I do applaud Pastor Wallace’s three points that would help immediately. The first point “Pastors, only bring missionaries to your church if you have the ability and intent to take them on for monthly support.” This is one of my biggest complaints with a few pastors. In 2008, I took a short three month trip back to the States to raise additional support. I called several churches in one particular area the country to present my ministry and raise some additional support. During my first contact with pastors I explained that the American dollar had dropped dramatically in value and I needed to raise some additional support to offset the loss in value (the dollar had dropped 40% in value during this time). I was a little surprised by the aloof attitude by many pastors during these phone calls. I know many missionaries are calling them and it is time consuming, but the business of the church is evangelistic outreach. After arranging approximately 20 meetings in three months I was very disappointed that several of these meetings were pulpit supply. The pastor was going on vacation and I was the guest speaker. Churches seldom support missionaries without the pastor’s recommendation. The pastors don’t recommend missionaries unless they have met them and hear their presentation. My wife and I felt used many times during these three months. I even had one large church take an offering at the beginning of the service, send me to a particular hotel and restaurant with the premise I pay up front and my love offering and reimbursement would be sent. I made two follow up calls to the church asking about the check and was informed it would go in the mail. I am still waiting for the check. Please understand the majority of pastors are kind and generous toward us missionary. I can understand the frustration of those missionaries who are on deputation today, but deputation is a purifying process that weeds out those who will probably not make it on the mission field.

The second point, “Pastors, focus on quality, not on quantity. If you could either support 100 missionaries at $25 per month or 25 missionaries at $100 per month…” I appreciate the concept that if one church has to drop support of a missionary for $50 he will not come home to raise more support. I believe this is a good concept that works. The problem is $50 support has been a standard since the 1970s. The typical missionary needed 30 to 40 churches supporting them at that time. Based upon inflation this number should be $150 to $200 a month. This would put the missionary support base around 30 to 40 churches again. I would also like to point out the missionary can spend time with 30 supporting churches on his year furlough. A church that supports many missionaries at $50 will never become familiar with individual missionaries, this is sad. I would also like to point out my VW Passat (economy car) costs $110.00 to fill the tank. I think most churches are worthy of supporting for more than a half a tank of fuel a month.

The third point, “Pastors, sometimes you can be too independent for your own good. Let’s be willing to work together to get missionaries to the field.” This is one of the difficult realities in the Independent Baptist movement. Many pastors have certain issues or loyalties which are their driving force in determining what missionaries they may support. I have found in my home state at least four distinct Independent Baptist movements that have a tendency to support those within their movement. Pastors within those movements may or may not have a missionary come if they are KJV or non-KJV, Calvinist or non-Calvinist. This is one of the major problems missionaries face on deputation and the reason it takes so long to get to the field.

I appreciate Pastor Wallace’s concern for missions and suggestions. I may not agree with all of his recommendations, but I applaud him because he wants to change the status quo. I believe two things need to happen in the Independent Baptist movement. First, we need a better screening process to reduce the drop out ratio of missionaries starting on deputation. Second, pastors need a better understand of the difficulties and problems missionaries face. A primary attribute of the church is evangelism. I do believe when the church’s mission program is an inconvenience the cause of Christ is hurt.

In closing, I have many wonderful supporting pastors that I am grateful for with their sacrificial prayers and giving. I also want to say a $50 love offering is sacrificial coming from a church that is struggling. I appreciate many small churches who have consistently given when they are facing financial challenges but never forgot their commitment to their missionaries.