I have served as Business Manager of the World Mission Prayer League for more than 12 years. I have always enjoyed the end of the year process because it gives us a chance to pause, add up all of the financial activity from the year, and look back to see a bigger picture of how God is working through the Prayer League. Each year the story is a little different, in one way or another. But each year has a basic truth in common: behind everything is the God of the Universe who is sovereign, faithful, and who uses people like us to accomplish his will. Last year’s story was no different.
God’s financial provision to the Prayer League comes primarily through individual households and churches. Last year our records show that 1,524 households contributed just over $1.5 million, while 217 congregations contributed just under $1.1 million. These households and churches – along with more than 7,000 praying members – represent a powerful praying force, which God is using to share the Gospel around the world. All together God blessed the Prayer League with $3,074,560 in total income last year.
One of the details of our financial picture that changes from year to year is the “bottom line” – our “Net Total.” In 2015 our net total was negative by more than $500,000. This number reflects the expenditure of funds provided by God in previous years. Sometimes God provides just as a need presents itself – and sometimes he provides months or even years ahead of time. This number will change from year to year. Our commitment to the principle of non-indebtedness does not change, however. We did not spend money last year that we did not have on hand – and we remain committed to that principle going forward.
In 2015 we paid 100 percent of target allowances for all of our missionaries, throughout the entire year. This included a 2.8 percent increase in the target allowance that took effect in January of 2015, as well as the addition of four missionary families who began service during the year. Overall missionary allowance payments increased 8.0 percent over 2014.
It is the mission of the Prayer League to know Christ, pray for the advance of his kingdom, and encourage Christians everywhere in this global task. From the figures reported in our Financial Report for 2015, we see that God has used our people to accomplish this task – people who pray and send, others who go out in cross-cultural service, and still others who support the whole effort financially.
In January we were able to pay 100 percent of the target allowance to all of our missionaries. We needed $41,512 of the $42,069 balance in the General Missionary Support Fund leaving just $557 in that fund at the beginning of February. We used $48,183 from the Estate Fund to get all of the benefits paid for in January. Thank you for your participation in this mission! Please join us in prayer as we begin a new year together.