Rejoice in the Lord always…Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4–7, 19 NAS
In September 1927, Ernest Weinhardt wrote down a 12-point vision, a vision that eventually birthed the World Mission Prayer League. It included that God would directly take out of the church men and women as missionaries and “that these be provided for materially directly by [God’s] intervention, in answer to prayer and according to his promises.”1
In February 1938, the same month that the first two workers (Weinhardt and John Carlsen) were sent out, the home committee published guidelines that would direct the course of the mission. It included the financial principle “to receive, care for and distribute funds of the mission on the basis of Philippians 4:4-7 and 19, Romans 13:8, and 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, with full understanding that the mission shall not solicit funds.”2
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? So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:13–14 NAS
In the early months, the two workers faced many crucial tests for God’s provision of their material needs; meanwhile, the young mission was feeling its way along regarding financial policy. The two emerged still stronger and resolved that the mission continue looking to God alone for his supply. Later that year home committee member Pastor Granlund wrote, “I am convinced…that we should share our needs freely with all our praying colleagues.”3
Much later, the Council and WMPL Director Jonathan Lindell revisited the financial policy and wrote, “Office staff and workers of the Mission do not solicit funds, make appeals or engage in money-raising activities…We speak to and encourage the cause of missions in every way we can and let the fruits go where they will. We give out information about WMPL needs to members of the League and to inquirers, in correspondence and in meetings and leave it at that.”4
Information concerning the needs of the Mission is freely shared with praying members. Since those early days God has supplied, exceedingly abundantly, in answer to your informed prayers! The Lord of the harvest has directly taken out of the church over 1,000 global workers, sent them through WMPL, and seen them provided for materially according to his promises. May we continue to steward wisely the resources God provides as together we pray for harvest workers, material support for the work, and an abundant gospel harvest. Read more in The Spirit of God Was Moving! To request your free copy email wmpl@wmpl.org
GOD’S PROVISION – MARCH 2023
| ALLOWANCE: Designated Support Funds: | $34,173 |
| General Support Fund: | $26,971 |
| Transfer from General Fund: | $6,851 |
| BENEFITS: Designated Support Funds: | $47,493 |
| Transfer from Estate Fund: | $0 |
| Donations to Benefits Fund: | $75 |
| Number of full-time worker units: | 26 |
| Worker Units with 100% allowance | 26 |
| Minimum allowance provided: | 100% |