Special Bulletin from Mike

Since 2008 I have served as Africa Area Director.  This role involves supervising missionaries, overseeing the development of the Free Methodist Church where it is yet to reach annual conference status, arranging for and delivering training, and, guiding any partnership ministry we may engage in with Free Methodist Churches that are not under the supervision of FMC-USA (i.e. general conferences like Rwanda).
 
The costs of travel, lodging, seminars, and office are paid from the Area Office budget.  This budget has been funded by standard contributions assessed from each of the area budgets; 63% comes from missionary support budgets and 37% from country support budgets.  Over the last few years, several missionaries have ended their service in Africa.  This has gradually but significantly reduced the supply of funding for the Area Office.  In order to maintain the work of supervising, training and guiding, I am seeking partners who will make some sort of commitment of support to the Area Office.
 
For 2017 I am looking for $5750.  To give you a clear picture of the 2017 funding for the Area Office, the total budget is $30,500.  The amount that will come from missionary support budgets is $12,500.  And from country support budgets, $12,250.  I would like to invite you to partner with me by committing to a monthly or annual contribution of any size.  I am very confident that with able partners, $5750 can be found to complete the Area Office budget and keep the work that I do as Area Director rolling along.
 
For your interest, here are the broad categories of the Area Office budget:
    $18,120.00      Supervisory travel and two US trips
        6410.00      Supervisory travel by West Africa Assistant
        4220.00      Assistant stipends (West Africa and Nairobi office)
          400.00      Membercare
        1350.00      Office (single largest item is phone)
   $30,500.00
 
I will be grateful for any part you can take in this enterprise.  If you are able, please make a commitment of support just as you would make a commitment of support to a Missionary Support Account or Country Support Account.  You can set this up over the phone by calling Pam Sheads at 317-244-3660, or online at https://give.fmcusa.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=380 .  
 
Feel free to send any questions my way and I will be glad to answer.
 
Blessings, Mike