How much thought does your church give to its international budget? I trust you know how important the question is. After all, you’re stewarding financial resources entrusted to you by God.
Having served as a missionary in Central Asia for a decade, I have often seen Western churches give to missions work with the best of intentions, yet not always be as careful as they should be in how to give. And they end up hurting the very ones they mean to serve.
Whether it’s your own personal giving or your church’s giving, I encourage you to consider these seven principles before you send money overseas:
1. Give Through Trusted, Long-Term Ministry Partners on the Ground.
It’s important to avoid blindly giving to people or organizations overseas without knowing their character and mission well. Consult and involve long-term missionaries on the ground when giving internationally.
I have seen pastors in Los Angeles send money to believers they have never met in our Central Asian country for “outreach projects.” During one such project, the local pastor used part of the money given to him to buy his son a car. When a church member confronted him about this, he responded, “I’ll
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