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Frequently Asked Questions

How is RCA Global Mission funded?

RCA Global Mission does not receive denominational assessments or covenant shares. We depend on the faithful generosity of churches and individuals.RCA Global Mission is funded primarily through Partnership-in-Mission (PIM) shares. Learn more about PIM shares by watching this video or visiting www.rca.org/PIM

When I give money to a missionary, where does it go?

When you financially partner with a missionary, your money first and foremost supports them and their work. *Eighty-three percent of your gift supports a missionary or mission partner by providing things like their salary, housing, insurance, travel expenses, and the resources they need to strengthen and grow the global church.

The other 17 percent of your missionary support helps fund the infrastructure of RCA Global Mission. Because RCA Global Mission does not receive funding from denominational assessments or covenant shares, these oversight expenditures enable the effective communication, financial transactions, and record-keeping needed for Global Mission to operate efficiently.

*On the occasion that a missionary is fully funded, the surplus is sometimes used to support the ministry need closest to your designation. This is true for giving to current needs as well.  All RCA missionaries are fully paid regardless of their current funding level. This creates an environment that has proven to be much more conducive to accomplishing the work to which missionaries are called.

If I or my church cannot afford a Partnership-in-Mission share, can I still support the work of Global Mission?

Of course! Regardless of you or your church’s giving capacity, there is a way for you to step into mission. You or your church has the option to commit to a half or quarter PIM share, or any other amount. 

If a partial PIM share is unreachable for you or your church, you’re invited to become a New Initiatives Partner. A New Initiatives Partner commits to an ongoing, annual gift of $1,000 (or $84 per month) to be on the forefront of mission and open up opportunities to spread the gospel in ways that are not currently possible. To learn more, contact mission@rca.org.

You or your church can also give a monthly recurring gift to support a missionary or specific need (i.e. disaster relief, child education, clean water, global church planting, etc.).

We invite you to come alongside the work God is doing through Global Mission however that best works for you.

How do I support a current need within Global Mission? 

There are three ways to give:

Online (by credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer)

  • Visit our giving page
  • Search for the specific need or missionary you wish to donate to

By phone (U.S. only; by credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer)

Call Terri Boven at 616-541-0835.

By mail

Please send your check, made out to “Reformed Church in America,” and designated using the name of the specific need

In the United States:
Reformed Church in America,
Attn: Finance Dept.,
4500 60th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512

In Canada
PO Box
PO Box 1583 Stn Main,
Woodstock, Ontario N4S 0A7

How do I support a missionary or give in a larger capacity? 

To give a Partnership-in-Mission share or become a New Initiative Partner, please contact Gael at guwera@rca.org or 616-541-0882. Please also consider committing to a share for one of our new missionaries. You can find a list of missionaries currently raising funds at www.rca.org/raising-support.

Is my gift tax deductible? 

Yes! All gifts to the Reformed Church in America are considered to be charitable deductions to the fullest extent of the IRS law. If you are giving from Canada and would like to receive a tax receipt, you must give through the Regional Synod of Canada’s website or office.

Why is the missionary I support not listed on the Global Mission website?

Some mission contexts are more sensitive than others. For the safety of missionaries and mission partners serving in these areas, they will be unsearchable on our missionaries and partners webpage. If you are looking for a specific missionary or partner and are unable to find them on this webpage, please contact mission@rca.org. We would be happy to send you the information you’re looking for!

How do I become a missionary with Global Mission? 

We want to partner with you! Global Mission works with our partner churches and organizations to assign qualified applicants for service and witness in the U.S. and around the world. If you are interested in becoming a missionary with RCA Global Mission, please download the Missionary Questionnaire and return it to the RCA Human Resources department. For specific questions, please contact mission@rca.org.

How do I or my church get involved with short-term mission opportunities?

We have a person for that! Stephanie Soderstrom works with individuals and churches to help find and plan the perfect short-term mission opportunities for you and your congregation. Whether you want to send a group to serve with our partners in the U.S., volunteer to do disaster response clean-up, or serve internationally with our missionaries and partners, we have a place for you! You can find a list of current trip sites on the Short-Term Mission webpage or you can contact Stephanie to learn more.

How do I order more prayer cards for the missionary(s) I support?

It’s simple! Contact Kelli at kgilmore@rca.org or (616) 541-0838 with the name of the missionary or partner you would like prayer cards for and the quantity. We will be happy to print these and send them to you! You can also find PDF versions of prayer cards for missionaries and partners on their individual web pages. This excludes missionaries who are serving in sensitve mission areas.

What is RCA Global Mission’s Disaster Response model?

At RCA Global Mission, we’re in disaster response for the long haul. While most disaster stories hit news headlines and cycle out within a few days or so, our response is to show up after the initial wave of emergency relief has left and finish the job alongside our partners on the ground. This work often takes years.

We always work with trusted partners domestically and internationally when we respond to disasters. You can trust that any gifts you give to disaster response through us or time spent volunteering are benefitting those in the areas that were hit the hardest because we carefully vet our partners and their response plan before jumping on board.

How can we, as a church or as individuals, get involved in Disaster Response with RCA Global Mission?

If a disaster is impacting an area where RCA or reformed partner churches are deeply affected, or an area where we have missionaries or partners serving, and we hear of an urgent need, we will respond. Once we have a solid plan of action with trusted partners on the ground, we often send out a call for help to church contacts and invested individuals inviting you to support this need financially. Not sure if we’re responding to a disaster you saw in the news? Don’t hesitate to contact Scott Engelsman, Supervisor of Disaster Response, at sengelsman@rca.org.

We also offer opportunities to volunteer your time toward disaster response clean up. You can find current volunteer opportunities on our short-term mission page or by emailing shortterm@rca.org. For more information on when and how to respond to disasters, check out this article by Coordinator for Short-Term Mission Stephanie Soderstrom.