Author: WWNTBM

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From the Memo Board: June 2020

Dates to Know

June 29 – July 6 – See the Harvest Trip to Utah.

July 1 – May Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries.

July 1 – June Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries.

July 3 – Our Office and US banks will be closed in celebration of Independence Day.

July 6 – Revised pay date for those who normally receive support on the 5th of the month.

August 1 – June Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries.

August 1 – July Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries.

New Look to Your Monthly Support List

We are implementing changes in our database to incorporate the National Partnership Services. Please note these changes to your Support List this month. We have added a new column of figures and also renamed the columns to add clarity to the report. The column titled Donations shows the total amount given by the donor. The MAS column represents the 5% contribution to cover Mission Agency Services. This applies to all missionaries. The new NPS column represents the 5% contribution to cover the National Partnership Services. Although this column will show on all Support Lists, the percentage will only be applied to those who are a part of our National Partnership Program. The column for Missionary shows the amount of the donation that the missionary receives personally. The figure in the lower right of the last page of your Support List, in the box marked “Use this figure on your monthly financial report,” continues to be the sum of the Missionary Column for all accounts. It represents the total income you received personally during the month and should be used as the income figure on your monthly financial reports.

The NPS contribution, just as the MAS contribution, will be applied according to the following guidelines:

• When a donor indicates new support, even if it is the first time we have received funds.

• When funds begin coming from a donor on a regular basis, even if the check memo continues to say ‘gift,’ unless it is specifically designated such as ‘gift for building fund’ or some other specific project. Regular basis does not necessarily mean monthly; some donors give at varying times and some even give annually.

• All regular funds received are subject to the MAS and NPS contributions, regardless of whether they are received in personal or ministry support accounts (i.e. accounts for ongoing operations of a ministry such as a school or radio station.)

• Funds for specific projects will be evaluated on an annual basis to determine if they have become ongoing ministry support as opposed to one-time fundraising events.

New Monthly Reporting for Non-Resident Missionaries

Non-Resident Missionaries who do not have a Certified Foreign Non-Profit Organization (FNPO) should begin tracking their ministry expenses in the month of June, in order to submit their June NRA Financial Report by July 1. Please be sure to check your email and watch the video explaining how to complete the report. These reports should be submitted to [email protected], along with receipts for ministry items over $75. Please note that failure to submit the reports on time will prevent future distributions of funds from World Wide until all reports have been received. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Cmaylo.

World Wide of Canada Contact Information

Bro. Ernie Bauserman manages the office for World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions of Canada. Please note the updated contact number for our Canadian Office, effective June 1:

WWNTBM of Canada
PO Box 116
Elliot Lake, ON P5A 2J6
CANADA
705-849-9395

Ninth Hour Prayer Meetings

Bro. O’Malley continues to host a daily online prayer meeting to inform viewers and tell God our cares about the COVID-19 situation. This is held daily at 3 p.m. EDT, and it can be viewed on Facebook. We invite you to join in as you are able. Past meetings are available on Bro. O’Malley’s Facebook page. Click here to watch a recent meeting with Dr. Bill Wingard as the guest speaker.

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From the Heart of a Missionary: June 2020

The Missionary Woman’s “Disease”
by Lou Ann Keiser

I am sitting in my living room with the door open. The birds are singing, and it’s a gorgeous day. My husband is thumping around upstairs, taking something from his office to our bedroom.

I am alone.

Our children are grown and gone. (I mean really gone. The closest lives just over four thousand miles away.) They are married and the parents of the cutest grandsons on the planet. (Don’t let me get started!) When our youngest left the nest, the silence was deafening. Except for my husband’s goings and comings, it was like a tomb around here–too quiet!

I know some of you live in places where the noise deafens. Some of you have children running around the house–and hollering and getting into things–and you can’t even imagine the scene I painted for you. You’d like to hear silence, experience quiet.

You’ll agree, though. We all have a “disease” in common: loneliness.

You might work with a missionary team, or not. You might have lots of friends, or not. You might have the aforementioned children and a husband, or not. It doesn’t matter. You’re lonely.

Why is it that, in this day of connectedness–think social media, Skype, FaceTime, and secret groups. Did I tell you how thankful I am for you?–missionary women feel more lonely than ever in the history of missions? I believe it’s true, and I may understand some of the reasons why. Let me share a few thoughts.

