What Is the World Evangelism Fund?

The World Evangelism Fund is the cooperative genius of the mission enterprise of the Church of the Nazarene. It is based on the concept that we can do more working together than could ever be done working alone.

Why do we have World Evangelism Fund?

Missions in the Church of the Nazarene is a large enterprise. To accomplish the Great Commission—spreading the gospel and the message of holiness around the world—requires money.

In "faith" missions, missionaries must spend valuable time raising financial support. They conduct services, take offerings, receive pledges of support, and then pray the amount raised covers living expenses. Sometimes if the money runs out, missionaries are forced to return home and begin the process again.

In this type of support, churches do not always share equally in the mission work. Larger churches are sometimes visited by more missionaries than they could possibly help, while some smaller churches are overlooked.

The World Evangelism Fund was created to allow missionaries to work more effectively and to encourage all churches to support missions.

How does the World Evangelism Fund work?

Full-time missionaries (excluding volunteers) in the Church of the Nazarene are employed by the World Mission Department. Each missionary receives a monthly paycheck based on a standard amount plus a cost-of-living adjustment.

Missionaries also receive medical insurance (see Missionary Health Care), a pension provision, and other items (such as housing and travel costs).

The World Evangelism Fund comes from Nazarene churches around the world. Each church is challenged to give an amount based on its income as its participation in the world mission enterprise. Approximately 75% of the World Evangelism Fund is used for world evangelization in one form or another. The remainder supports the structure of the system through such ministries as office administration, literature, and other resources.

How is the World Evangelism Fund collected?

Traditionally, it has been through two large offerings a year—the Thanksgivingand Easter offerings. Some churches continue to successfully raise their entire fund this way.

Faith Promiseis a plan based on giving at systematic intervals rather than just twice a year. Through Faith Promise, people pray about the amount they should give for missions (over and above their tithe). The amount is often given weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Over time, churches find they raise their mission support and often go over their goal through this giving plan.

The Benefits of the World Evangelism Fund

Missionaries—They receive a regular paycheck, freeing them from the added worry of raising finances. Missionaries still write letters and conduct deputation services to inform people of happenings in their field of service; however, such activities do not consume a large portion of their time on the mission field.

Churches—Regardless of size, each church has the opportunity to take part in the global mission endeavor. Also, just as individuals are blessed by God when they commit a portion of their resources for His kingdom, so churches are blessed when they allocate funds to help reach the lost around the world.

(information obtained from nazarenemissions.org