By Dennis Jennings

BBFI Associate Mission Director

          Deputation is a time for new missionaries to commute from church to church presenting their ministry and enlisting prayer and financial supporters. One of the biggest obstacles is the tremendous financial expense to a beginning missionary.

          The cost of fuel has always been a major factor. However, in the past few months these costs have skyrocketed causing even greater burden on “new” missionaries as their monthly financial support base is still in its infancy.

            Realizing this opportunity to minister and be a blessing, a couple from a local church presented a gift of $25,000 to the Baptist Bible Fellowship Missions Office. The anonymous gift is to be used to assist missionaries on deputation with fuel expense.

          The Missions Office has established an account through which these funds will be administrated. Each month, the 38 BBFI missionaries currently on deputation may submit copies of their gas receipts. Twenty-five percent of their total fuel expense for the month will be credited to their account from the Deputation Fuel Assistance account. This practice will continue as long as there are funds available.

          Upon hearing of this endowment, several pastors and individuals have remarked, “That’s a great idea. I wish I had thought of that.”

          Although gas prices have declined slightly over the past few weeks they are still a major factor in a missionary’s budget. To contribute to this ministry to deputation missionaries your tax-deductible donation may be designated “Deputation Fuel Assistance” and sent to: BBFI Mission Office, PO Box 802757, Kansas City, MO 64180- 2757.