We came to the mission field with illusions. We thought we’d adapt easier. We thought the people would love us. We had the idea that the natives were just waiting to hear the gospel–fields white unto harvest–and it turns out they couldn’t care less. We thought that it would be an adventure, and we found out it was hard, slogging work. We thought our teen kids would love it, but they resent the field–and us. We thought . . . . False expectations. Missionary work is no piece of cake. We thought too much.

We came seeking new friends. We severely limited our sphere of friends when we left our sending friends behind, moved across a border, and arrived at this place: our mission field. We looked for new friendships, and, thank the Lord, we’ve made some. Our soul sisters, those few-in-life kindred-spirit friends got left behind. We didn’t understand what that would mean. We’ve gone on, and so have they. After a few years, our life experiences are poles apart. They will always be our friends, but we (and they) have changed.

We became overwhelmed–or underwhelmed. We either jumped into the work feet first and got super busy, always seeing needs, always saying yes, that, along with preparing meals, cleaning house, mothering, wife-ing, and all the rest, we are exhausted. Every. Single. Day. Or . . . we have a hard time fitting in. Our team leader won’t let us do all we want to do, so we have too much time on our hands, and we feel frustrated, undervalued, and resentful.

We came to the field conscious of the airplanes out of here. Many years ago, missionaries went to the field with the understanding that they would live and die there. Many of those missionaries lived and died without ever seeing their families and home countries again. Their families couldn’t visit, either (or Skype or e-mail). I believe that, since we know we can “escape” or connect if necessary, it colors our emotions. We didn’t have to completely cut with the past when we came to the field, thank the Lord. We know we can be with our loved ones in a matter of two days or less, if need be. They can visit us, too. We have a foot here, and a foot back home. (I’m not recommending otherwise, you understand. Just talking!)

So, we’re lonely. We look inside our emotions and see a black hole that doesn’t fill up.

Sometimes, we lock our teeth, smile, and get on with life. Other times, we stream big ole tears.

How can a missionary woman deal with loneliness? Here are eight constructive ideas:
1. The Lord promises to meet all your needs. Make Him foremost. He will truly fill up your black hole with light. People don’t satisfy. God does. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
2. Invest your emotional energies (love) in the people closest to you. I’m talking about your husband and children. For singles, pray that God would give you a girlfriend where you are. She might be an older woman or someone closer to your age. Ask God to show you someone. If you don’t find a kindred spirit where you live, accept it as God’s will. Rely on Him. He will be your Best Friend. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37:4).
3. Avoid dwelling on what you don’t have, and give thanks. Suppress those negative, pity-party thoughts. Especially during the holidays, it’s normal to miss friends and family. When loneliness begins, change the self-conversation and give thanks to the Lord. A heart of praise cures attitudes and emotions. (Colossians 3:17, Ephesians 5:4)
4. Find joy in ministry. Love is, after all, giving. Give yourself to your family, your church ministry, and to meeting others’ needs. Enjoy your church people. Laugh and love.
5. Get out of the house! This is so basic, but there’s nothing like getting out of the house, taking a walk in a park, the countryside, or along the beach or lake. (It’s okay if you take the family.) There’s something about being outside in nature that refreshes the spirit. Don’t let yourself be hemmed in by walls. (Shopping malls don’t count!) Get out and find something God made. Breathe. Thank God for beauty. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? (Psalm 106:2)
6. Read. Ask friends for recommendations. If you work with a group of missionaries, swap books. Be open to different genres and new authors. I recommend reading missionary biographies from time to time. They’ll put your own struggles into perspective. Of course, read your Bible first, but if you need some unwinding time at night, a good book is much better than a movie.
7. Get a hobby. “Hobby? Surely you jest. I’m just trying to keep my head above water!” Here are some ideas: Do cross-stitch, crocheting, or knitting while the kids are playing. Learn how to cook like a native chef while visiting with the ladies in your church. Become a photographer. (You need the pictures for your ministry reports, anyway.) Sew. Cut hair. Play the violin. Plant and tend flowers or a vegetable garden. Write. Make crafts–again learning from the native women. A hobby helps you feel fulfilled because it’s something you enjoy and it’s productive. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it (Psalm 90:17).
8. Remember that loneliness is a perception, a state of mind. Oh yes, it’s real, too! When you’re lonely, read the Psalms. Let their beauty and trust wash over your soul. Let God speak to you, renew your mind, and mend your heart.

