Back in 1960, the men that founded BIMI wanted 100 percent of a missionary’s donations to go directly to the missionary (in contrast to mission agencies that take a set amount from donations to cover the operating expenses of the mission). At the time, everyone understood that there would be expenses involved in providing services to the missionaries. The facilities, personnel, and supplies needed to process donations and serve missionaries would cost money. They decided to appeal to the supporting churches, rather than the missionaries, to cover these expenses. They built the financial foundation of BIMI upon two ideas.

First, they decided not to pay salaries to Directors and Representatives. These men would raise their support directly from the churches and thereby radically reduce the operating expenses of the mission. Through the years, most of these men have been veteran missionaries who returned to the World Missions Center after years of overseas service. The churches that have contributed to their support have ultimately funded the leadership of the mission and saved BIMI millions of dollars of operating expenses.

Second, they decided to appeal to every local church that supported BIMI missionaries to also support a general fund. These founding pastors led their churches to create and support this fund. The general fund was intended to underwrite all of the operational expenses of BIMI. The logic was that if every church that supported BIMI missionaries also supported the general fund, there would be adequate resources to care for the mission. And, through the years, the addition of new donor churches would ensure the continued growth and expansion of the mission as well.

However, the founding fathers could not envision the challenge that faces us today. Many years later, donor churches number nearly 7,000 with only a few hundred contributing to the general fund. BIMI has a very conservative operating budget. Operational expenses are less than 4 percent of our revenues, which is phenomenal! (Many mission agencies average 10 percent or more.) If every supporting church would also support the general fund, there would be more than enough resources to operate the mission and expand for future needs. That is, after all, exactly what the founding trustees had in mind.

Today, BIMI still stands for the historic Baptist faith and principles found in the Word of God. This organization has served as the delegated servant of the local church for 47 years. We believe there are still thousands of churches who, like us, desire to stand fast in a day of compromise and apostasy.

We need your help! If you haven’t already, would you consider asking your church to support the general fund of BIMI as a missionary project? Although millions of dollars pass through this mission each month from the churches to their missionaries, the World Missions Center still prays for a miracle to cover operational expenses. If you are one of the thousands of churches that rely upon us to help your missionaries, would you help steady the hands that hold the rope?

To make a contribution to the General Fund simply write a check to Baptist International Missions, Inc., P.O. Box 9215, Chattanooga, TN 37412. Designate “General Fund” on your check. To set up an automatic ACH Debit from your checking account call Doug Cunningham at (423) 344-5050.

Monday, March 15, 2010

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

KEITH & MARLA HERNDON -  MOLDOVA
ANTHONY R & DAWN HESS -  UKRAINE
KEVIN & MARY BETH HICKOK -  BRAZIL