Finance at Worldwide
There’s one thing that we are not afraid to talk about in Bangor – and that is money! Especially when it’s not for ourselves, but for the work of Mission.
There’s one thing that we are not afraid to talk about in Bangor – and that is money! Especially when it’s not for ourselves, but for the work of Mission.
Believe it or not but in the early 1930s there was an annual door–to–door collection in Bangor to raise money for missionary work around the world.
Herbie Mateer, a young bank official in the town, felt that there must be a better way. He shared his concerns with a number of like–minded people and together they organised the first Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention in 1937. Its purpose was to present the challenge of world mission to the people of the town and, unashamedly, to raise money for missionary work. As a result of that Convention almost £300 was channelled to missionary work.
This year is our 78th annual Convention promoting world mission. The Convention has continued without interruption through the Second World War and through the Troubles. Today we give thanks to God for His goodness over all those years.
Since those small beginnings almost £4.5 million has been channelled through the Convention for missionary work – this is the equivalent of over £10,840,000 today.
The costs of organising the Convention are covered by a proportion of the loose offerings received at the various meetings, by the involvement of some 80 Missionary Societies who put on a fine exhibition of the work which is going on around the world, by the sponsors who have supported us through advertising in this commemorative brochure, and, not least, by the generous grant which we have received in recent years from the North Down Borough Council.
Don’t forget it is now possible to use our website to make donations, either a single donation or regular monthly donations. Go to www.worldwidemission.org/donate and choose which method is most appropriate for you.
Herbie Mateer used to quote Hudson Taylor when he said ‘God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s supply’. However there is just one snag with that. ‘God’s supply’ is in your bank account – it needs to be transferred to ours so that we can use it to extend God’s Kingdom around the world. I trust you will join with us in helping to fulfil the great commission.
