Is the Cost of Missions Worth It?

Shelly McCollum, Support Staff
The Call, January-March 2017

How do you rate a mission organization’s impact and effectiveness at achieving its purpose? Many times, financial indicators and ratios are used to measure impact. Financial partners may ask, “How much of every dollar goes directly to programs?” While these overhead to program ratios may be beneficial as one type of measurement, they do not tell the whole story and are not the best indicators of effectiveness.

What do we mean by overhead and program ratios? Every dollar you give to World Gospel Mission is apportioned to various cost categories. Overhead and fundraising costs are not associated with any particular program and include infrastructure costs, such as technology and financial systems, building maintenance, fundraising, legal costs, and administrative support salaries. Robust infrastructure systems are critical to supporting WGM missionaries who serve around the world. Gifts must be receipted to donors, expenses reimbursed, grass mowed, email systems checked, and travel costs incurred as missionaries build support teams.

Rather than focusing on low overhead and fundraising cost ratios, more value should be placed on whether funds are being used to achieve organizational effectiveness, public accountability, and proper governance. Low overhead and fundraising ratios could have adverse impact if adequate systems are not in place to support the mission of WGM.

WGM’s ratios for 2015 to 2016 include:

• 82 percent for program costs
• 12 percent for administrative costs
• 6 percent for fundraising costs

However, what does that really tell you about the impact WGM is making toward achieving its goals? Are people hearing the gospel? Are infrastructure systems in place to adequately support missionaries serving around the globe? Are missionaries funded quickly enough to keep the costs of fundraising low? Overhead and fundraising costs that are too low may mean the missionary or ministry project does not have adequate support to succeed. Overhead and fundraising expenses should be based on whether these costs increase the organization’s net mission value. One organization with an 82 percent program ratio may be accomplishing its goals while another with the same ratio may not.

Donors should not use these ratios as the “sole” basis for measuring impact and for making philanthropic decisions. These costs have no meaning apart from their contribution to the whole effectiveness of the Mission. Hearing the “soul” impact WGM and the missionaries you support are making around the globe should be the driving factor in your charitable decisions. Impact is what matters most! 

GIVE: There are many ways to partner with a WGM missionary, volunteer, ministry, project, or location. Learn more about giving a tax-deductible gift.  

Support Ministries [May 18-24]

Jim Newman is wedged in the tail section of a small airplane, headlamp on, making adjustments on a new part he’s installing. It’s warm in the hangar at Missionary Maintenance Services in Coshocton, Ohio, where airplanes from over 100 Christian organizations have been repaired and serviced.

Jim and his wife, Mary, are seconded to MMS from World Gospel Mission. They spent five years in Bolivia, working with Wings of Peace aviation ministry. When that ministry came to an end, Jim and Mary felt the Lord leading them to continue in aviation ministry. Jim now diagnoses problems and provides practical solutions for planes that fly all over the world for missions.

• Pray that missionaries serving in support ministries will embrace their behind-the-scenes role in the Great Commission and that they will have a strong support base of ministry partners who understand that role.
• Pray for Missionary Maintenance Services, which repairs airplanes for missions organizations around the world.
• Pray for protection and strength for the WGM support staff as they work in a variety of capacities to serve missionaries and advance the cause of missions worldwide.

ACT: Need a resource to help you remember to pray for missionaries, their families, and the support staff? Each day, a missionary, missionary kid, support staff member, and a college-age missionary kid are featured on the Prayer Calendar. 

PODCAST: Enjoy interviews with missionaries who serve in key missions causes. Listen to this week’s podcast!

CALL: Call WGM’s Prayer Lifeline at 671.7232 (Marion, Indiana, area) or 1.800.426.0846 (toll free) to join other concert-goers in hearing this week’s recorded prayer.

SHARE: Invite others to pray with you during the concert. We depend on your prayers! Email us at thecall@wgm.org and tell us who you are praying with so we can encourage our staff.

Hands and Feet

An excerpt from Hands and Feet
Missions-active Christians Making a Difference in Their Communities
By Tim Rickel, Support Staff
January–March 2011

As I write this, my wife is just finishing radiation treatments for breast cancer. The journey started with a heart-stopping phone call in April, surgery in May, and radiation therapy in July and will continue with hormone therapy for the next five years. No chemotherapy, praise God!

In this journey, we have been blessed by many friends who made a difference when we were feeling lost and out of control. From our experience, here are some practical ways you can make a difference when you feel overwhelmed by a prayer request.

*Pray. It makes a difference.

*When you pray for someone who is going through a trial, write them a quick note telling them you just prayed for them.

*If someone’s life is disrupted by an illness or disaster and you think of something you could do to help, call them and say, “I’d like to stop by with supper for you this week. When is a good day?” If you freeze a dish like a casserole, they can use it when they need it. Other ideas are cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, or watching the kids so a couple can have an evening alone. It all depends on the situation and the personality of your friend.

*One church sent Laurie a quilt to use when she went for treatments. It has gone with her to every appointment and has been a huge comfort in the car. I would never have guessed.

*Give the gift of normal conversation. If someone who is going through a trial needs a shoulder to cry on, be that shoulder. But if they are putting on a good face, let them know you are praying for them, and then take your cue from them. If they are smiling, smile back!