The Complete Finance Breakdown

We want to be as transparent as possible in presenting how much financial support we need to raise. So get ready... here it is.

The basic overview of our monthly support requirements:

$4,654.29 Net Salary* (This is what we live on)
$4,994.29 Gross Salary (Net Salary + Retirement, taxes, etc.)
$1,343.07 Benefits (Health Insurance for both the U.S. and France)
$450.00 Ministry Funds (Travel, Hosting, etc.)
$1,151.07 World Team Admin Fee (Funds the activities of global leadership and sending country support services)
$7,938.43 Total (This is what we must have donations for each month)

A couple of points of clarification:

• *We raise financial support in dollars, but in France we will live on the Euro, which at the moment is stronger than the dollar. So, while our Net Salary is $4,654.29, thirty percent is lost in the conversion process leaving 3,258 Euros. This salary is equivalent to a teacher’s salary in France plus half, so a teacher and a half’s salary.
• We’re required to be on our employer’s, that is World Team’s health insurance, plus pay into the French health system. This way we are covered while in the U.S., but also not taking advantage of the French health system. We want to be respectful and responsible guests of our host country.
• 14.5 percent of the funds we raise are applied to the general operating accounts of World Team. This money is used to help fund the sending offices of World Team so they can provide support, guidance and accountability to missionaries around the globe.

In addition to our monthly support requirements we also have a number of one-time expenses that we must raise before we can leave for France. There are many more items on this list so I’ll just highlight some:

$15,000 Language Training (Both Erin and I for a year of intensive French)
$20,000 Vehicle Purchase (Reduce by 30% for Euro exchange rate)
$1,000 Immigration (visas, passports, etc.)
$2,500 Housing (Many apartments require 2–3 months rent up front)
$1,500 Travel (Plain tickets to France)
$9,000 Pre-Field Training (Housing & tuition for a 10-wk training)
$80,032 Total (Other start up costs, moving expenses & WT Admin Fee)

Because all donations are placed into the same account, when you commit to support us monthly everything you give prior to when we arrive in France goes toward our one-time expenses. Therefore, we would desire that you begin giving as soon as you can so that we can have 100% of our one-time expenses covered before we leave for France.

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment or email us, and we’d be happy to answer you. To begin giving, complete this faith promise form and mail it to World Team.

Stay tuned for a three-part series on why we raise financial support.