripture.

Consider first the example of Jesus. During the entirety of his three year earthly ministry, he was homeless and employed solely in the Father's business. He depended entirely on the hospitality of his followers. Consider Luke 8:1-3,

"Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, ²and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means."

Note that not only Jesus, but his disciples also were being financially supported by the private means of Jesus' followers. Later, Jesus sent out his disciples with these instructions in Luke 10:4-7.

"⁴Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. ⁵Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ ⁶If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. ⁷Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages."

On more than one occasion Jesus taught that the laborer is worthy of his wages, and it's clear that the laborer specifically being referred to is the gospel messenger/vocational minister/missionary.

If the example and teaching of Jesus aren't sufficient, consider the example and teaching of the apostle Paul. Though Paul was for a time a "tentmaker" who had a secular job while ministering in Corinth, it was not his preferred method of ministry, and he only did it because he wanted to avoid being and glimmer of a hindrance to the gospel to the corrupt Corinthian church. In fact, when he wrote his first letter back to them, he gave possibly the clearest teaching in Scripture on supporting those in ministry.

9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?... 4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink? ⁵ Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife... ⁶Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? ⁷Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? ... Or does not the Law also say these things? ⁹For it is written in the Law of Moses, “ You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? ¹⁰Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. ¹¹ If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? ¹²If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? ¹⁴So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
¹⁵But I have used none of these things..."

There is tremendous biblical precedence for ministers of the gospel being supported financially by the body of Christ. The most obvious form of this is churches paying their pastor's salary. But the kingdom of God has far more full-time workers than just pastors. The apostle Paul was never a pastor in a conventional sense. He was an evangelist, a church planter, and most of his later ministry focused on strengthening the existing churches. Though churches certainly supported Paul, both Jesus and Paul were supported by individuals whom the Lord raised up to supply their needs.

Our ministry in that sense is very much in the tradition of the Apostle Paul. We strive every day to strengthen the churches, helping local churches be the Church. And the Lord raises up churches and individuals who give financially to make our ministry possible. To all of you who give to make this ministry possible, we are sincerely thankful. You enable us to fulfill the Lord's call on our lives on a daily basis. We couldn't be here without you.

Things you can be praying for this week.
1. Praise the Lord we all made it safely back to TN this week.
2. Lily is definitely feeling better since last week. She's all smiles a joy to be around. But she's still got a lingering very fine rash that we think might be an allergy to something. Please pray we'll be able to discern what it is quickly.
3. Please pray for guidance as we prep and plan for summer trips. Summer is right around the corner, and our first group will be here in just a couple of weeks.