INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
Missionary Financial Support Models

The most frequently used Appointment Categories are Regular, Harvestime and Short-term. The Church Missionary recognition category is new. The Special Appointment Categories are used infrequently but may also be funded through the following financial support models. The following support models are intended to be used only by Open Bible missionaries under official appointment by the Department of International Ministries. The local church missionary appointment is not included.

The purpose of developing and defining new support models is to be relevant and sensitive to the contemporary church that seeks more personal involvement with the ministry, support and care of the missionary and provide churches a menu of options for involvement in the Great Commission. Further, it is hoped that by seeking partnerships with churches the department will be more effective in facilitating the release of laborers into the harvest and more effective in resourcing churches for the task of fulfilling the Great Commission.

It is expected that all churches identify, endorse and employ one or more of the financial support models. Churches that adopt a particular financial model other than World Evangelism are asked to additionally provide a measure of regular support to the World Evangelism program. The Department of International Ministries processes, appoints, oversees, provides covering, assumes responsibility and jurisdiction for all appointment categories with the exception of the Church Missionaries category regardless of the financial model adopted. 

World Evangelism 
World Evangelism is the primary support model used by most Open Bible churches. The Department of International Ministries receives fifty percent of the monthly receipts. The department appoints and sends missionaries as finance is available and provided through the World Evangelism program. Missionaries itinerate nationally as needed.

Sending Church
The Department of International Ministries partners with the local church in assisting them to becoming a sending church. The church identifies a missionary either from the church body or by adopting a missionary with the intent of providing spiritual and financial covering. The church commits to providing all or most of the financial support needed. The missionary’s appointment, ministry and field activities are directed by the Department of International Ministries. When the missionary is furloughing, the church assists with the spiritual nurture, care and physical needs of the missionary such as helping to locate housing while on furlough. Some itineration may be arranged as needed but only with the mutual consent of the sending church, the missionary and the Department. 

Individual Missionary Support
A church may choose to support one or more missionaries whose primary support is derived from other sources. The church supplements the missionary’s support on a regular and consistent basis. A substantial amount of support may be provided for one missionary or smaller amounts for several missionaries.

District Support
The missionary is adopted by a district or cluster of churches for purposes of spiritual and financial support. The missionary’s appointment and covering are provided through the Department of International Ministries. Itineration is primarily within the district though not necessarily limited to the district. Additional itineration may be arranged beyond the district if needed. When the missionary is furloughing, the district assists with the spiritual nurture, care and physical needs of the missionary such as helping to locate housing while on furlough. The district arranges and coordinates itineration among the churches. The churches in the district adopt the missionary as one of their district missionaries.

Regional Support
The missionary is adopted by a region for the purposes of spiritual and financial support. The missionary’s appointment and covering are provided through the Department of International Ministries. Itineration is primarily within the region though not necessarily limited to the region. Additional itineration may be arranged beyond the region if needed. When the missionary is furloughing, the region assists with the spiritual nurture, care and physical needs of the missionary such as helping to locate housing while on furlough. The region arranges and coordinates itineration among the churches. The churches in the region adopt the missionary as one of their regional missionaries. 

International Ministries Support
A church may choose to send monthly financial support to the Department of International Ministries. The funds are used to supplement the support of those missionaries who receive their primary support through the department and for Open Bible’s worldwide ministries.