2018 OUR YEAR IN REVIEW
Letter from our Founder & Executive Director
At Adventures in Missions, we seek to follow Jesus as He leads us to care for the lost and forgotten. In 2018 we saw our teams bringing hope to people around the world. You, our partners, sent us. We are so thankful for our partnership with you.
As we look back on 2018, we see that it's perhaps the most fruitful in our history. We planted hundreds of churches, discipled thousands of young people, and every day, fed and cared for widows and orphans in 60 countries around the world. We've seen the Gospel of Jesus Christ spreading to countries where, in many villages, His name has never been heard.
We are focused on raising up a generation of radically committed disciples who embrace Jesus' Great Commission. Thank you for believing in the mission God has given us. It was your financial support and prayers that made our work possible. Because you have chosen to partner with us, we continue to see the fruit of changed lives.
In so many ways, we've seen that the Kingdom is coming. Those who needed a touch from the Lord received it. They felt His care. God is on the move and we're excited about where He's taking us in 2019!
Seth Barnes
Executive Director
Adventures in Missions
PEOPLE
- 243+ Total Churches Planted
- 226 Planted in India
- 1 Planted in Gainesville
- 2 Planted in Swaziland
- 7 Planted through the World Race
- 6 Planted in Cambodia
- 1 Planted in Guatemala
PLACES
- 2018 Mission Trips
- Adventures Long Term Missionary Presence
- Adventures Bases
Adventures Bases
- Guatemala
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- India
- Cambodia
- Thailand
- Estawtini (Swaziland)
- Ecuador
480 Ministry hosts served in 2018
FINANCIALS
Below is a breakdown of the our total revenue for 2018 and how those costs were allocated across the ministry. Program costs include everything involved with running our trips/programs. Admin costs include everything involved with running our ministry day to day. Fundraising costs include all money spent to help staff members and programs raise the financial support that goes back into the organization.
Total Revenue: $20,898,387
Expenses:
Total Expenses: $21,415,956
Program: $18,646,640 - 87%
Administration: $2,439,323 - 11%
Fundraising: $329,992 - 2%
Financial Supporters: 45,853
FINANCES:
Although the majority of our employees raise all or a portion of their own salaries, Adventures has ongoing material, administrative, and technological expenditures associated with maintaining the organization. We take great care to make sure we conduct our finances with integrity.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
Fiscal transparency and accountability direct the financial actions of Adventures in Missions. We are members in good standing with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and commission an independent auditor to conduct a thorough annual audit. In addition, our board of directors meets routinely to regulate ministry management and performance.
STEWARDSHIP:
As an organization, we work diligently to keep expenses low. As a ministry, we see the available resources as gifts to be judiciously administered. Our desire is to make the greatest eternal impact by making resources go as far as possible.
STORIES
Stories through picture
Alexandra Banks
Alyssa Gammelgaard
Alyssa McGrail
Aly Badinger
Stories through blogs
Drops of Grace
Drowning, I imagine that's what it feels like, to be trapped in a reality that you cannot escape - sinking, sinking, clawing at anything in your midst to pull yourself up but not knowing which direction that is anyway. When our van turned down the road to our desired destination of where we would hand out warm drinks and bread to the homeless, I couldn't believe the swarms of people. The scene reminded me of driving down streets with jammed sidewalks as crowds of people are lined up for some special event. read more...
Sweet Mary
We met Mary on the steps of a police station. She was sitting on a blue bench outside the station in a shirt adorned with dusty pink flowers. Her skin was covered in cracks and sores, her eyes were yellowed, and her posture was hopeless.
Tessie is the one who noticed her.
She greeted Mary in the traditional Bemba language, "muli shani (how are you)?" Instead of the typical "bwino (I am fine)" as a response, Bemba words poured from her mouth and tears from her eyes. read more...
"Bye Bye Islam"
Back to refugee corridor we went, with high hopes of finding our friend Behnam from the week before (the one we previously blogged about). We went straight up the dark concrete stairs of the dilapidated building, took a quick left into his "room", and were so excited to see him and his two buddies sitting on a pallet of blankets on floor in the corner. They had spent the past 10 days walking through the jungles of Croatia only to be found by the police and sent back to Bosnia the night before, tired and discouraged. read more...
I can't help
"I want him to have a better life, and I want him to have an education," she said as she walked up to me and laid her sleeping 1.5 year old son in my lap.
"I want to give him to a gringa (white girl) at a church, and here you are."
My mind began whirling. I must be misunderstanding her Spanish. Surely this woman doesn't want to give me her son. Surely not. Surely not. I stare down at the precious baby in my lap, sleeping peacefully, too young to understand life.
read more...