You know us — we would rather report the great things God is doing than talk about our finances. But quite a few folks have asked about our support level so we are sending you this FAQ’s sheet. We hope it answers your questions and also serves as a prayer guide.

F

requently Asked Questions

In light of world financial recession, how is your support doing right now? Like nearly everyone else, our dollars don’t go too far these days. We’ve lost some support, and our health insurance costs continue to rise (although praise the Lord, we are healthy). The dollar is pretty strong against the Ukrainian Hryvyn, but prices here have risen steeply.

How are you managing? Previously, it was the extra, above-and-beyond gifts that made up the shortage in our support. These gifts have dwindled over the past 18 months and our ministry has become more limited.

How has your ministry been limited? We can give you a few specific examples: 1) We declined missionary training opportunities in areas we previously helped outside of Ukraine; 2) we didn’t buy the PowerPoint projector we need for teaching; 3) we lowered our Ukrainian assistant’s salary supplement; 4) we had to forgo printing new brochures advertising our missionary training to Ukrainian churches.

What are you doing about your support shortage? Obviously, we’re doing a lot of praying. We have also implemented “belt-tightening” measures like the ones mentioned above, and some of these are hindering progress. But we are confident that we are to “keep on keeping on” with goals and strategies here in Eastern Europe. We have increased our fund-raising efforts, getting the word out about what the Lord is doing here.

What are your plans for the future? We plan, by God’s grace, to keep expanding our missionary training and equipping ministry until dozens more Eastern Europeans are serving the Lord cross-culturally, hundreds of local churches are supporting their own missionaries, and many new churches are planted among unreached people-groups of Central Asia. We are so thankful that you are praying with us about these things!

Grateful for your love and concern,

Rich and Cheri

Personal salary monthly shortage: $463

Ministry funds monthly shortage: $733