OK, so I saw the picture posted here over on the “Stuff Fundies Like” blog on Sunday. It brought to mind many of my friends who are out on deputation right now and struggling to get to their mission fields.

Here is the bottom line in my mind—the church is blowing it! Seriously…so many churches feel like they are helping fulfill the great commission by supporting 49 missionaries at $10/month. Even if a church is supporting a missionary at $100/month it is a drop in the bucket for what they need to serve on the field…or is it? Part of the reality most international missionaries face is working through a mission board. Mission boards seem to be one of those necessary evils. Mission boards can bring accountability, specialized expertise in international relations, and networking. However, is the cost worth it? What about the local church serving as the “board?”

There is a lot of conversation out there regarding the topic of missions, deputation, mission boards, etc. I don’t pretend to have any answers, however, I do think that as local churches we are failing when we try to support a breadth of people with pennies a day. It would serve missionaries and ultimately the kingdom if a church were to bring a missionary on board for 20-25% of their need instead of nickeling every single one. I would prefer to see a church support one at 20% than 20 at 1%. Think about it? If four churches committed to 25% of the need they would be on the field in no time. However, deputation takes forever because you have to find 100 churches to give you 1%. This takes years and significant financial resources in traveling the country.

So there you have it…my missions rant for the year. Like I said, I was thinking of some people I know that are out there raising support. You can pray for these people and check out their ministries:

• Jeremy and Bonnie Ruth Farmer | Cambodia
• David and Annalisa Wilson | England
• Jason and Sarah Sykes | Venezuela