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As we have transitioned from working with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries to launching Village Soul, we have been asked some questions regarding our new status. Below you will find summary answers to these questions.
1. Are you still affiliated with the Assemblies of God?Yes. Leon still holds credentials with the Assemblies of God. Franklin Park Church is an Assembly of God church plant, and we have received the blessing of the Indiana District of the Assemblies of God to work in this relationship. Our priority in future networking relationships with local churches will also be with Assemblies of God churches. 2. Why are your missions funds no longer routed through AG US Missions?Since our most recent assignment with Chi Alpha was as Missionary Associates we would have had to apply for full-time General Missionary Appointment with US Missions or find another missionary to work under as Missionary Associates in order to maintain our account with US Missions. There was no other missionary in our area of focus doing the same type of ministry, so we were unable to remain Missionary Associates. Applying for full-time General Missionary Appointment would have required that we enter a new fund raising period to replace support we had redirected to other Chi Alpha missionaries. Since we had recently completed a deputation period for our work with Chi Alpha, we did not feel it was the right time for us to enter a fund raising cycle again. We do have the option to apply for General Missionary Appointment in the future if we feel the ministry has grown to the point that it would require us to move to a full-time status again, and if the deputation process would not disturb the flow of the ministry excessively. 3. Are you on staff with Franklin Park Church? Will they be paying you a salary?
Our relationship with Franklin Park Church is that of resident missionary. In order to provide a clearer definition of the relationship, we will be working toward establishing a separate non-profit organization status for Village Soul by December 2010. In the mean time, Franklin Park Church has created a sub-account under their covering to provide an avenue and accountability for donors to make donations to our ministry. Any contributions the church makes to our ministry will be through the same avenue they support other missionaries.
Since most of the churches we or future Village Soul team members will be networking with will be church plants or small congregations in need of a catalyst to help them spark new growth, it is unlikely that these churches will be able to pay a salary to a Village Soul missionary. We are committed to establishing Village Soul as a missions-oriented ministry, so that we can be available to help provide a spark to smaller churches without concern about the salary available. 4. Can I continue to give through an automatic debit system like you had before with AG US Missions?We have contracted with Vanco Services in Minnetonka, MN to provide donors the option of having their monthly donation transferred to us via an electronic transfer from a checking or savings account or by using a credit or debit card. We use this system in our support of a friend working with another ministry and have found it to be very efficient and secure. Vanco Services, LLC is a PCI (Payment Card Industry) Level 1 Compliant Service Provider specializing in electronic payment solutions. They provide secure and reliable processing for both recurring and one-time transactions. Vanco works with over 15,000 organizations in a variety of industries nationwide. With more than 18 years of experience in Automated Clearing House (ACH) processing, cash management and risk management, Vanco has earned its reputation as a trusted industry leader.
Click here to download an authorization form. Write your donation amount in the Village Soul field. Once completed, mail the form to our support address above.
5. Can I give my donation directly to you instead of the ministry?Often when people ask this question they are concerned about administrative fees associated with fund raising. Franklin Park Church is providing a financial covering for donations to our ministry without charging an administrative fee. 100% of your donation goes directly to providing for our personal and work expenses for the ministry we do. The only time we pay a fee for our fund raising is when someone gives through a credit card or EFT transfer through Vanco Services. In this case we pay a small service fee, but this is minimal compared to the benefit it provides.
We are very appreciative of the personal gifts we receive from time to time. Still giving through Franklin Park Church provides the best way for us to document our income when dealing with the IRS or financial institutions for everyday life expenses such as renting or buying a house and utilities. Even if a donor is not concerned about receiving charitable donation credit, giving through Franklin Park Church is the best way to help us in our ministry.
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Frequently Asked Questions |