FAITH PROMISE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTIONS/ANSWERS
1. What are PIMs?
When you become a partner in finance with a missionary, you enable him to go to his given field of calling to carry the message of Jesus Christ with sufficient finance to carry out an effective ministry.
2. What is the minimum PIM account? $10 plus.
3. Why must a missionary travel on deputation?
He raises a budget to evangelize a country. The budget is smaller than most churches operate on to reach a city.
4. What determines a missionary’s budget?
Personal support, housing allowance, car/travel allowance, working funds, training funds, literature funds, country church buildings, missionary associates, insurance, Social Security, reserves for emergencies, personal bonus, fare to and from field, budget fees, utilities allotment, PIM newsletter expense.
5. A missionary’s personal support is but a small percentage of the total missionary budget.
6. How is the raising of PIM support at General Conference helping the new missionary?
From twenty to sixty percent of the missionary’s budget has been raised in the past.
7. How is a missionary supported on deputation?
He is supported from the offerings he receives on deputation.
8. What is a missionary’s PIM money used for as he travels?
It accumulates in his account so there will be enough to get him to the field by paying his fare and housing expenses when he arrives. Other miscellaneous expenses are also paid from this account.
9. Approximately how many churches must a missionary visit on deputation?
(195) 10/01/83
10. What is the average number of supporters needed by each missionary before leaving for the field?
(286) 10/01/83
11. How many miles do our missionaries travel during an average deputational month?
(2,844) 10/01/83
12. Why should I have a missionary come to my church?
To acquaint the saints with the missionaries they are supporting and expose them to the needs of the rest of the world.
13. What is the average PIM in our fellowship?
($17.03) 2/29/84
14. If a missionary visits a church, must that church take him as a PIM?
No, but the church will be blessed if they do.
15. Do missionaries have additional needs other than a PIM?
Yes, they have various needs they are authorized to raise funds for. They will be happy to tell you about them.
16. How can I support a missionary through the PIM plan?
Use the Faith Promise plan.
17. What is a Faith Promise?
Faith Promise is purposing in one’s heart how much one will trust God to enable one to give each week or month to foreign missions during the next year.
1. Faith Promise is established upon a scriptural precedent. It is as scripturally sound as the tithing principle.
When the Apostle Paul desired to raise offerings to meet the needs of the famine-stricken saints in Palestine, he originated this plan. The saints of the churches made commitments one year in advance. The extent of these commitments was known throughout the churches so that others were also
stimulated to responsiveness (II Cor. 9:2). The local ingathering was to be on a frequent regular basis (I Cor. 16:1-2). Those who lived in poverty shared the ministry of giving with those who had plenty (II Cor. 8:2) and found a supernatural ability to give (II Cor. 8:3). Their giving was voluntary (II Cor. 9:7), without coercion (II Cor. 9:5), cheerful (II Cor. 9:7), and the result of a personal commitment in advance (II Cor. 9:7).
Paul used the same plan in all churches–Galatia (I Cor. 16:1), Macedonia (II Cor. 8:1), and Greece (II Cor. 9:1). The making of commitments for the cause was preceded by an act of personal dedication to Christ (II Cor. 8:5). They acted from the heart.
2. The making of a Faith Promise acknowledges an obligation of duty to the Great Commission. The commitment to become involved in giving accepts the divine imperative of “Go Ye” as applying personally. Wise stewardship of material possessions becomes the beginning of personal involvement.
3. The making of a Faith Promise evidences a desire to do that which is pleasing to one’s Lord. From the sense of responsibility, one is moved into the realm of desire. From the obligation of duty, one moves to the higher motivation of love. It is not merely doing what one “must” do but of doing
what one “wants” to do. Such motivation lifts the weight of burden and causes one to rejoice in the privilege of doing that which is pleasing to his heavenly Father. Because one loves Him, he obeys him. Because one loves Him, he is motivated to please him, voluntarily and cheerfully, ever thankful for the opportunity to bring delight to Him whom he loves.
4. The Faith Promise is made on the basis of faith in God’s faithfulness. God’s promises are taken at face value. The law of increasing return is put into effect by the act of faith–commitment to give. The one making the Faith promise may not have in his possession, or know the source from which his offering will come, but with expressed faith in God to supply, he obligates himself to trust God for the provision. God is faithful! When faith is exercised in this faithfulness, it will work!
5. The Faith Promises leads man into commitment. Who has not been stirred with desire to help and moved with resolution to act when challenged with the needs of foreign missions. Too frequently, however, when the immediate stimulus of emotion is gone, the desire to help falls away and the resolution to act goes unfulfilled. Paul called upon “every man” to purpose “in his heart” and “so let him give”. This predetermination of one’s course of action and commitment to it is a key to the success of the Faith Promise plan.
It applies to investment in things eternal; the same principles whereby one invests in things material. Any investment or savings program that works effectively requires a previous commitment to regular deposits. Any acquisition of a home, car or other material possession requires a previous
commitment of regular payment. When one has so committed himself to a program of investment, saving, or installment buying, he has a reason for earning, saving, and even sacrificing in order to meet his commitments.
So it is in the matter of Faith Promise giving. The previous commitment to invest in the propagation of the gospel; the planned program for giving that others might go, preach and baptize believers; the predetermined purpose of heart to be personally involved in the “Go Ye” of the Great Commission gives one a strong motivation to earn, save and sacrifice. He can relate his occupation on the job to the fulfillment of his duty before Christ. He can identify his personal sacrifices and savings with achievement of things of far greater value than any material acquisition.
It begins with purpose of heart upon which basis the Faith Promise is made which leads to performance in giving.
6. The Faith Promise leads to a consistent, frequent, individual involvement. When every man does something regularly and often, the result is beyond one’s imagination. This is a dynamic of Faith Promise giving. Every man, woman, boy or girl can do something. From the dollars of the adult to the dimes of the children, everyone participates. From the checks of the businessman to the change of the widow, God honors faith and provides the wherewithal to be able to do what He says, “Give!”
It should be made convenient for the performance of Faith Promise giving. Many churches encourage weekly Faith Promise offerings. There should be an ingathering at least monthly. Special offering envelopes should always be available. People should be encouraged to honor God when He has provided the money to give.
7. Faith Promise giving assures an increasing return. Based upon the law of sowing and reaping, one can expect a harvest in proportion to the planting. Sparce planting produces scant crops. Abundant sowing assures a bountiful harvest (II Cor. 9:6)- Giving to bless others conditions the promise that
God will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19), and His Word promises sufficiency in all things so that one may abound in every good work (charitable donation–Amplified N.T., II Cor. 9:8).
He (God), on the basis of one’s promise to share the harvest with His work of missions, will provide the seed to sow, the bread to eat, and will multiply the sown seed and increase the fruits. “Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous” (II Cor. 9–Amplified N.T).
8. Faith Promise giving for foreign missions is totally unselfish. Many other worthy investments in the cause of Christ can be expected to bring return to the church or individual–a better, more comfortable place of worship, an increased local congregation, a stronger organization from which to draw additional resources, etc. The church’s giving to the regions beyond can only hope to cause thanksgiving unto God from the hearts of those who thereby hear the Gospel, believe and obey it. It is the unselfish aspect of foreign missions giving that assures God’s blessing in return. See Luke 14:12-14.
Faith Promise giving harnesses the dynamics of faith, duty, love, commitment, consistency and the sure promises of God. It cannot fail. It works!
(The original source and/or publisher of the above material is unknown.)
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