Q: Why are you non-denominational?
A: We are not opposed to denominations. Each of the board members is active in a denominational church. But we want the freedom to work with any African partners that have historic Christian beliefs and purposes.
Q: Could I visit Sharing the Mission headquarters?
A: At present, we work out of our homes, so there is no place to visit. But if you find yourself in the Bellingham, WA area and would like to meet with one of us, we would be happy to join you at one of our local coffee houses. Just let us know using our contact form.
Q: Do you have anyone that could come to speak at my church or group?
A: We would be happy to do a presentation for your church or group. Please contact us using our contact form and we will make arrangements.
West Africa is in need of special attention at this time for several reasons: (1) Persecution, (2) Poverty, (3) Opportunity, (4) It's What Christians Do
From the beginning, the followers of Jesus were noted for their sharing, their koinonia: “All who believed were together and held everything in common, and they began selling their property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.”[1] Later it was noted that there were no needy among them.[2] In this they were pointing to the new Kingdom of Jesus, the just King who would ensure that all would be cared for and satisfied.[3] A century or more later, this remarkable Christ-like sharing among local believers continued. In the Epistle to Diognetus, the author notes that Christians “share their meals, but not their wives,” they may “live in poverty, but enrich many” and may be “totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything” and also that they “flourish under persecution.”[4] This would not have been possible without radical sharing among believers. Tertullian describes the trust fund that “everyone contributed to” weekly or monthly to “feed the poor and bury them, for boys and girls who lack property and parents . . .”[5] The Didache [6] also expresses the same principle: “You shall not turn away from someone in need, but shall share everything with your brother, and not claim that anything is your own. For if you are sharers in what is imperishable, how much more so in perishable things.” We can find examples of radical sharing throughout church history, and it continues to this day especially among those in the world who have very little to share. Our willingness to seriously consider our responsibility to address the needs of our brothers and sisters is one important way we make the Kingdom of Jesus plausible to the world. It is part of how we communicate the Good News of Jesus’ reign.
Paul clarifies that the goal is not for the giver to become poor so that the receiver can become rich, but so that everyone would have enough.[7] This is not about private property and communal living, but rather about loving what Jesus loves, as he says “when you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.”[8]
So our primary sharing partners are the brothers and sisters we meet day by day, but as Paul demonstrates, we should also consider those who are far off. Paul put considerable effort into collecting donations for the poor believers in Jerusalem from believers as far away as Rome, Macedonia and Corinth. These were days or weeks long journeys, and ethnically very different areas. These were mostly Gentiles raising money for Jews who they would never meet.[9] This sort of distant, cross-ethnic giving was not immediately understood by all early believers, although some, like the Macedonians eagerly participated.[10] As David Downs notes, the reluctance of the Corinthians to contribute to the poor of Jerusalem may “have arisen out of their inability to understand why they were obligated to financially support a people so geographically distant and ethnically different from their own.” [11] Giving in this more distant way, was apparently for Paul an act of worship, a response to God’s grace and provision. But not “just” an act of worship, but one that is vital, as he urges his Gentile “brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf” so that he would be able to deliver the gift to those in need in Jerusalem.[12]
So what does this have to do with West Africa? On the one hand, there is both a great deal of poverty and a great deal of persecution among our brothers and sisters in West Africa, and Nigeria in particular. Nigeria has seen the largest number of Christian martyrs of any country in the world for several years running. Its standard of living is worse than any country in the Americas and most of the rest of the world, yet it is still a bit better than the other West African countries.[13] So we have poverty and persecution on the one hand, and on the other, we have brave African missionaries who are striving to point to Jesus with the minimal support that local churches can provide and the “tent making” that they themselves can do to put food on their tables. Surely, as we live in the abundance of the United States, we have a Christian obligation to help in some way.
Finally, it is clear in scripture that God is glorified when we love well what God himself loves. It is also clear that maturity of our faith comes through disciplines such as sharing. The Kingdom can become more visible both there and here, more believable both there and here, when we seriously share. The love of God can bring diverse believers together which can make it tangible to those who haven’t seen it before, both there and here. And as we develop relationships with those who are far off in Africa, as we hear and retell each other’s stories of God’s faithfulness, as we share in the global mission of proclaiming the Kingdom and the Way of Jesus, we truly become partners in the mission not only in Africa, but also here in America where we live. The money may be flowing one direction, as Paul says, “at the present time, your abundance will meet their need,” but as with the Jerusalem church, there is much of spiritual value to come back the other way from our mature and tested African brothers and sisters. “One day their abundance may also meet your need.”[14] It is true that we have funds that are needed in Africa now, but it is also true that they have spiritual insights and gifts that we need now in America.
[1] 2 Corinthians 8:1-6
[2] Joshua Jipp reviewing The Offering of the Gentiles by David Downs
[3] Romans 15:30-31
[4] By any accepted measure, West Africa is in need, with the possible exception of Ghana. Consider for instance, the United Nations Human Development Index or the World Bank’s Multidimensional Poverty Measure
[5] 2 Corinthians 9:14
[6] Acts 2:44-45 NET
[7] Acts 4:34
[8] Matthew 12:18-21, Isaiah 25:4-6, 32:15-20, Revelation 7:16-17,
[9] Epistle to Diognetus Chapter 5
[10] Helen Rhee Loving the Poor, Saving the Rich: Wealth, Poverty, and Early Christian Formation p.107
[11] Didache 4:8
[12] 2 Corinthians 8:13
[13] Matthew 25:34-40
[14] Romans 15:25
Q: Why do you "follow the lead" of your African partners?
A: Our partners are mature and tested followers of Christ with far more experience in their setting than we will ever have. To do anything other than follow their lead would be both arrogant and ignorant on our part. Our decision making comes into play when we have to consider alignment with our own STM mission and our ability to communicate the opportunities for sharing. We only approve grants that are in line with our STM mission and that we believe we can find donors to support.
Q: How do you avoid the problems of past missionary and aid efforts in the developing world?
A: Mistakes will always be made in any human endeavor and we want to instead honor the great good that has been done through past evangelistic efforts throughout the world. Much of Africa honors the name of Jesus as a result of these past efforts. In our own time and context, we believe that supporting efforts that are already also being supported by African believers is a good way to avoid both paternalism and dependency. We believe that doing the hard work to understand and honor each other across cultural differences is also important. Finally, we believe that the partnerships we create can be two-way streets, because our experience is that in sharing a common mission to share the good news both in West Africa and in North America, we can find some of what may be lacking on both sides of the partnership. Our prayers for each other are effective.
Q: Are my donations tax deductible?
A: Sharing the Mission is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity as determined by the IRS. Our EIN is 93-4485433. Contributions are tax deductible as determined by appropriate tax law. Consult a tax advisor if you have questions about the deductibility of your contribution.
Q: Are there other ways to donate besides the website? Can I send you a check?
A: Absolutely. Here are the other options:
Q: Will you ever use my donation for something other than what I specify?
A: Contributions are accepted with the understanding that Sharing the Mission has complete discretion and control over the use of all donations. Our desire is to use your donations to meet the obligations of the grants we have approved. In the unlikely event that the board of directors of Sharing the Mission (STM) determines that an approved grant is no longer in line with our stated purposes, we will instead direct collected funds to a similar grant as determined by the STM Board of Directors, according to approved policy. We will make a good faith effort to notify the donor of this change as soon as it is possible for us to do so.
Q: Are other people supporting the same missionary as I am?
A: You are the only overseas donor that provides regular support to the missionary you are supporting. The missionary does not anticipate getting significant support from anyone else, besides their African supporters. Your support can represent up to half of their monthly budget, although this can fluctuate significantly with relative economies and exchange rates.
Q: Can I pick which missionary I want to support?
A: We will communicate with you prior to assigning a missionary to you to see if you have any particular areas of interest. We will take that into consideration when we assign you a missionary, but we will not give you a selection to choose from.
Q: How do I communicate with the missionary I am supporting?
A: During the first month of your support, we will send you contact information, photos and some background about the missionary you are supporting. Most commonly communication happens via text over WhatsApp, but there are other options. We will also send you a set of communication guidelines to help you get up and running. We want you to have a good experience as you get to know the missionary you are supporting.
Q: Will the missionary speak English?
A: All of the missionaries that we assign to donors speak English. It may be their second language and they may know several languages, but they will be comfortable communicating in English. We do have some missionaries who are most proficient in French, so if you would prefer to communicate in French, please let us know.
Q: Can I pay a full year of support all at once?
A: Yes, that is your choice. But we find that when people send support monthly, they make a stronger connection with the missionary they are supporting. Regardless of whether you pay monthly or the whole year at once, the missionary will get a monthly disbursement of $60.
Q: Are my donations tax deductible?
A: Sharing the Mission is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity as determined by the IRS. Our EIN is 93-4485433. Contributions are tax deductible as determined by appropriate tax law. Consult a tax advisor if you have questions about the deductibility of your contribution.
Q: Are there other ways to donate besides the website? Can I send you a check?
A: Absolutely. Here are the other options:
Q: Will you ever use my donation for something other than what I specify?
A: Contributions are accepted with the understanding that Sharing the Mission has complete discretion and control over the use of all donations. Our desire is to use your donations to meet the obligations of the grants we have approved. In the unlikely event that the board of directors of Sharing the Mission (STM) determines that an approved grant is no longer in line with our stated purposes, we will instead direct collected funds to a similar grant as determined by the STM Board of Directors, according to approved policy. We will make a good faith effort to notify the donor of this change as soon as it is possible for us to do so.
Q: Are other people supporting the same orphan as I am?
A: No. You are the only overseas donor that provides regular support to the child you are supporting. There may be needs that your support does not cover, for instance a medical situation, and these will be handled by the mission organization that oversees the care of the child.