God bless you!

If this article has been a blessing to you, let Mrs. Lou Ann Keiser know here. The Missionary Woman’s Disease first appeared on http://inhershoesbmw.blogspot.com/ in December 2014. 

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From the Memo Board: May 2020

Dates to Know

June 1 – April Financial Reports will be due.

July 1 – May Financial Reports will be due.

July 3 – Our Office will be closed in celebration of Independence Day

Family Fellowship Week

We have made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s Family Fellowship Week due to COVID-19. The Lord willing, New Testament Baptist Church in Kinston, NC, will co-host next year with Calvary Baptist Church in New Bern, NC, June 21-24, 2021. Please be sure to mark your calendars now, and make plans to join us in 2021.

Online Giving

WWNTBM is happy to provide online giving options to make it easier for donors to support your ministry. You can direct donors to our website at wwntbm.com/give for details on all the ways they can participate. Please note that the company that processes credit cards does take a small percentage out of each donation to cover costs. Donors have the option to cover those fees if they choose. However, you may see a slightly smaller amount on your support list as a result of this.

Missionary Micro Stories Podcast

Josh Wagar, missionary to Chuuk, Micronesia, has started a podcast to show how God can take ordinary people and use them in extraordinary ways. This is a collection of modern-day missionaries telling stories of God’s work in their lives. Josh is looking for missionaries to interview. If you are interested in participating, you can click here to contact Bro. Wagar. To listen to the podcast you can look for it on Facebook at #MissionaryMicroStories, or you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

Our Current Missions Family

Click this link to download a PDF of the current list of World Wide missionaries.

Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document.  Once you have logged in, click on the Headquarter Happenings folder, then “Missionary List May 2020.” This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

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From the Heart of a Missionary: May 2020

When I Do Not Understand…
By Tim Germano

What do we do when we do not understand what God is trying to do in our lives? Have you ever asked God “why?” If we are honest with ourselves, we have all done so. In our finite minds and understanding, we can only see what is going on around us or what has already happened. Our infinite God knows what has happened, is happening, and will happen. He has a plan for us.

Habakkuk found himself in a similar situation of questioning and struggle. He asked God how long until He would judge Judah for their wickedness (Hab. 1:1-4). God responded by telling him that He was fully aware of their sin and that He would use the Babylonians to punish them (Hab. 1:5-11). This answer troubled Habakkuk, and he asked how God could use a wicked nation to judge His people (1:12-2:1). God answered him and told him that He would also hold them responsible for their wickedness (Hab. 2:2-20). In chapter three, Habakkuk offers a prayer to the Lord. We can know what to do when we do not understand by looking at how Habakkuk coped with surprising news and challenging answers.

First, he rested in the Lord (Hab. 3:16). He was troubled by what was going to happen, and he even felt rottenness and decay in his bones. He knew that in the midst of difficult times and in receiving challenging news that he could rest. This resting can only happen in the Lord. We cannot have the peace that we need in trying times without the Lord’s help. Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” We can rest in our all-knowing God. He knows what is best for us!

Second, he rejoiced in the Lord (Hab. 3:17-18). Habakkuk stated in faith that even if everything that seemed certain failed (like the harvest, the livestock, one’s livelihood, etc.), he would still rejoice in the Lord. Even when everything around us that seems stable becomes unstable, we can rejoice in our God! We can joy in the God of our salvation! When we receive troubling news about our health or the health of a loved one, we can rejoice in God. When we lose our job or face financial hardship, we can rejoice in God! Our joy is found in God, not our circumstances. Psalms 46:1-3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” We can rejoice in our ever-present God Who never changes!

Third, he relied on the Lord (Hab. 3:19). After everything that he faced, Habakkuk finished his prayer by stating the “The LORD God is my strength.” Even as a mountain goat can scale the steep precipices and cliffs without fear, we can weather the storms of life and the unknown by relying on God and His strength. There will be days that we feel as if we cannot go on, but we can only because God is with us and helps us! Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” We can make it through by relying on the Lord and His never-failing strength and help.

