Is this typical for todays missionaries?

First I must say you can't judge numbers(church planted) and income support. I work with a mission organization founded by one man supported by I guess well over 200 churches and indivduals. They do have a 12 person board with several pastors and other godly Christians. They have planted only one church in 8 years. However they send out over 2000+ bible lesson a month to Amish people who are forbid from bible study and also beleiving in salvation in Jesus because to claim so would be prideful.

Just in 2007 they spend $39,511 for postage, the lessons, and prizes. That is $40K right there not to mention another newspaper-witnessing tool going by monthly costing a least another $40K. They have 149 testimony letters this year from people who accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior from the studies. That is less about $265 per person average to have one person saved. Great but the question would be would it be worth $40 to have one saved? YES I hope you feel this way!

Also in terms of land, and planes. I don't know this man to know if he is wasting money or not but you must find out how he got those things and the farm. I live in Kentucky but grew up in Toronto, Canada and for you to buy a box and the land on the box it would cost half a million dollars. Do I have a problem with Pastors, or Missionaries, or Church planter owning million dollar homes there? No because that what it cost for a home.

I would say go and talk to him and tell him what you feel and see if he will tell you the truth. I would not have a problem answering the question if I had 3 planes on why I have them. The founder/ missionary lives in a gourgous large home on 3 acres and I that the same thing orignally as you did. I asked him how much did this house cost. He told me and explained it was cheaper for him to build the brand new how then buy an older one half as nice. Him and His brother who is in construction build the whole house. People donated the skills or thing to provide this house for his family.

My Dad went to bible college with Benny Hinn and my uncle in laws family adopted him as a boy. Do they think he is going over board? Yes but my Dad always says.. One day he will have to give an account to the Lord.

In closing I would be more worried about how much time he spents working then the number of churches. The mission organization I am looking to work for the missionaries work close to 60+ hours a week. The effort is what counts and the result are God's.

I hope this is not taken the wrong way as I don't want to offend only offer my opinion. Thanks for reading

 

Folks, just a slight correction here to a couple of comments that have been made. All IFB missionaries have a sending agency--that is, an organization or entity that takes legal responsibility for the missionary. Usually it is a mission board, but often it is the missionary's home church. We missionaries who are under a board still have a "sending church," but that church essentially has hired a mission board to represent them legally and handle the missionary's funds.

In any case, among us IFBs it is the job of the sending agency to moniter the missionary's funds and spending--but not their private property and usually not their ministry as long as it is in line with the principles and policies of the board. (Boards with field councils, such as ABWE and BMM, sometimes do interfere with the ministry also.)

In cases when the local church is the sending agency, often the church does not take full responsibility for monitoring the finanances of the missionary. That may be happening in this case, in which case the sending agency--his home church--has fallen down on the job.

 

Due to the nature of the OP of this thread, this thread will be closed.

We as Christians have a biblical mandate to go to our offending brothers to resolve our issues. Until that happens, there is no point of this thread.