Made Where?

By John O’Malley

“… it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves…” (Psalm 100:3).

Made in China. Made in Taiwan. Made in Japan. Made in Malaysia.

These are all common tags we see on the products we purchase. The tag reminds us of a distant land we may have only heard about. The tag may remind us of a global economy. The tag may even evoke strong feelings of national pride and seemingly unanswerable questions about trade practices.

On some products we purchase we also find a tag that reads, “Inspected by #4.” These tags make me smile. I wonder, “Who is number four? Is there more than one number four? Is number four a station? Who really made what I am wearing?”

Dear Reader, our verse for today sends one clear message. Believers carry a tag. It is a tag that designates our Maker. We carry God’s tag. The tag reads, “Made by God.” The psalmist describes our tag: “… it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.”

My entire existence is affected by this verse. This truth affects my worship and work for God. This precept brings me to the realization I did not bring myself into existence; He did. I did not make me; God made me. I read this phrase, and it brings comfort to my soul, conviction to my service, and compassion as I work with others. David’s words in the 139th Psalm say that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

The tag on every person’s life is the same: “Made by God.” We do not make our own way in this life. We may try to make a name for ourselves, but we carry His tag.

When someone accepts the payment for salvation paid by Jesus, we bear another mark on our tag. It is the designation that we were bought with a price. Paul wrote that we are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). Jesus purchased us with His defeat of death, hell, and the grave. His purchase of me means I am His. I am to put God in the spotlight of my life, or in other words, glorify Him. By faith in Him alone, the tag on my heart says “Purchased.” I am His.

This analogy is simple. It conveys one clear truth. Our lives are not our own; therefore, bring Him glory.

The believer wears the tag “Made and Purchased by God.” Is God pleased with your actions, your attitudes, and your activities?

I want you to find someone today and tell them, “God made me.” Then ask them, “Did you know He paid the price for you to go to heaven?”

John O’Malley

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

From the Memo Board: January 2025

Important Dates to Know

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 7 – Inform the office via the Signal app if you have any special instructions or additional information regarding your tax paperwork.
January 10 – All Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support.
January 13 – All Missionaries will receive their 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 2024. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2024 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.

 

For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.

Tax Information

We are preparing to issue tax paperwork for the year, and need to be sure we follow your intentions. Many missionaries have us use alternate addresses on their 1099, or have us send paperwork directly to a tax preparer for them. Please login to your SecureCloud and look for the document called 2024 Tax Info Status Report. If anything needs to be adjusted to the information included, or if you have any additional information or special instructions regarding your tax paperwork for this year, please contact us via the Signal app to let us know what changes to make. If we do not hear from you by January 7th we will issue your tax information as indicated on this report.

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.

    • Unless you have requested an early deposit, final transfers of December funds (after all estimated taxes and tithes have been calculated) will be made for January 13th, 2025, 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. 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.

New Excel Template for US Missionaries

A new Excel template for the year 2025 will be available on February 15. This will give us time to review the need for any possible updates. January financial reports for US Missionaries will be due on March 1. Should you wish to complete your January report before the new template is available, you are welcome to submit it on the 2024 template. However, starting with the February report please be sure to use the new template.

SecureCloud Packets

At the end of each month, we scan any mail that has come to the Office and place it in your SecureCloud folder. This would include check stubs for all bills paid by the office, as well as any cards or correspondence from donors. Please be sure to check SecureCloud periodically, especially once you receive the notice that December packets have been uploaded, as many missionaries have received Christmas cards and letters which are available to you there.

Prayer Requests and Special Days

Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.

Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.