“Whatever God permits to come into our lives is designed to conform us to the image of His Son. When we see this, it takes the question mark out of our prayers. Our lives are not controlled by impersonal forces such as chance, luck, or fate, but by our wonderful, personal Lord, who is “too loving to be unkind and too wise to err.'” WILLIAM MACDONALD

 

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From the Memo Board: April 2020

Dates to Know

April 10 – The Office will be closed in celebration of the Resurrection.

May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due.

May 1 – Quarterly Reports for Foreign Non-Profit Organizations will be due; please see more information below.

June 1 – April Financial Reports will be due.

June 15-18 – Family Fellowship Week in Kinston, NC.

WWNTBM’s Response to COVID-19

With the growing awareness of the COVID-19 virus, we wanted to take a moment to encourage you. The Missions office is still open. We plan to continue working in the office as usual, until further notice.

We are taking the recommended precautions to keep our office staff healthy. We are requesting no visitors to the Office through May 1, 2020, in compliance with the NC Governor’s recent executive order. If more serious restrictions occur, we have provisions to get your support to you. Pray for our staff’s health, safety, and strength.

We are planning on holding Family Fellowship Week. We are monitoring the federal and state legislation and the capabilities of the host churches. Please continue to monitor your email and http://familyfellowshipweek.com.

Please know that we are praying for you. We are aware that this virus is affecting everyone in our missions family to some extent. Please let us know if there is any way we can assist you during this time.

Click below to view a message from Bro. Jeremy Lockart about the coronavirus. Click here for a transcript of that message.

Tax Impact of COVID-19

Extended Deadlines: In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the US Government has extended tax filing deadlines for all individuals until July 15, 2020. Please click here to read information from our tax attorneys on how this change may affect you personally. We recommend that you still speak with your tax preparer about the ability to file as soon as possible if you expect to receive a refund.

Families First Act: In addition to the extended deadlines, our CPA has informed us that the recent Families First Act released on March 18 may have implications and benefits for those who are self-employed. All of our US-Citizen missionaries fall into this category. Our CPA’s advice was to recommend that you speak with your tax preparer to discuss how the Families First Act can benefit your personal situation.

Doctrinal Agreements

If you have submitted your doctrinal agreement statement, your new card for 2020-2021 is now available for you to download and print from your SecureCloud folder. If you have not yet submitted your annual agreement, please click here, or email Naomi Torberson as soon as possible, indicating that you have read and are still in agreement with our Articles of Faith. If you have questions or concerns, please contact John O’Malley.

Family Fellowship Week

In Mark 6 we have the record of Christ sending the apostles forth into ministry. After their journeys, they returned and reported to Him about what they had done. Christ’s first response was an invitation for them to come apart and rest, as they were so busy they had not time to even eat. This is one of the goals for our annual Family Fellowship Week. We realize that you are busy with the work to which you have been called. We seek to provide an opportunity for you to come apart and rest, in an environment where you can be physically rested and spiritually refreshed. If you will be in the US and have not yet done so, please contact Rebekah Tolley to register for the week. We hope to see you in Kinston, NC, June 15-18. If you are planning a furlough in 2021, now is the time to add the date to your calendar for next year! This meeting always begins on the third Monday of June. Current information is available at https://familyfellowshipweek.com.

Quarterly Reports for Foreign Non-Profit Organizations

If you have gone through the process to have your foreign ministry certified with our CPA, the first Quarterly Report representing January to March of 2020 will be due on May 1. You should have received an email with details about how to submit the report. If you have questions please contact Naomi Torberson.

If your ministry has been chartered and established as a non-profit organization, we recommend getting a bank account in its name and then going through the process of certifying it as a Foreign Non-Profit Organization with our CPA. This process takes several months and costs around $400. The purpose is to show that your ministry meets IRS standards to be considered a public rather than a private charity. With this status, funds for purchases such as land may be able to be sent directly to your ministry, thus eliminating your personal tax liability. Please note that there are limitations to this option. If you are planning to raise funds for the purchase of land or buildings, it would be advantageous to have this step in place before funds arrive in our office for such a project. Please contact our office for more information.

Travel to and from the United States

US Citizens should be aware of the REAL ID Act and how it may affect your airline travel within the United States. Click here to view the latest information from the Department of Homeland Security. As a result of COVID-19, the current effective date has been moved to October 1, 2021. Missionaries may wish to update their driver’s license to obtain the REAL ID while they are in the US on furlough. Otherwise, plan to have your passport with you for all domestic travel.

