Missionary Funding Absolutely Amazing!

By Rev. Dr. Lynn L. Thomas

The only source of funds to pay Cumberland Presbyterian missionary salaries and benefits is the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering. Our United Outreach (OUO) plays an important role for missions, but it does not pay missionary salaries and benefits. OUO covers the administrative costs to process and wire support to missionaries. OUO pays all the cost of recruiting and promoting missionaries and educating the church about what they do. OUO also pays for the supervision of the missionary, which includes visits by Missions Ministry Team (MMT) staff to the mission field. The Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering only pays missionary salaries and benefits. No part of this Offering is used for administrative costs or for programs in the mission field. Before missionaries are deployed to the mission field, the MMT negotiates a salary and benefit package. Each missionary situation is unique. Some have families of school-aged children, others do not. Some live in countries that have a high cost of living, others live in countries that are more affordable. Some have security issues which must be taken into consideration. In each case the MMT, in consultation with the missionary, agree on an appropriate salary and benefits. Then the missionary signs an agreement with the MMT.

Throughout the year the MMT receives offerings to Stott-Wallace. The Stott-Wallace account is separate from the general fund. These funds are not mixed with other mission project monies. At the first of each quarter all missionaries are paid from the Stott-Wallace account three months in advance. Making these payments quarterly lowers the wire transfer fees by thousands of dollars each year. The wire transfer goes directly from CP Center offices (Memphis) into the bank account (or accounts) the missionary designates.

Amazingly, even though the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering has experienced years where donations are less than expenses, our giving balanced out. Fortunately, some years Stott-Wallace receives more than it paid out in salaries. In 2023 the anticipated amount needed to pay all missionary salaries and benefits is $264,500. Another reality is almost every year someone feels God is leading to make a substantial gift to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering. Those large gifts often result in making a big difference to our bottom line.

It is amazing to see how God funds our missionaries from the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering. It is like manna from heaven, each day we have what we need. The MMT has not missed a payment yet. This has been true for many years. Thanks to all who have given to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering.