What is The Advance?
The Advance is the official designated giving arm of the United Methodist Church that ensures 100% of each gift reaches its designated project, missionary, or ministry.
The Advance strives to be the leading conduit for United Methodist designated giving.
We offer the church an integrated package to channel designated giving to connectional projects and mission personnel. The Advance works with church leaders around the world to ensure that approved projects are aligned with the goals of The United Methodist Church in the local area and help develop partnerships that are mutually advantageous.
The Advance also communicates with donors, sharing stories about projects and missionaries as well as reporting on how gifts are making an impact.
Who gives through The Advance?
Anyone can give through The Advance. Individuals, churches, youth groups, and Sunday school classes are just a few examples.
Why should I give through The Advance?
One hundred percent of each gift reaches the project, missionary, or ministry you choose. Administrative costs are paid for by the apportionments of United Methodist churches. One Great Hour of Sharing covers UMCOR's administrative costs, which receives no apportionment funds.
All Advance projects are related to annual conferences, central conferences, partner churches, or interfaith organizations. They are screened by Global Ministries and authorized by The Advance Committee.
Why would I give through The Advance instead of sending money directly to a project or missionary?
Giving through The Advance enables United Methodists to partner with one another in mission and ministry around the world.
Churches and annual conferences receive Advance credit by having their gifts included in each year's total giving by the annual conference.
The Advance tracks each gift and ensures that gifts reach their intended recipients. This methodology provides an additional layer of accountability when you give.
How do I establish a Church Covenant Relationship
- Establish a financial goal of $2,500 annually or $5 per church member per year.
- Contact your Conference Secretary of Global Ministries or The Advance office to obtain information about missionaries that are related to your annual conference.
- Complete the Covenant Relationship Form to establish your partnership with a missionary and submit it to The Advance office.
- Send financial support to your conference treasurer clearly designating the missionary's name or Advance number.
- Consider the missionary as an extension of your church staff by listing them in your church bulletin and prayerfully supporting the work of God's mission throughout the world.
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How do I establish a Young Adult Covenant Relationship?
The Advance encourages youth and young adult groups to Covenant with US-2 and Mission Intern missionaries. This relationship will allow youth and young adult groups to understand the value and importance of young adults in mission.
- Establish an annual financial goal of $5 per member of the group or more.
- Complete the Covenant Relationship form and submit it to The Advance office to establish your partnership.
- Send financial support to: Your annual conference office, or Advance GCFA, PO Box 9068 GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068, or donate online now to the Mission Intern Program or US-2 Program.
- Communicate with and pray for your missionary partner.
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How do I establish an Individual Covenant Relationship?
You may also establish a Covenant Relationship as an individual. The guidelines for Individual Covenant Relationships are as follows:
- Establish an annual financial goal of $500 per year.
- Complete the Covenant Relationship Form and submit it to The Advance office to establish your partnership.
- Send financial support to: Advance GCFA, PO Box 9068 GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068 or give online now.
- Communicate with and pray for your missionary partner.
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What is the benefit of establishing an official Covenant Relationship?
Churches that covenant with a missionary will be in relationship with them through prayer and support. By establishing a Covenant Relationship with a United Methodist missionary you are supporting the mission of the United Methodists all over the world.
From what sources are missionaries funded?
A missionary receives support from three combined financial sources:
- Giving from individuals and churches
- World Service Fund (Apportionments)
- Residuals from trusts and investments
Covenant Relationships through The Advance, the largest of these sources, are crucial to continue sending missionaries.
How can I find a missionary's Advance support code?
A missionary’s Advance support code is available on his or her
biography web page. Each biography includes a code to track gifts, background information, and links to family members in mission service.
How do we choose a missionary to support?
The choice is yours! Find missionaries related to your annual conference by visiting
Missionaries in Service or contact your Conference Secretary of Global Ministries. Choosing a missionary related to your annual conference ensures they will speak in your area while on itineration assignment.
How does a financial gift support a missionary?
Gifts support the entire missionary community on behalf of one missionary through a Covenant Relationship.
All United Methodist missionaries are placed in service with a salary and paid living expenses. They are not paid based on what is received in their name from supporting churches. Instead, gifts support the missionary community, enabling missionaries worldwide to serve without fear of losing their funding. Supporting churches ensure the work of current missionaries and make it possible to send new missionaries around the world.
Please do not give gifts directly to a missionary. Send gifts through The Advance to ensure they are credited and disbursed with accountability.
How many missionaries need support from local United Methodist churches through Covenant Relationships?
More than 300 missionaries are available for Covenant Relationships in more than 60 countries, including the United States.
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What is the total cost of a missionary?
On average, the cost of keeping a missionary in service is $55,000 per year. This varies depending upon the missionary's location, family situation, and program. The average breakdown is $26,000 for salary and benefits, $11,700 for health and pension, $11,300 for place of assignment costs, and $6,000 for administrative staff support.
Why support a General Board of Global Ministries' missionary?
As United Methodists, we are responsible for supporting the missionaries that represent our connection in the world. The missionary is accountable to Global Ministries and will minister and serve responsibly.
Global Ministries trains, commissions and supervises over 300 United Methodist missionaries who work in the United States and in 60 countries.