Non-US Citizens: In advance of planning any personal or ministry travel to the US, please contact Laura Cmaylo to discuss the visa and financial implications involved with Stateside travel so you and our office can be fully prepared.

New Schedule for Uplift Calls!

We are nearing the 3 year anniversary of our weekly Uplift meetings! We are excited about the feedback we receive from our missionaries, and our staff looks forward to this time of connection. To better accommodate various timezones, we are changing our normally scheduled Third Thursday meeting to Third Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. Eastern. While the Friday morning calls are typically geared towards those on deputation, everyone is welcome to join at any time. Meetings take place on the following schedule each month:

Every Friday at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time
First Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Second Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Third Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fourth Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time

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Prayer & Dates: March 2020

March Prayer/Praises and Special Dates

Click the link above to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for March. 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.

 

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From the Memo Board: March 2020

Dates to Know

March 15 – Please register for Family Week by this date, or let us know if you are unable to attend.

March 16 – Please contact John O’Malley by this date with any feedback on changes for our National Missionaries.

April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due.

May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due.

May 2 to 13 – Prayer letter services will be suspended; please see more information below.

June 15-18 – Family Fellowship Week in Kinston, NC.

Celebrating Fifty Years

Scripture is full of illustrations where God instructed men to come together for the purpose of remembering His goodness to them, and specifically, to annually memorialize great deeds He had done. These times of remembrance were often times of gathering, celebrating, and even feasting. In 1971, God answered the desire of Pastor Wingard’s heart and enabled him to start World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions. That first year, Calvary Baptist Church in New Bern, NC, hosted what would become the first annual Family Fellowship Week. This summer, we will again gather at the 50th Annual Family Week, where we will recount God’s blessings of the past, and look forward with anticipation to His blessings for the future. Please make plans to join us at New Testament Baptist Church of Kinston, NC, from June 15-18. Full details are available online at familyfellowshipweek.com.

Microsoft Excel

We request that all users complete their financial report template using Microsoft Excel rather than Apple’s Numbers or other programs. Although Apple’s spreadsheet application does export to Excel, doing so removes many key features that our staff relies on to review the reports. Similarly, Google Docs is not structured to handle many of the formulas in the template and often creates problems with the figures. If you need to purchase a copy of Microsoft Excel for Windows or for Mac, we can obtain these for you at a discounted rate. If switching to Excel creates a hardship for you, please contact us. If you have any questions, please let us know. We appreciate your assistance in this area!

Changes in Ministry and Your Financial Report

Changes in ministry can affect the typical expenses you list on your reports from month to month. For instance, someone on deputation will primarily have travel expenses, while someone on the field may have more costs related to renting a building or purchasing snacks and Sunday School supplies. Someone coming home on furlough will be dealing with meal allowances and lodging costs they do not usually see when on the field and may be using a borrowed vehicle, which must be recorded differently from a vehicle they own. We suggest that you click here to review our checklist of commonly overlooked expenses and make sure you are claiming all allowable deductions. If you have questions about your financial reports, please contact Naomi.

Prayer Letter Services

Due to staff vacations, our prayer letter editing services will be unavailable from May 2 to May 13. Please submit your letters to [email protected] anytime before 4:00 PM EST on May 1, to be sure it is sent out in time. Letters received after this date will be edited on May 14, when our normal processing schedule will resume. Please schedule your upcoming prayer letters accordingly. Thank you for your help with this!

Birth Announcement

Benaiah William Tyndale Folkers was born on February 18. He weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces. Benaiah is the first son of Seth and Kaitlin Folkers and joins his older sister, Atarah, who is 18 months. The Folkers minister in Cameroon, where they assist with mobile Bible College training. Pray for them as the country is in much turmoil at this time.

See the Harvest

WWNTBM has partnered with Ambassador Baptist College to lead a missions trip to Utah this summer for young people ages 16-30. We realize that many small churches do not have the resources to provide opportunities for their youth to see missions first hand. If you know of someone who would benefit from this trip, please direct them to our website at seetheharvest.com.

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Tax Time Reminders

Tax season is once again upon us! Here are several reminders concerning tax issues that you may face. We trust that this information will be useful to you, both in giving you a better understanding of your reports and helping you to be aware of items that may affect your personal taxes.

