No paper work

We had all the paper work to start a 501c3, but why not just direct people to what already exists. We can chart giving based on the real world needs. If God allows us to raise the money, it will be noted.

Time to ramp up again

Seems that the new year brought quite a delay to the updating of FundTheWorld. There is a very real need in the world to get the job done of getting the gospel to everywhere in the world. Let it not be to a lack of effort on our part.

The Tax Forms

James and I just finished our weekly conference call, and this one was eye-opening. We attempted to fill out the SS-4 and the 1023 forms for the IRS making us official as a 501c3. If you thought your taxes took a while, check out the forms at www.irs.gov.

I have to hand it to the government, though. They really want to make sure that you are not starting some bogus organization for the purpose of lining your wallet. Much documentation is needed.

However, this has brought a few points to the light. 1) Can we simply direct people to areas where needs exist and allow them to give directly to people and organizations? 2) Can we track our influence in giving? 3) Is there a lawyer out there who does pro bono work?

Whatever the case, we want to get the job finished of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth and helping reach the most unreached areas in the world. What if we could make millions of people aware of the needs and just get this subject on their minds?

Survey

Would you like to be part of the movement of getting the job done? We want to make sure that our website and goals are in-line with reality. Please help us by taking the survey at www.fundtheworld.org. Thank you.

Thought, spark, FIRE

It’s a funny thing about life……You never quite know where it’s going to take you. Likewise, you never quite know with whom it will take you…….Often we view the events of life as the cause for change in/to us, when more often than not it is the people that surround those events, and that are in our life, that are truly responsible for any lasting change.

With this thought in mind, I am eternally grateful for my dear friend Joel. He is my brother to the end of which there is no end. We put our quest in the hands of the Lord and offer ourselves as tools for His good will. The story has yet to unfold. Let the journey begin………………………..


A few years ago our quest to fund the world began. Specifically, to help fund the thousands of missionaries around the world who have devoted themselves to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. The idea was born on an ordinary day in a small house on the fringes of the Florida State University campus. An off the cuff comment sparked the thought that we hope, in His time, will help to change the world. I’ll spare you, the reader, the agonizing details that I love to include in any tale I tell. In short, the thought was provoked by a story of a girl in Texas. This young lady managed to acquire a rather large financial debt through a general lack of responsibility. I want to emphasize the irresponsible aspect of her self-imposed pickle, not to judge her or come down on this young lady, but to accentuate a point. The point being that this young woman was able to pay off her debt by being honest and simply asking for people to give. Her financial crisis, as she admitted, was not through a horrific life changing event. She just got caught up in her first ever credit card(s) and the freedom of being away from home. With out a heart wrenching story to tell, a “greater purpose,” or any lasting reason for people to help her, she was able to pay off a significant credit card debt (I want to say ~ 20k) in a relatively short amount of time (I think it was about 6-9 mo.).
All she did was to ask, and the generosity and good will of people responded. From hearing this story, a question was born: If people will help out this lady, who they don’t know, then why wouldn’t people give to something that can change the world? Then more questions arose: Why are there so many missionaries struggling? Are people not aware or informed enough? A thousand more questions developed………..

………….it took a few years for a thought to turn in to a spark……..Now, however, the spark has developed in to a roaring fire of conviction in our hearts.


-Jimbo

Vision, Mission, Etc

Vision: To make God and the gospel of Jesus known throughout the world by making people aware of the financial needs of world missions and to provide an avenue to support those needs.
Mission: To prayerfully develop an internet website to allow people to witness the needs and struggles of missionaries and to be able to give in response, as well as to utilize word of mouth and media as secondary avenues in support of the website.
Values: Awareness, Opportunity, Impact, Integrity, Ownership, Godly focus, Long-haul
Strategy: A virtual site will make people aware of the world mission needs, give them an opportunity to do something about it, and will show the impact that their contribution will have.

In the beginning

James and I sat in my office several years ago looking over a note my friend had sent regarding giving to missions. It seems that only about 2% is given by evangelical Christians today. Giving to the 10/40 window tops at about 1.2 billion dollars, which is something like 1% of 1% of income from those claiming that we need to get the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. Might it be possible to raise $1 billion dollars ourselves?

So, after praying for some divine help, James and I began brainstorming how to go about it. How do we inform? How can people give? How can it all be kept simple?

And our idea sat for quite some time. James would remind me of it, and I would cringe. But several months ago, while eating pizza in the car, we mapped out a plan and sent out some emails. Curiously enough, several people thought that it was a idea worth pursuing. So with their help and with the help of millions, we will be able to Fund the World.