OPEN LETTER TO

CHRISTIAN BUSINESS PEOPLE

I believe God has given us our businesses as a means to change the course of human history! Our businesses are not an end in themselves but rather a means to this end?

ROI on Your Donation Investments

As stewards of each resource God has entrusted to each of us, I ask the following questions of myself and of you. As our businesses prosper and we are able to contribute to God's work, are we satisfied with the return on our business and personal donation programs? Do we know and can we measure what that return is? Are our funds being used effectively to advance the Kingdom? Have our donations impacted human history?

Missions Dynamic Shifts to 2/3rd's World

Did you know that 75% of all Christians now live in the 2/3rd's world and that 4 out of 5 new missionaries are being sent out from the 2/3rd's world. The Church there is growing explosively. I have visited one ministry in India that has seen 40,000 new baptized believers in the past 16 years. The dynamic of missions has transferred to indigenous ministries although we rarely hear this message in the West.

But here is the issue. While rich in manpower, the 2/3rd's world is not rich in currency with which to send forth their trained workers. Even though a 2/3rd's world indigenous missionary/ minister/ worker can live on 1/10th to 1/30th of that needed by a western cross-cultural missionary, still they do not have adequate funds. Now let me be clear! I am not against western missionaries. Historically the Church owes these self-sacrificing, dedicated saints the advancement of Christianity throughout the world. I would argue however that to perpetuate former western mission models today without reference to indigenous personnel, represents an unnecessary financial burden on the Church; an ineffective performance outcome; and a prejudice against God's ministry leaders in other countries. See Comparison of Missions Strategies Today.

Stewardship Accountability

As stewards of our businesses and donations, we are held accountable to God as to how we discharge our stewardship. Can we afford not to expect accountability and effectiveness for the funds that we and our churches invest in missions? I personally cannot support the situation I learned about at a mission conference, when a western missionary was sent out for four years at a cost of $50,000 per year (travel, schooling, etc.) to learn a language and church plant. He returned with 2 converts and no church plant. If we are serious about the great commission, we must make our financial decisions count for the Kingdom. Isn't this the lesson of the faithful servant who multiplied his talents and was commended by his master?

I want my finite missions donations to bear fruit. Many years ago, I discovered an organization that pioneered in partnering with ministries in the 2/3rd's world. They raise funds and prayer support in the West for these ministries and undertake to monitor activities on behalf of their donors without jeopardizing the partnering spirit. Each ministry must have its own Board of Directors to ensure accountability for the ministry and staff. They must also have a long-term goal of being self-supporting.

Partners International

This organization is called Partners International (PI). PI operates in more than 50 countries and has pioneered in partnering with strategic ministries for nearly 60 years. Throughout the Partner ministries supported today, a new believer is added every 13 minutes; and a new church is added every 15 hours. My family decided to support seminary students in Indonesia at the cost of $35.00 each per month - TOTAL COST! In 3 years each student must plant a new church with a minimum of 30 baptized believers in order to graduate. That's an investment of $1,260 over three years and a return of 30 believers, plus a fully trained Christian leader prepared for a lifetime of ministry.

Have you ever asked seriously what the return has been from the $150,000 invested over the last three years in that one missionary sent out from your church? Or is it $200,000 when you consider furlough? What about the return from the $100,000 of church resources he or she consumed for two years of language study? These are legitimate questions that too few churches and individuals are asking. Are you accountable in your business? Do you hold your employees accountable for performance? Was that missionary the instrument for the harvest of 3,500 souls over the last three years? ($150,000/$1,260 x 30 believers = 3,571 souls). Why should we settle for less than 3,500 conversions when we could invest the same funds with indigenous ministries and receive that level of return or even higher? Would you invest $150,000 in money market funds for possibly 6 to 10 dollars interest (souls) or 3,500 dollars interest (souls)?

As business people we understand return on investment. More importantly, God does and requires a return on His investment of His Son in us as stewards. We all will have to give an account.

If you would like to explore these ideas and investigate Partners International as a potential investment vehicle for a portion of your donation investments, please contact me or check out Partners International websites in Canada or the United States. I must declare that this open letter is written personally and is not sponsored by Partners International. If you take exception to my comments, I alone must bear your criticism.

Suggestions to Consider

Here are three suggestions to make your dollars count, to achieve maximum leverage and to earn a significant return on investment:

$100 per month (more or less) for Christian radio broadcasts in Northern India in Hindi language. Results on average per $1,200 invested include 168 written responses for more information (followed up by staff after which many become believers); 7 new believers write and confirm salvation; many other decisions made but no written correspondence - eternity will tell. Often, the ministry will select one of these new believers in a strategic area, and train them as a leader to return and build a church in their own village. A Church Planter can be supported fully at only $125 per month.
$120 per month (more or less) for the support of three seminary students in Indonesia. Results and returns previously discussed - minimum 90 new believers in three years and three church plants.
Double or triple your church's missions effectiveness - See Leverage Your Church Donation

Compassion

While a return on investment expectation is a biblical approach, I recognize that compassionate giving and care for widows, orphans, the defenseless, prisoners and so on, cannot be measured strictly in ROI terms. Reason must prevail. But I do suggest that a ROI model be a core feature of any donation program.

"Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." 1 Tim 6:18-19. Paul tells us further in Phil.4:17 that our participation in world missions (support for Paul in this instance) is credited by God to our account in heaven.

I rejoice in the fact that each year new believers are credited in part to my account as a result of my partnering with seminary students in Indonesia. Will you consider becoming a partner in this high return ministry?

Your comments are welcomed.

May God richly bless you

Paul G Uptigrove CA, MBA

President, Dalgrove Inc

President, Champion Lubricants Company

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