The Bolivian Pastor’s Fund: Our Top Priority Endowment
Paying the Salaries of the Pastors
Pastor’s salaries are not paid by local churches, as in the U.S. This is because the Methodist Church of Bolivia (IEMB) is such a poor church. The average income of a Bolivian Methodist is $700, not a month – a year! Most of its members are living in poverty and struggle to feed their own families. While offerings are always taken at worship services; the funds raised are very small (less thea $10) and those funds usually go to some form of mission within Bolivia. Consequently, the salaries are paid by the national church, which relies on income from the private Methodist Schools. But they need help!
Tremendous need for more pastors
This is a crucial time for evangelism and church growth for the IEMB. Small rural communities throughout the country are asking for us to start new Methodist churches in their town because of the new national awareness of the IEMB’s commitment to evangelism, personal faith, and spirituality, combined with a commitment to development and the improvement of the lives of rural people through development regardless of their religion. There is also a great need to hire additional pastors to serve the growing areas of El Alto (the fastest growing city in the Western Hemisphere) and elsewhere.
The Bolivian Pastor’s Lives
To become an ordained Methodist pastor in Bolivia is an arduous task.
After receiving the approval and blessings of a local congregation, they travel to La Paz to begin receiving their training. They will spend the next 4-6 years in study and training before they can become a “Deacon”. During this time, students are expected to live on $114 a month; when in fact it takes about $400/month to live on. Consequently, most student’s wives, and even the students themselves have secondary jobs, usually unrelated to the church.
After receiving their training and approval from the IEMB, they are considered to become Deacons. Often times, persons are not promoted from student to Deacon because of the IEMB’s lack of funds to pay for the salary. Deacons receive $150 a month. Deacons too, often work outside of the church to pay for the basics of their family’s needs: food, housing, and clothing. Although some are asked to work full-time for the church, at that horribly low salary, because of the work that needs to be done.
The AMAZING life story of Pastor Maximo Sullcamy
Becoming a National pastor is an honor. Deacons are often turned down because the Church doesn’t have the funds to pay them. Seminary-trained National pastors receive $310-420 depending upon seniority. They’re required to dedicate themselves to full-time evangelization and the work of the church and have no outside income. Their spouse is also expected to be a part of the ministry team.
It concerns the church greatly how low their income is. Families go without education for their children, new clothes, health insurance, retirement or vacations and never eat out. The sacrifices they make are tremendous.
Why an Endowment?
The problems with just simply paying pastors salaries with the donations we raise is that next year we will have to raise it again. In fact, if we are really going to help out, we would need to raise money every single year forever to help pay for a pastors salary. The reality is that local churches’ interests and enthusiasm for a particular mission project rises and falls from year to year — along with their donations.
A permanent endowment never spends the money raised, but invests it, and the income from those investments are donated to pay the salaries. This insures a much more steady income that the church can rely on, and it will continue forever – (or until our Lord returns!)
All donations will be in the Bolivian Pastor’s Endowment Fund at the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation. The income from that Endowment is forwarded through another Advance Special to Bolivia to increase salaries, provide health insurance and retirement; and allow the IEMB to ordain additional pastors to preach the Gospel, strengthen existing congregations, and start new churches in fast growing areas such as El Alto. And the IEMB knows it can count on it each year. Bishop Hayes has set the goal for the Endowment to reach $1 million by 2016!
Doubling Your Money!
The Woodworth Estates has approved a matching grant for the Bolivian Pastor’s Endowment Fund. They will add $1 for every $1 that is donated to the Endowment! Your donation can be through your local treasurer, or directly to the new GBGM Advance for the Bolivian Pastor’s Endowment #3021291.
Accomplishments in 2011
- Added $35,600 to the Endowment
- As of November 1st, 2011 the Endowment is at $221,780 producing over $10,000/yr in income for salaries
- Received a grant which matches all donations over the next 5 years, up to $1/4million!
- Got an Advance Number for the Endowment which allows us to raise funds in UMC’s across the nation, not just Oklahoma.
- Provided $11,607 for Pastor’s salaries in 2011.
Goal for 2012
- Raise $100,000 for the Endowment, primarily through the Fast.
Donate Now: 
The easiest and simplest way to donate is to click on the Donate button and it will take you directly to the GBGM webpage set up for the Bolivian Pastor’s Endowment Fund. You can donate by PayPal/Credit Card.
Or you can donate through your local church treasurer. Have them forward it to the Conference Treasurer for Advance Special #3021291 “Bolivian Pastor’s Endowment Fund” on the notation line
