“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” – Hebrews 13:8
French novelist Alphonse Karr is credited with originating the proverb, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Karr lived in the 19th century, and his proverb has become familiar over the years. As I considered the year 2010, the quote kept coming to mind.
We experienced some positive change in 2010. Total income was up nearly 27 percent over the year before, due in particular to an increase in gifts to the mission’s estate fund. That is the largest year-to-year increase in recent memory. For the first time ever, we received more than three million dollars in donations! But even with a jump in overall income, provision for missionary allowances remained about the same. Full allowances were paid to all of our missionaries only tow months during the year, including the month of December. We received more estate funds than usual. But giving to the general fund and missionary support funds remained about the same as the year before.
The faces of our missionaries changed through the year, but overall numbers remained about the same. We ended 2010 with the same number of missionaries serving full-time as we had at the end of 2009. Five of our missionaries left active service during the year, while five others joined. Interestingly, two of these had served previously within our fellowship. Things change; things remain the same.
In the fall of 2010, we purchased new contributions software for our Business Office. This software, when fully implemented later this year, will enable us to make changes in the way we receive donations and the way donors may participate more closely. Data entry, receipting, on-line giving, and reporting will be done a bit differently in 2011. What will remain the same are the gifts themselves, and the prayers behind them.
Income levels may fluctuate, personnel may change and old software is sometimes replaced – but the mission remains the same. It is the same God who motivates us, involves us, and calls us to serve, to pray and to give. Details may change. But our purpose for joining together in this community will always be to know Christ, pray for the advance of His kingdom, share the gospel and ourselves wit those who do not know Him – and encourage Christians everywhere in this global task.