Q: Can I pick which child I want to support?
A: We will communicate with you prior to assigning an child to see if you have specific interests that we can accommodate, but we will not let you pick from a selection.
Q: How do I communicate with the child I am supporting?
A: During your first month of support, we will send you communication guidelines, photos and some background about the child you are supporting. Twice a year we will provide a way to exchange brief greetings between you.
Q: Will the child speak English?
A: Children will be learning English in school, but their capacity may vary with age and the amount of schooling they have had.
Q: Can I pay a full year of support all at once?
A: Yes, that is your choice. But we find that when people send support monthly, they are more likely to remember to pray for the child they are supporting and take a greater interest in the outreach efforts in West Africa. Regardless of whether you pay monthly or the whole year at once, the organization will get a monthly disbursement of $30 for support of the child.
Q: Are my donations tax deductible?
A: Sharing the Mission is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity as determined by the IRS. Our EIN is 93-4485433. Contributions are tax deductible as determined by appropriate tax law. Consult a tax advisor if you have questions about the deductibility of your contribution.
Q: Are there other ways to donate besides the website? Can I send you a check?
A: Absolutely. Here's how:
Q: Will you ever use my donation for something other than what I specify?
A: Contributions are accepted with the understanding that Sharing the Mission has complete discretion and control over the use of all donations. Our desire is to use your donations to meet the obligations of the grants we have approved. In the unlikely event that the board of directors of Sharing the Mission (STM) determines that an approved grant is no longer in line with our stated purposes, we will instead direct collected funds to a similar grant as determined by the STM Board of Directors, according to approved policy. We will make a good faith effort to notify the donor of this change as soon as it is possible for us to do so.
Q: How much of my donation goes to the missionary or outreach?
A: Because we have core donors who are covering our operational and transfer costs, we have been able to send 100% of donations made directly to the intended purpose in West Africa. There are things that are beyond our control that happen once the funds arrive, like fluctuations in currency exchange rates and inflation that affect the real value of the funds day to day, but as far as it is up to us, if someone donates $100 to a missionary or project, we put $100 or the local currency equivalent of $100 on the ground in West Africa.
Q: How do you decide what projects and missionaries to support?
A1: Our partner organizations vet proposals from missionaries that are in good standing within their organizations. They know that we can only support a limited number, so they only send us the most needed grant proposals. In turn, the STM board reviews the proposals and prayerfully decides which of them we will select and offer to our donors. In some cases, we feel so strongly about a proposal that we begin supporting it even before we have donors.
A2: Regarding Outreach Project proposals, the leaders of partner organizations prioritize a couple of areas that they could use additional support to reach their goals, and submit corresponding grant proposals to STM. Again, our board prayerfully considers these to determine which we believe we can support and find donors to fund.
Q: Can I trust the organizations and individuals that are receiving the grants I am funding? I don't want to support a "Nigerian Prince."
A: Trust is essential for most non-profit work, and Sharing the Mission is no exception. We have met personally with nearly all of our partners in West Africa; we have confirmed their reputation and work with trusted 3rd parties who know them, and have researched their work and organizations using literature and news sources local to the region. We will continue to make periodic site visits, but in the mean time, we require and receive signed receipts and photographic evidence to verify that funds are being used as intended.
Q: How do you safely get funds to West Africa?
A: We use standard wire transfers with local US banks or international transfer services, depending on the situation and fees. The money is transferred from our stateside bank account to the account of our partners in West Africa. Because of the ever changing financial situation and laws in that region of Africa, we pay close attention to reliable sources of economic information for that area.
Q: What would you do with a "no strings" donation?
A: By "no strings" we mean that the funds are not designated for a specific project or missionary. We will still use those funds for STM purposes, but a "no strings" donation allows us much more flexibility. We may need to use the funds to make up the shortfall if donors are unable to continue with there commitments, or we may want to meet needs that are more immediate than we could raise funds for.
Q: How can I stay informed about the project or missionary that I support?
A: At the time of your initial donation we will send you an email explaining your options:
In all cases, the information we communicate via these supporter channels will be more detailed and specific than we can safely share on the STM website or in the STM Newsletter.
Q: What if I no longer want to receive updates?
A: You can easily opt out of emails and WhatsApp group at any time. If you need assistance with that, please let us know.
Q: Is there a way for me to use any of the photos from the STM Website?
A: If you wish to use a photo you MAY be able to license it from the photographer. Please contact us and we can talk about specific photos or needs and see if it is possible.
Q: Do you have any additional photos or media from the missionaries or projects in West Africa?
A: Yes, we have many photos and videos that are not currently displayed on our site. If you have need of current African photographs, we can put you in contact with the photographer in Africa that we use. If you are interested in promoting STM, we can assemble a media package for your use.
Photos & Video: ©Azigbo Dafe Samuel, ©AMEN, or ©Sharing the Mission - all used by permission. More info.