#:$ SUPPORT US, NOT JUST PROJECTS Balance your missions giving. Make it your priority to i nvest in people—in missionaries, not just missions projects or trips. Missionaries - terprise is based on people, “boots on the ground” all over the world. Projects and trips only work because of missionaries. These long-term missionaries learn language and culture, develop relationships with the national church, and cultivate goodwill within its l eadership, both nationally and locally . In short, the work of the Assem- blies of God Missions cannot function effectively without r esident missionaries: family units called by God to Missions projects and trips can assist the work of the missionary, providing necessary funds and laborers to build buildings, evangelize, establish new works, install water systems, and other types of missions projects. When a group from a local congregation travels together, short-term trips can have life-long impact upon the participants, and in some cases lead to the call of God toward vocational missionary service. The visiting team can strengthen the impact of long-term missionaries. Think Long-term. At the same time, be careful not to over-spend on short-term trips, at the expense of - keep things in perspective: It’s not about us, it’s about them—the last, the least, the lost, and the missionaries committed to reaching them through the slow, often-painful, process of cross-cultural life and service. Healthy missionary churches do not do one without the other. Prayerfully consider how your church balances their budget. As a general guideline, consider an 85:15 ratio (mission- aries to missions projects/trips). Even though it may be much easier to raise money for projects and trips than for missionary sup- port, remember it is those on the most projects to occur , and they will remain long after you have gone home. 7 TIPS FOR PRIORITIZING MISSIONS SUPPORT: 1. Start somewhere. One thing every churc h in the Assemblies of Go d can do, no matter the size, is give to missions. Obedient generosity always Consider tithing as a church. If it is right for individuals, why not organizations ? 3. Balance o ut the quantity (number of missionaries supported) with the quality (increasing the amount of your support) each year. 4. Prioritize missionaries in some order: For exa mple (a) from y our congr egation, (b ) with r elationship to your congregatio n, (c) fr om your district, (d) 5. Consider leaving an open s lot(s) each year for newly-appointed missionaries, to help them rapidly build their initial support. 6. Increase the percentage of the an nual budget each year f or missions (trusting God to honor your faith to follow His heart for the world). 7. (.659&%4'