Change from W-2 Forms to 1099 Forms This Year

World Wide Missionaries have always been considered dual status, in that you were self-employed but received a W-2. Following advice from our CPA and tax attorneys, starting with the tax year 2019 we are no longer issuing W-2 Forms, but began instead to issue 1099 Forms to our missionaries. When completing your tax return, you may want to ask your tax preparer about how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TJCA) affects self-employed individuals. It is our understanding that you may be able to submit an amended return for the year 2018 if you did not fully take advantage of the TJCA benefits when you filed last year.

Tax Paperwork for 2019

Tax-related paperwork generated by WWNTBM is in your SecureCloud folder. This includes your applicable 1099 form, MFR Summary Report, Tax Detail Letter, and Tax Receipts (if you gave through WW in 2019.) Please be sure to look at the second page of the MFR Summary, to see if there are any specific notes for you and your tax preparer. The Tax Details letter is a vital document for you to provide to your tax preparer if you had a housing allowance or if WW submitted estimated taxes for you. If you requested that we submit your tax information directly to your tax preparer, please note that those documents will be sent in mid-February. This is to ensure that there is time for us to include any forms that may arrive in our office from other sources. If you have any questions, please contact Naomi.

1099 Forms from Other Sources

If churches issued funds payable to you in excess of $600 during the year 2019, they may issue you a 1099 form. If those funds were either mailed to the office or included on Line 2 of your MFR as extra income, they are already included in the total of your 1099 from World Wide. Our office can assist you in verifying whether the funds were included in your 1099. Your tax preparer can assist you on your return in recording this so that you are not taxed twice on the same income. We recommend that you request churches to make checks payable to WWNTBM to avoid this issue in the future.

Foreign Tax Exclusion

In order to claim the foreign tax exclusion, you must be out of the US for 330 days over a 12 month period of time; however, these days do not have to be in the same calendar year. In order to gain the full benefit of the foreign tax exclusion, your tax preparer may be able to revise your returns based on the actual time you have spent overseas. Because of this, it is vital to provide your tax preparer with all of your travel dates to and from the US. You may also wish to discuss with them what the best travel dates would be when planning to leave for the field or return on furlough, as this could affect how much you are allowed to claim under the foreign tax exclusion.

It is our understanding that, while the Foreign Tax Exclusion does benefit many of our missionaries, it may not always be the best solution, as there are other situations which may give a greater benefit. Some of those options may affect taxes not only for this year but for future years as well. This is another reason we recommend consulting a tax professional who can advise you in relation to your unique circumstance.

Healthcare and Your Taxes

Our financial report gives a location for you to track ‘health insurance costs.’ However, each individual situation is different. Some use this area to record traditional health insurance, some use it to record expenses through the Marketplace, and others use it to record details for a health care sharing ministry such as Samaritan Ministries. While all of these are health-related costs, each of the examples affects your taxes in a different way. Please be sure that your tax preparer is aware of the details of your health coverage, as it may affect how they complete your tax return.

Estimated Tax Payments

Missionaries are considered to be self-employed and are therefore subject to self-employment taxes. Submitting quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year will help to prevent having a large tax payment due each April. In addition, if you will owe at least $1,000 in taxes, the IRS requires self-employed individuals to submit quarterly estimated tax payments. Estimated tax payments can be submitted on your own, or, if you are interested, you may contact Kim O’Malley for information on how we can submit them for you.

Tax Paperwork for those with Foreign Bank Accounts

US Treasury Department regulations require that if you have any foreign bank accounts, and if the sum total of all of your foreign accounts has ever been $10,000 at any given time during the past year, you must complete the IRS Foreign Bank and Financial Account Form (FBAR) and give it to your tax preparer. This includes all foreign accounts on which you are a signatory, such as a ministry account. This form, and further information about it, is available on the IRS website at www.irs.gov. Please refer to the IRS website and your tax preparer if you have any questions.

Utilizing a Tax Professional

Studies have shown that the average person who uses a tax professional, instead of filing their own taxes, receives a much greater tax return. The savings far exceed the amount spent to hire a professional. Many have also found that using tax software does not always compare to the benefits of using a professional, either. In many instances, it is not that the software or the self-filer is wrong, but that other choices may be better. (Information is taken from daveramsey.com.)

