What Does Missions Cost?

AUGUST 13, 2024   |   3 MINUTE READ
DAN SEARLS, MISSIONARY & MOBILIZER

A common question when people are exploring missionary service is, “What will it cost?”

The easy answer is everything. John 12:24 (NIV) says, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Becoming a missionary will cost you everything!

You see, the Cross of Christ is not only the message we proclaim, but also the method by which the message must be proclaimed. We must die to self and embrace the cross, allowing it to do its work in our lives, before we can effectively proclaim the message of God’s great salvation for all who will repent and believe in God’s only Son, Jesus.  

Embracing the cross requires wounds…scars that you will carry with you into eternity. “Everything” looks small here in print.  I assure you “everything” is much bigger than you realize when you step onto the path to follow Jesus to the fields of harvest.

How much will you have to raise?

You will have to raise a lot, but once you understand the cost, this question really doesn’t matter.  I get it, Luke 14:28, count the costs and all that, but you aren’t the one footing the bill. Has God the Father ever looked at the Son and said, “I was hoping to send a missionary to (insert country) but realized we just don’t have the funds.  Sorry about that, maybe next year?”

World Gospel Mission is what some refer to as a “full-service mission.” WGM sees you as someone who is stepping into a career and wants to support you at that level, providing an adequate salary, retirement, education fund for your children, healthcare, and much more.

The general rule of thumb is start with $5,000 per person, per month. This covers your:

• salary
• tax allowance
• life insurance
• retirement
• medical insurance
• regional and headquarters team support
• contingency fund
• field general operation
• housing
• utilities, phone/internet
• ministry expenses
• prayer letters
• cost of living increase during term.

That $5,000 can grow quickly depending on cost of living in your field of service. Housing and utilities alone may grow your budget by $1,000–$2,000 if you live in Europe or Japan.

There is also a list of costs that are up front and need to be covered. These include:

• round trip airfare
• relocation allowance
• legal fees
• passport
• visa
• language school
• cross-cultural training
• computer equipment
• vehicle (if necessary).

All of this can easily add up to another $5,000 (or more) per person.

How will you do this?

Well, you have to raise these funds in the same way that Moses had to split the Red Sea or David had to kill Goliath. All Moses did was in obedience place his staff in the water.  Sure, David brought some skills to the fight, but we all know the One who won the battle. In obedience, David stepped onto that field of battle.

We’ve all thought how amazing it would be to stand in Moses’ place and put our staff in the water, watching the sea divide. What would it be like to be a disciple passing out bread and fish, bread and fish, bread and fish, bread and fish? Well, here is your chance. 

In obedience, you can answer God’s call on your life, embrace the path before you, and see the miracle of ministry funds coming in—truly realizing it is a work of God.

At WGM, we understand that fundraising can seem like a daunting task. That's why each long-term missionary is assigned a coach to help you in the fundraising process. Your coach will pray with you, train you, and walk alongside you as you seek ministry partners.

So what do you get?

What does it cost? 

Everything, a lot, and your obedience. 

What do you get when you pay this price?

You get Jesus, and He is bigger and better than “everything”!  You get the opportunity to obey and follow Jesus into all His goodness, wherever He leads. You get the joy of sharing Him with the world. You get the fruit of the Spirt. The list of what we gain in Christ is more than can be written in an article like this.

You get Jesus, and He is enough.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45

“So do not worry…your heavenly Father knows that you need…. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31, 33

ACTION STEPS:

PRAY & GO: Has God been speaking to you about going, but the costs seem too big? Surrender these financial worries to God and step into what He’s calling you to. At WGM, we’ll walk alongside you while you raise support! Remember, God is Jehovah Jireh and will provide when you step out in faith.

Check out our opportunities map to follow Him to the place He’s calling you!

Missionary Bio: Dan and Katy Beth Searls serve as missionary mobilizers with WGM. They are passionate about walking alongside the ones Jesus is calling to follow Him wherever He leads, even to the ends of the earth.