In 1918, Woman's Missionary Union named the annual Christmas offering for international missions after Lottie Moon, the missionary in China who had urged them to start it. (Photo courtesy of IMB)
International (MNN) ― Sixty-nine missionary candidates were ready to leave their homes and serve the Lord all over the world. They had sold their homes, resigned from their jobs, and said goodbye to family and friends.
In July, they received an unthinkable phone call: the International Mission Board does not have the funds to support their ministry. Due to a $29 million shortfall in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and reduced giving to the Cooperative Program, their missionary appointments have been put on hold.
The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering supplies over half of IMB's annual budget. It hoped to raise $170 million through the 2008 offering but received only $141 million - $9 million less than the 2007 offering. 100 percent of the offering goes to support over 5,600 IMB missionaries who serve overseas.
The organization has already turned away 350 candidates for short-term missionary service this year. The latest development comes in addition to that reduction, as well as an earlier decision to severely limit the number of new missionaries commissioned in 2009.
The Shepards (names changed for privacy) served on the mission field with IMB for 15 years before returning to Florida so their daughter could attend high school in the U.S. When she began her college years, they began the process of returning to the field in Asia.
Now, the family will not be able to leave for Asia at least until spring of 2010. For now, they are staying in their church's mission house. hey don't know where to register their 8-year-old son for school because they're not sure where they will live.
"You feel sort of directionless. We really don't know what to do now," said Audrey Shepard. "It's tragic that money is holding back God's work around the world...There are people dying every day who are not going to have the opportunity to hear about Jesus because so many missionaries are being held up."
The Shepards don't know whether they'll be able to go back to their previous jobs, because they didn't renew their contracts. Audrey was a school psychologist in Jacksonville, and Tim taught middle school math and science.
"We're ready to go to the field," Tim said. "My mind is already on ministry, and going back to secular jobs just to pay the bills doesn't excite us too much."
In the meantime, a missionary couple in Asia desperately needs the Shepards' help. They minister to 24 minority people groups, including 18 that have never heard the Gospel. That's one couple with three young children trying to reach over a million lost people.
The Shepards are needed to help with training local Christians, discipling new believers, following up with seekers, and ministry logistics. Sam (not his real name) says it's time for Southern Baptists to reconsider their priorities.
"It's time for a gut check. Are we serious about reaching the world or not?" he said. "I've got a list as long as I am tall of things I need them (the Shepards) to be doing."
In the meantime, the Shepards are dedicated to their calling. They are considering the possibility of using their own funds to move to Asia, so they can learn the language and be ready to start their ministry when the time comes.
"Communism has destroyed souls of the people; there's no hope," Audrey said. "We want to be a part of sharing Christ where there are so many who are dying without Him."
In the meantime, she hopes her family's situation will rouse people to understand the need to spread the message of the Gospel to people who have no hope.
"I'm happy if that's what will come of this--" Audrey said, "that people wake up and realize that they need to give their money to support missions."
To support IMB missionaries, click here.
