Maintenance Ministries (Not)

Further to my post yesterday on missions, there is a perception among some that a whole lot of money is spent on a minister, while little is left for missions. But take my own urban ministry as an example, of what is actually happening, often enough. We often sent converts back to their home countries, all over the world -- and ministered to many (children in particular), who joined us being completely unfamiliar with the gospel. We knew that we were doing this, therefore geared our ministry for it. OBSERVATION: All over, one finds ministries which, in such a way, are not maintenance ministries. Another way of putting it is that budget items such as "salaries" and "missions" may not be all that they seem. This does not mean that "missions" as a budget item is unimportant.