The year 2013 was an interesting year for World Mission Prayer League finances – not for its remarkable occurrences, but rather for the lack of them. Most years contain some sort of drama that we would probably rather avoid. But last year was mostly uneventful, in a good and restful way.
Our Annual Report in 2008 focused on the recession in America, a steep drop in the stock market, and how God provided for our fellowship throughout. There was a lot of uncertainty at the time. Last year many major market indexes continued their steady climb from their 2009 lows and reached new highs.
During most of the past decade the rising cost of health insurance has been a topic of concern for our fellowship and for our nation. New health care laws prompted us to change our health insurance carrier at the end of 2013, but the result has been positive. The new plan comes with a decrease in monthly premium and little change in coverage. For the Prayer League, this “big story” has so far turned out to be somewhat of a non-event.
In 2009 we reported that our missionary allowances were short by $130,000. In 2011 we paid only 81 percent of our target allowance for the year. Last year 100 percent of allowances were provided for all of our missionaries for the entire year – the first time that has happened since 2004. Short allowance payments were not only a non-event, they were non-existent.
Over the years, even when we were able to pay full allowances and all of the bills, we experienced some uncertainty along the way. On two occasions in 2006, an entire month’s needs were met by a margin of less than $100. On another occasion we received $34,000 in the very last days of a month in which we expected to pay less than half of target allowances. We still fell a bit short that month. Yet God showed himself faithful… as he has again, and again, and again. We have experienced story after story of his wonderful – and sometimes stressful – provision just in the nick of time.
Last year was pleasingly uneventful in that way. God provided what we needed for the year, much of it already in our accounts in 2010- 2011. Our bottom line seemed to show a negative balance at the end of the year. That may have been true for the fiscal year. But we did not spend any more than we received; we simply received God’s provision ahead of time! We are overjoyed when God provides the correct amount at the correct time. What a blessing when he provides even earlier! That is just what God did for us in 2013, and for that we are thankful.
In January we were able to pay all of our missionaries 100 percent of their target allowance. We used $34,429 from the General Fund to meet these needs, leaving a General Fund balance of $143,526. Our Benefits Fund carried a balance of $145,670. Thank you for your ongoing support!