The following document accompanies the NCN News article "BGS letter addresses overpayment of World Evangelism Fund."

1. What is the Church of the Nazarene’s World Evangelism Fund (WEF) “overpayment?”

WEF overpayment offerings are given by local Nazarene churches and are above and beyond the 5.5 percent base of current income. Nazarene Missions International (NMI) launched the WEF overpayment concept in 1992 after receiving approval from the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene. 

The overpayment plan became effective with the 1992–93 assembly year.

2. How is WEF overpayment raised?

A pastor and local NMI president pray, model, and challenge their church to give sacrificially beyond the WEF base for missions, which is 5.5 percent of current income.

3. How is WEF overpayment used?

WEF overpayment is distributed among the Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Mesoamerica, South America, and USA/Canada global regions. The funds are used to open and sustain new Nazarene mission areas.

4. Who decides how and where offerings from WEF overpayment are to be used?

Each year the director of Global Mission submits to the Board of General Superintendents (BGS) a list of proposed areas to receive overpayment funds. The BGS selects the proposed projects and areas for the designated year based on this recommendation.

5. How much WEF overpayment was raised in 2011?

In 2011 churches gave a record of approximately $4.4 million for WEF overpayment. We are grateful to God and to each church for Kingdom generosity!

6. Is this a typical WEF overpayment offering?

No, this is a very unusual year in spite of the global economy. As you can see below, WEF overpayment from 2001 to 2010 ranged from $1.28 million to $1.60 million. The decadal average was $1.5 million. In 2011, WEF overpayment was approximately $3 million more than average:

2001                $1,281,165
2002                $1,530,023
2003                $1,449,451
2004                $1,595,832
2005                $1,539,026
2006                $1,600,674
2007                $1,574,819
2008                $1,412,640
2009                $1,361,466
2010                $1,433,979

7. Why are the Board of General Superintendents, Global Mission, and Nazarene Missions International proposing to expand WEF overpayment to some existing mission fields for the 2011 and 2012 budgeting years?

With WEF overpayment receipts of over $4.4 million exceeding the $1.3 overpayment projected, the WEF available for denominational ministries, including missionaries, is $8.7 million less than in the previous year.

At the beginning of fiscal year 2011, the Global Ministry Center had anticipated $3 million less, but the international economic situation was worse than had been projected. Therefore this number was revised downward to $6 million at the time of General Board.

It is worth noting that even though WEF giving is down, the number of USA/Canada districts that have reached or exceeded 100 percent of their WEF allocation is greater than for any year on record—up from 15 districts in 2010 to 57 districts in 2011.

Nonetheless, the decline in regular WEF giving, which is also used for world evangelization, is a very critical matter affecting 2011 and 2012 budgeting for general mission interests. This necessitates immediate action.

The BGS, with the support of the Global NMI Council is proposing that every amount of WEF overpayment be sent directly to each of six regions in order to:

• open new mission work.
• sustain mission works opened in recent years.
• help keep missionaries on the fields to which God called them.
• help send new missionaries whom God is calling.

8. Who has been consulted about expanding WEF overpayment?

The BGS, the director of Global Mission, the general treasurer, the NMI global director, and the director of Stewardship Ministries consulted with pastors, lay leaders, local and district NMI presidents, and district superintendents in drafting this proposal. The Global NMI Council submitted ideas. The response from the Council is supportive of doing what it takes to keep our frontline mission healthy and strong.

9. In light of this difficult economic situation, will the WEF overpayment concept be reviewed for future years?

Yes, WEF overpayment will be reviewed in the coming months by the BGS, Global Mission, NMI, and the general treasurer to ensure that the church is making the best use of WEF overpayment and its primary emphasis of entering new world areas.

The Global NMI Council will meet in February 2012 to discuss WEF overpayment history, policies, and future.

10. Can a local church that does not wish to participate in expanding WEF overpayment request that their offerings be used only for entering new areas?

Yes. A local church may send a request to WEFOverpayment@nazarene.org.

Please indicate the name of the church, the pastor, and the NMI local president along with contact information for each. The deadline for this request is November 15, 2011. Each request will be matched against the official giving records at the Global Ministry Center and processed accordingly.

11. Can anyone communicate directly with the Board of General Superintendents regarding WEF overpayment?

Absolutely. You may write to the BGS with questions or comments at bgs@nazarene.org.

12. Is there anything else we can do?

Yes, there is. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct in this process and in the decisions being made. Keep the general superintendents, the Global Ministry Center, regional offices, Nazarene missionaries, and national leaders in your thoughts and prayers during these challenging days of evangelistic and disciple-making opportunities.