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Overseas missionaries supported by American churches and organizations are seeing funds evaporate with the continuing devaluation of the U.S. dollar.
The Assemblies of God, the country's largest Pentecostal denomination, has called it the "biggest financial crisis" for missionaries since the Great Depression and warned its U.S. churches that evangelists and aid workers might have to stop work without additional support.
Amid a sluggish economy, American congregations are tightening belts and, in some cases, trimming budgets for missionaries abroad.
"It's a real problem," said the Rev. John Oldfield, senior associate pastor of outreach and missions at First Assembly of God in Manchester Township.
"The money we're giving is not going as far anymore."
In Europe, $1,000 converts to 642 euros.
Kevin and Anne Kittrell returned home to Virginia from their missionary post in Brussels, Belgium, in December because of the exhange.
"Every month we were taking a pay cut," Anne said. "It does make it difficult for missionaries abroad in Europe to have an impact when they are constantly in jeopardy of having to leave."
Steve and Alace Straw of Manchester Township moved with their kids in September to Albertville, France.
Steve Straw wrote on his blog this spring, "We've had some key supporters drop off, and we're praying for additional team mates on our funding team."
The Straws are nearing the end of a language-training program
As the value of the dollar tumbled in February, Steve requested prayers for guidance in making sound financial decisions.
"We're still dipping into our savings to make up a monthly shortfall," he wrote. "Our resources seem to be moving through our fingers faster and faster."
Missionaries are already an austere group.
The Straws began biking to a discount shop a half-mile away instead of shopping at their neighborhood grocery store. They skip fast-food restaurants and the barber shop, opting for haircuts at home instead, Steve said.
In Italy, the Rev. Paul Finch, a missionary with the Christian group WEC International, said the economic crisis reminds him of the 1970s when the dollar slid significantly against the Italian lira and his family found themselves struggling.
Like then, he and his family are forced to live more simply than usual.
"The gentle slope has suddenly nose-dived, and the adjustments we all make in life are just not enough," Finch said by e-mail last week.
Among the congregations supporting Finch's ministry in Vicenza is First Assembly in Manchester Township. A family at the church recently helped out with a one-time gift of several hundred dollars.
Eagle Christian Ministries in York would like to increase its giving to missionary Peter Midodo in Awendo and Ndhiwa, Kenya, where he runs a 270-student orphanage school.
"We're not able to," said the Rev. Dean Landis, pastor, "because of our own economy as well. We've had to cut back in some of our own (spending) and in our missionary support."
Midodo, who visited York last week, said 90 percent of his support to construct the school comes from American churches.
The devaluation of the U.S. dollar coupled with inflation in the wake of the recent post-election violence in Kenya hurt his budget, Midodo said.
Last summer, $1 was equal to 75 Kenyan shillings. Currently, $1 equals 62 Kenyan shillings.
It was $30 a month to sponsor a needy child at the school; now it's $75 a month. A 110-pound bag of cement that cost $6 last year is now $15. A gallon of gas is $9.
"When the dollar reaches Kenya, it loses value, and it becomes difficult to make up for the gap," Midodo said.
Some missionaries write letters, make phone calls or visit the states asking for help. Others, such as Finch, draw on their savings and pension resources.
"As the funds dwindle," Finch said, "we are seriously praying for God's divine intervention. We have chosen to not slow down or turn away ministerial opportunities but have pressed forward, trusting him once again.
"Just how he will provide, we don't know. But he will."
771-2024; mburke@ydr.com
SKY-HIGH FOOD PRICES
While missionaries abroad feel the effects of a weak dollar, rising food prices and a food shortage are a greater concern to some.
World Bank President Robert Zoellick has warned that rising food prices could mean an additional 100 million people forced into poverty in low-income nations.
Riots over high food prices forced Haitian Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis out of office last month.
In addition to the rising cost of oil, which makes food more expensive to transport, world wheat inventories dropped to their lowest level in 30 years earlier this year after poor weather conditions damaged harvests.
Other factors affect the market as well, such as U.S. subsidies for biofuel production. The diversion means fewer crops are available for consumption as food.
Church World Service, an international humanitarian agency, says the world's hungry are not short on food because of crop failure or disaster but because they can't afford food at their local markets.
"Our agency strives for durable, long-term solutions," said the Rev. Patrick Walker, Pennsylvania regional director for CWS in Harrisburg.
In some places, such as Cambodia, CWS is training families to grow food in places where they previously had not been producing it.
CWS is also urging governments, the United Nations and private lenders to invest more money in rural farming programs.
Source: Church World Service and Forbes.com
