From the Memo Board – Page 2 – Headquarter Happenings

March 5, 2024March 6, 2024

From the Memo Board: March 2024

Important Dates to Know

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

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

March 29 – The Office will be closed in celebration of the Resurrection.

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

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

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

New Guidelines on Business Meals

US Missionaries are able to claim the cost of business meals related to ministry on their financial reports. This includes instances such as taking a pastor out to discuss your ministry, or counseling with an individual. Please note that the IRS requires you to record the name of the individual(s) and the purpose of the meal in order to establish the ministry purpose of the expense. Please be sure to include this information when completing your Monthly Financial Report.

Meal expenses related to travel may only be listed on the financial reports as a Meal Per-Diem. Missionaries may not claim as an expense the actual cost for meals or snacks purchased when away from home for ministry.

Business meals should not be claimed on the same day that you claim a Meal Per-Diem.

If you have any questions, please contact our office staff.

New Guidelines on Business Gifts

The IRS has updated their guidelines concerning the ability to claim the cost of business gifts. Per the IRS Publication, “You can deduct no more than $25 for business gifts you give directly or indirectly to each person during your tax year.” US Missionaries are able to claim the costs of ministry expenses that are normal and reasonable in the local culture for the establishment of the ministry. However, our CPA has indicated that it is unclear whether the IRS would allow a cultural exception to allow business gift expenses greater than $25 to one individual in the course of the year. As in other cases where there may be individual exceptions to overall guidelines, we would defer questions regarding the deductibility of specific gifts over $25 in value to your personal tax preparer.

Reminders about Receipts

Receipts must be submitted for all ministry expenses on your reports that are equal to USD $75 or more. According to the IRS, “A canceled check, together with a bill from the payee, ordinarily establishes the cost. However, a canceled check by itself doesn’t prove a business expense without other evidence.” Based on this, we do not accept cancelled checks in lieu of receipts. Credit card statements are also not preferred. Although they show date and cost, they typically do not show what was purchased or the business purpose of the expense.

Please be sure that all receipts submitted with your report include the entire receipt or invoice for the item(s). The purpose of a receipt is the outside verification of the expense. Therefore, you should never receipt yourself. Receipts should be obtained at the time the expense occurs.

Upcoming Changes in Tax Laws

We have learned of changes in tax law that may affect some of our missionaries within the next few years. We are providing this information so you can be aware and so that you can contact your tax preparer if you have questions on any of these topics.

Possible tax savings for US citizens living abroad

A recent court ruling pertaining to the interpretation of foreign tax credits and tax treaties has opened opportunities for US citizens living abroad to take advantage of certain tax savings. This particularly applies to those with non-US investments and real estate. This change provides the opportunity to claim foreign tax credits going back as far as 10 years, by filing an amended return. Click here to learn more.

Increase in individual tax rates

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in 2017 reduced individual tax rates. This law is currently set to expire in December of 2025. If that does happen, individual rates would increase and revert back to the 2017 rates. You may want to take steps now to prepare for this. Click here to learn more.

Personal IRS accounts

The IRS offers personal online accounts that allow you access to information related to your own tax filings including balance, payments, tax records, and more. Click here for further information.

Family Fellowship Week

Family Fellowship Week is about coming together as a missions family to fellowship around the Word of God and with each other. The week is also an opportunity to be reminded of our heritage and of the truths we hold dear. Our theme for Family Fellowship Week 2024 is Truth! Truth is everything. Truth is our Creed. Truth is our Calling. Truth is our Character. Truth is our Conduct. Truth is our Consolation. Truth is our Conviction.

Please pray with us that those attending will be encouraged and strengthened to walk in Truth in their lives and ministries.

Uplift Podcast

How Close Are You? by David Fulp

Remembering to Make Him Known by Jeremy Lockhart

Valleys in the Life of a Believer – Part 1 by Gene Krachenfels

Valleys in the Life of a Believer – Part 2 by Gene Krachenfels

February 5, 2024February 5, 2024

From the Memo Board: February 2024

Dates to Know

February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2023 tax year are available on Secure Cloud.

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

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

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

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

New Excel Templates for Financial Reports

A new Excel template for the year 2024 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 2023 template. However, starting with the February report please be sure to use the new template.

Financial Status Report

We have uploaded a Financial Status Report to your SecureCloud account, showing figures for the fourth quarter of 2023. 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.

Benefits of Financial Reports for US Citizens

The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that US Citizen 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 2023, 73% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 23.67%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.

IRS Information For the 2023 Tax Season

The IRS has issued several notices about this year’s tax season. Please click here to view the information from the IRS.

We encourage all missionaries who are subject to US Taxes to contact your tax preparer and begin the filing process as soon as possible.

Preparing and Filing Taxes for US Missionaries

Please note that, while our Office Staff is familiar with many of the IRS regulations that affect missionaries, we are not authorities on the subject. We will attempt to assist our missionaries in any way possible; however, questions that are beyond the scope of your mission’s status are best directed to a tax professional.

We will provide you with the following information at the end of January. Please watch for emails in the coming days with details on how and when this will be distributed. You may wish to submit this to your tax preparer:

- - A copy of your 1099
  - A year-to-date Summary of the MFR information that you have submitted to the Office. This can be especially helpful if you have completed Categories 17-22, as many of those categories can affect your personal taxes. This will show your Personal Earnings Calculations for the year, as well as Housing Allowance information and details of estimated taxes we may have submitted for you during the year. There may also be notices on this document specifically for you and your tax preparer about any situations we are aware of that may impact your tax filing.

