Month: October 2023

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An Open Letter to Two Couples I Do Not Know

by John O’Malley

A friend asked in an online ministry forum:
“I have two young couples that are just preparing to start deputation. They have both been seeking help and advice on things they should know or do. What do you wish someone had told you when you were first starting out?”

Dear Couples interested in serving Christ,
I am thrilled to hear of your desire to serve the Lord. Your calling distinguishes you and will dispatch you to a place unfamiliar and to a people unknown.
Your friend said you seek advice about missionary service. Here is my advice to you:

    1. Give more than you take.
    2. Love more than you are given love.
    3. Pursue excellence.
    4. Show your heart; people will catch your vision.
    5. Give grace to everyone, including yourselves.
    6. Be honest with statistics. Remember, it’s the call of God that validates you. Your statistical data does not validate your need to be on your field.
    7. Meet each week with your pastor.
    8. Stay in the Word.
    9. Consider your family’s spiritual growth if you are preaching the same message each week.
    10. Tell God everything. He listens.
    11. When asked about hardships, speak of blessings: light afflictions last moments.
    12. When asked to speak of the worst experience, speak of the reward of serving. Plumbers have bad experiences too. One bad day of deputation is better than 10 seconds in Hell.
    13. Schedule time for fun.
    14. Discipline your children at home so the children only need a calm word for guidance.
    15. Eat with discipline, discernment, and discretion.
    16. Schedule 90% of your meetings within a 300-mile radius of your home.
    17. Smile.
    18. Live and act as if you serve the Sustainer of life. You do. Do all things with this awareness. He loves you.
    19. Give 40 hours per week to contacting churches for support. The people who support you will work forty hours per week at their job.
    20. Slothfulness is a sin.
    21. Love God.
    22. Love Others.
    23. Never seek revenge. “If you can revenge yourself, DON’T. If you could do it as easily as open your hand, keep it shut. If one bitter word could end the argument, ask for grace to spare that bitter word.” (Spurgeon)
    24. Never criticize. Ever.
    25. Never gossip. Ever.

What is your advice?

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

 

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From the Memo Board: November 2023

Dates to Know

November 1 – September Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

November 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

November 10 – Most US banks will be closed for Veterans Day.

November 23-24 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Thanksgiving.

December 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

December 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations

December 5 – All prayer letters the Office assists in mailing via PrayerLetters.com should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 15 – Please contact us by this date via Signal if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or the end of the year.

December 18 – All prayer letters the Office assists in sending via MailChimp should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 21-27 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Christmas. The Office will reopen on December 28th.

January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

January 1 – December Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

January 10 – All Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support Received.

January 12 – All Missionaries will receive they final December support on this day, regardless of the day they normally receive support.

January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2023. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2023 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.

April 8-12, 2024 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.

Year-End Adjustments

During a typical month, we close the books on the 25th, and any checks received after that date are posted to the following month. This means that you receive your Support List and total income figures on or about the 25th, and we then deposit funds into your account(s) on the 29th, 5th, or 10th of the month after we have calculated estimated taxes, tithes, and other month end payments.

Due to receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December, as we are required by law to process funds that were postmarked in December as if they were received in December. This means we cannot close the books for December until January 10th, and therefore we do not have final December figures until January 10th.

What does this mean for you?

      • Please contact our office by December 15 if you will need funds in your account before the end of the year. This helps our staff plan for all transfers before we close for the Christmas holiday.
      • The last day we can initiate a bank transfer in the year 2023 is December 20.
      • Final transfers of December funds (after all estimated taxes and tithes have been calculated) will be made for January 12th, 2024, regardless of the day you usually receive your monthly support.
      • Please be aware that your December support total may be higher than normal, while your January support total may be lower than normal. Please be sure to plan ahead for this!

Upcoming Financial Reports for US Missionaries

Please prepare now to ensure that your year-end financial reports are submitted on time. October reports are due December 1, November reports are due January 1, and December reports are due January 15. If it is possible for you to submit reports before the due dates, that would greatly assist our staff. Please note it is fine to submit a report without waiting for the Line 1 income figure. We can add that for you as needed. Reports should be submitted to [email protected]. Please be sure to include all receipts for expenses $75 and over at the same time you submit your report so there are no delays in processing. Thank you for your help in these areas.

Year-End Prayer Letter Services

If the office assists in mailing your prayer letters through PrayerLetters.com, please send us your information by December 5th for your recipients to receive it before Christmas.

If we assist with your MailChimp emails only, please get us your information by December 18th in order for your recipients to receive them by the end of the year. Please be aware that letters received in our office after these days may experience delays due to the holidays. Please plan the timing of your letters accordingly, and contact the office if you have any questions. Thank you!

Our Office will resume processing prayer letters on January 2, 2024.

Family Fellowship Week

We are beginning preparations for Family Fellowship Week 2024, which will once again be held at the Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro, NC. Our missions family greatly enjoys this quiet retreat location, which allows all services, lodging, meals, and activities to take place in one place.

Our next meeting will be held April 8-12, 2024. Please make plans to join us! Please watch your email for registration information in the next few days. Final reservations need to be communicated to the office by February 1, 2024.

This is a time to gather for fellowship and encouragement. Meals, lodging, and child care are provided. Attendees should plan to stay the entire week, beginning Monday afternoon, and ending after the Thursday evening service. (Lodging Thursday night and breakfast Friday morning are provided, but guests are welcome to leave Thursday evening if they wish.) There will be preaching and teaching sessions in the morning and evening, with free time in the afternoons. The week provides opportunities to rub shoulders with fellow servants from around the world in all stages of ministry. Please plan to join us.

Uplift Podcast

Trust God’s Plan by Cody Carden

Holiness Part 1 by Cody Carden

Holiness Part 2 by Cody Carden

Holiness Part 3 by Cody Carden