It is also good to note that not all professionals are familiar with tax situations that might affect you. We encourage all missionaries to use a certified tax preparer who is familiar with special tax situations that affect missionaries and those living overseas. A listing of tax preparers used by other missionaries is available on SecureCloud, under the Forms and Manuals section.

Items to Provide to Your Tax Preparer

In addition to your 1099 Form(s), MFR Summary, and Tax Details Letter from World Wide, you may wish to provide the following to your tax preparer as it will assist them in filing your taxes.

  1. List of dates you were in the US vs out of the country during the year.
  2. Details of all housing-related expenses, to be used in addition to the amount of your Approved Housing Allowance, for use in completing Worksheet 1 of IRS Publication 517.
  3. Information on any retirement plans you have contributed to during the year, or that you have received distribution from during the year.
  4. Names and Social Security Numbers for all family members.
  5. Names and dates of any family births or deaths (children or spouse), as well as whether you were married during the year.

You may need to submit taxes in your foreign country, as well as in the US. Consult with a local tax preparer about this possibility. This may be especially true if you receive funds from that country.

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From the Memo Board: February 2020

Dates to Know

February 17 – You should receive an email with the new 2020 MFR Template, including the new mileage rates.

February 17 – All U.S. Banks will be closed in honor of Presidents’ Day

February 24 – Bank transfers may be limited as our bank will be performing website maintenance procedures

March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due.

April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due.

June 15-18 – Family Fellowship Week in Kinston, NC.

Benefits of Financial Reports

The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that missionaries can use to become accountable to WWNTBM for their reimbursable expenses, rather than having all funds listed as personal earnings. Over the course of 2019, 81% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 33.63%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.

Financial Status Report

We have uploaded a Financial Status Report to your SecureCloud account, showing figures for the fourth quarter of 2019. This is meant to show you the financial details that we have on file, such as your support estimate and the average amount of support you received this past quarter. This is the information we provide to pastors who may call about your ministry. We ask that all missionaries update their support estimate once every four years, or as their lives and ministries change. Please review this information and contact us if you have any questions.

Retirement Accounts

As self-employed individuals missionaries have available to you and/or your spouse these Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) options:

1. Traditional IRA
2. Roth IRA
3. SEP-IRA
4. SIMPLE IRA
5. Solo 401(k)

You are also able to open an account with any investment firm of your choice.

Click here to read an article that helps in understanding the benefits of each account.

Another helpful article from Dave Ramsey is available by clicking here.

You may want to speak with someone about your retirement options. David O’Malley, Bro. O’Malley’s brother, is an advisor for Edward Jones. He has offered to assist our missionaries in any way, even if they are not a client of his. His offer is a no-cost unbiased consultation. His phone number is 561-833-9123.

Most investment firms offer the above IRA options to independent contractors. (Independent Contractor is the term the IRS uses to describe your relationship to WW as a self-employed missionary.) You will need to discuss your options with the firm. The investment firm will have specific instructions for you once you make the choice of what type of account you want. When you have opened your account, you can contact Kim O’Malley and she will be happy to send your monthly contribution in for you.

Speaking with an investment advisor and/or your CPA can help you in choosing the best plan for you and your family. There are more options available to you than ever before. Please do not delay. Adding retirement investing to your monthly budget means preparing for your family’s future. Kim O’Malley is now a certified Master Financial Coach and is available to assist our missionaries with this topic.

Registering Your Ministry

If your ministry has been chartered and established as a non-profit organization, we recommend getting a bank account in its name and then going through the process of registering it as a Foreign Non-Profit Organization with our CPA. This process takes several months and costs around $400. The purpose is to show that your ministry meets IRS standards to be considered a public rather than a private charity. With this status, funds for purchases such as land may be able to be sent directly to your ministry, thus eliminating your personal tax liability. Please note that there are limitations to this option. If you are planning to raise funds for the purchase of land or buildings, it would be advantageous to have this step in place before funds arrive in our office for such a project. Please contact our office for more information.

Uplift Podcast

The following recordings were recently published on uplift.wwntbm.com. You may access the site by entering the username: wwntbm and the password: gospel. These recordings for our missions family contain the Uplift calls in their entirety, including prayer requests and challenges to our missionaries. We hope they will encourage your heart.

Health and Fitness on the Road and Field by Josh Wagar

A Great Door by Mike Norris

10 Thoughts on the Life of a Missionary by Rick Osborn

Commitment by Josh Wagar