You should also provide your tax preparer with the following:

- - List of the dates that you were in the US vs. out of the country during the year.
  - Details of any Housing Expenses, to be used in addition to the Approved Housing Allowance for completing Worksheet 1 of IRS Publication 517.
  - Information on any retirement plans that you may have contributed to during the year, or that you have received a distribution from during the year.
  - Names and Social Security Numbers of all family members.
  - Names and dates of any family births or deaths (children and spouses), as well as whether you were married during the year.
  - 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 or more at any time during the year, you should fill out a TD-F90-22.1 Form. Further information is available on the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
  - You may also need to complete Form 8938, which deals with foreign assets.
  - If you participated in the Healthcare Marketplace, you will need to provide your tax preparer with Form 1095-A.

Request Your Absentee Ballot

Did you know that many U.S. federal elections for the House of Representatives and Senate have been decided by a margin smaller than the number of ballots cast by absentee voters? Click here to register for a Federal Post Card Application for an absentee ballot. Submitting the FPCA allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives) including primaries and special elections during the calendar year in which it is submitted. All local election officials in all U.S. states and territories accept the FPCA.

Graphics, Website, and Social Media Design Services

Josiah Hill is a student at Ambassador Baptist College with a desire to help Baptist churches and ministries in graphic design, website design, and social media. His rates are $15/hour, plus additional set fees depending on the project. For information, you may contact him at [email protected].

Uplift

Three Remembrances in the Race by Fred Daniel

Encouragement in the Lord’s Work by Mike Renfrow

December 28, 2023December 28, 2023

From the Memo Board: January 2024

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

January 12 – All Missionaries (except those on an R-1 Visa) will receive their final December support on this day, regardless of the day they normally receive support.

January 15 – Missionaries on an R-1 Visa will receive their deposit(s) as usual.

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.

January 29 – Those who normally receive funds on the 29th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.

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

February 5 – those who normally receive funds on the 5th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.

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

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.

New Excel Template for US Missionaries

A new Excel template for the year 2024 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 2023 template. However, starting with the February report please be sure to use the new template.

New Mileage Rate

Beginning on January 1st, the IRS mileage rate has increased to $0.670 per mile for business/ministry miles. This change will be reflected in the new Excel template for 2024 which will be available on February 15.

Family Fellowship Week

Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited about the new location and hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 8, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.

If you have not yet contacted us to reserve your spot please do so ASAP by clicking here. Your final plans regarding attendance for you and any guests need to be communicated to our office by February 1, 2024. Changes made after this date will affect our contract billing with the retreat center. Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Baby

Dastan Eliel Ortiz was born on December 5 to Rolando and Hannah Ortiz, who minister in Mexico. He joins older siblings Amelia (9), Viana (8), Amadeo (5), Selicia (3), and Tirza (1). Dastan is also the grandson of Fred Jr. and Beth Daniel.

December Graduates

Morgan Dickens graduated with a degree in Theology from the institute in Brazil. Morgan was recently appointed as an associate missionary with World Wide, and has already begun an internship with a missionary in Brazil. Morgan is the son of our missionaries, Joel and Cynthia Dickens.

Bryce Gilliam graduated from High School. He has enrolled in the university in Australia, where he will study dentistry. Bryce is the son of our missionaries, Kelly and Becca Gilliam.

Uplift Podcast

The Greatness of God – His Immortality and Offer of Eternal Life by Allen Mercer

Jesus Our Example, Part 1 by Jeremy Lockhart

Jesus Our Example, Part 2 by Jeremy Lockhart

Jesus Our Example, Part 3 by Jeremy Lockhart

November 27, 2023December 28, 2023

From the Memo Board: December 2023

Dates to Know

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 10 – Those who normally receive funds on the 10th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.

December 15 – Missionaries on an R-1 Visa will receive their deposit(s) as usual.

December 15 – Please contact us by this date via Signal if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or if you will need a deposit between Christmas and the end of the year. This allows us time to schedule your deposit around bank holidays and the office being closed.

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 (except those on an R-1 Visa) will receive they final December support on this day, regardless of the day they normally receive support.

January 15 – Missionaries on an R-1 Visa will receive their deposit(s) as usual.

January 29 – Those who normally receive funds on the 29th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.

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

February 5 – those who normally receive funds on the 5th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.

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

Special Support Dates

Due to the holidays, and to allow sufficient time for year-end contributions and necessary tax procedures, coming support days will be adjusted. We have taken proactive steps to assist you, should you have a need. Please note that all regular deposit dates after December 15 will be adjusted. Please refer to the dates above for special support dates.

Please note that 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 gives us several days to process month-end items in preparation for a 29th or 5th Deposit. However, due to year-end receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December. We are unable to close the books for December until January 10, to allow time for donations postmarked in 2023 to arrive in our office. As a result, we do not have final December income totals until January, and without those totals, we are unable to make the regular support deposits for December 29, January 5, or January 10. Therefore, all missionaries (except those on an R-1 visa) will receive their final December support on January 12, regardless of what day they normally receive funds. This deposit will likely be higher than normal. However, this means that deposits at the end of January will likely 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.

Uplift Podcast

The Greatness of God – His Eternality by Allen Mercer

The Greatness of God – His Self-Existence by Allen Mercer

The Greatness of God – His Sovereignty by Allen Mercer

The Greatness of God – His Omnipresence and Omniscience by Allen Mercer

The Greatness of God – His Omnipotence by Allen Mercer

October 25, 2023November 1, 2023

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.

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

September 29, 2023October 2, 2023

From the Memo Board: October 2023

Dates to Know

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

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

October 9 – Most US banks will be closed for Columbus Day.