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Frequently Asked Questions |
1. How did
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach
start?
The founder, Dr. Tim A Smith,
felt that while there were many mission organizations
fulfilling their respective vision objectives, there were
very few that gave opportunity for the individual missionary
to fulfill his/her personal vision. There are many unique
‘one of a kind’ mission opportunities that were unfilled
because they did not fit the profile of an existing mission
sending agency. Ripe For Harvest
World Outreach does not lower the
standards for the individual missionary candidate but
broadens the base of opportunities to which the applicants
can qualify. Dr. Smith, raised on the mission field himself,
wants the qualified missionary candidate to be able to
answer the Lord’s request to ‘Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’ (Mt.
9:37).
2. Where did the name come from?
This ministry began in 1979 as White Harvest Missions under
which name it operated until 1994. To better reflect the
newer Bible translations it was reincorporated as
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach. Then in 2006 it was reincorporated again as
both a mission organization and a church using
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach. The verse that reflects this name is John 4:35b, “I
tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are
ripe for harvest”.
3. How are missionaries paid?
Each missionary raises his/her own financial support though
friends, family, business, and supporting churches. These
donors send their support gifts to
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach where the monies are disbursed to cover
the missionary’s salary and expenses.
4. How are candidates selected?
See Candidate Criteria.
5. How many countries do you have staff members?
Currently there are 125 missionaries representing 30
countries and 15 states in the US.
6. If I apply to be a missionary with
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach
and am accepted, can I pick my own country and mission
project?
Yes. When the Lord has placed a particular country and
people group on your heart, the role of
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach
is to help you answer that specific call.
7. Do I need to learn a foreign language to be a
missionary with Ripe For Harvest World Outreach?
It depends on the country and/or mission project selected.
Needless to say, knowing the language of a particular
country goes a long way in helping share the Gospel of
Christ, but there are many mission opportunities where there
are no language requirements.
8. Do your missionaries receive any ‘benefits’ such as
retirement and health insurance?
Yes, we have a 403b plan and use
www.missionaryhealth.net as our insurance carrier.
9. Is Ripe For Harvest World Outreach a non-profit ministry?
Yes, we are incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
organization and have received a ruling by the IRS as
tax-exempt. The Board of Directors govern the organization
and set the staff and field compensation and expense
policies and procedures. The board serves without pay.
10. What are your doctrinal beliefs?
See the Ripe For Harvest
World Outreach Statement of
Faith or visit
www.NAE.net/statementoffaith.
11. Do you have ‘short term mission trips’?
Not in the sense of working with groups or individual
missionaries for a two or four week ‘work’ trip. Short term
in mission circles is considered one or two years and yes,
we encourage you to consider this time frame. However, many
of our mission staff are long term career missionaries.
12. What kind of training and or supervision does
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach provide?
Many of our missionaries are career missionaries
transferring from another mission sending agency and have
extensive training and experience either on the field or in
academia. However, for those with limited training or
experience, Ripe For
Harvest World Outreach helps the individual
through books, training manuals, Internet sites and articles
which can help them achieve the needed skills to be an
effective ‘worker in the harvest field’ (Mt. 9:37). Periodic
field visits by home office staff add to the training as
well as give supervision to each missionary. Periodic
written field activity reports back to the home office are
required.
13. Do missionaries ever get together?
Yes, once every two years an international mission staff
conference is held somewhere in the United States.
Missionaries meet together for fellowship, training,
networking, evaluations, inspiring Bible teaching, and
speakers on topics such as support raising, writing
prayer/newsletters, and cross-cultural communication
techniques. A commissioning service is held and there’s
plenty of time for fun and fellowship.
14. Is the missionary an independent contractor or W-2
employee?
W-2 employee.
15. If I apply as a missionary with Ripe For Harvest
World Outreach,
what types of mission activities can I be involved in?
We have pastors, evangelists, youth workers, language,
medical, aviation, and church planting specialists, mission
school teachers, ESL teachers, performing artists (i.e. singers, musicians,
actors, illusionists),
writers, Bible conference speakers, seminar leaders, and
many other ministry opportunities too numerous to mention.
16. What are the administrative costs in being a
missionary with Ripe For Harvest World Outreach?
Like all mission organizations and churches, there are home
office expenses that need to be covered. This includes rent,
staff salaries, accountants, legal counsel, required IRS
reporting, postage and mailing supplies, operating supplies,
travel for field visits, computer programming and
maintenance, and just the everyday expense of running an
office. Since 1979 this has amounted to no more than 10% of
each donated dollar. All the rest goes back to the
missionary and his/her work.
17. What makes Ripe For Harvest World Outreach unique?
This organization was founded by
Dr.
Tim Smith with the idea that each person has a personal
vision they want to fulfill. Dr. Smith spent 20 years with
other para-church organizations including the
Billy
Graham Organization,
Campus Crusade Jesus Film Project, and
Sports World
Ministries. In each of these organizations he was
helping to fulfill their wonderful founders’ vision and
considered it a privilege to help them. But it still did not
help him fulfill his mission: to help individuals fulfill
their personal vision. Ripe For
Harvest World Outreach gives each
missionary the opportunity to fulfill their God-called
vision by handling the day to day administrative and home
office duties to keep the ministry in compliance with all
the legal, civic, and governmental agencies.
18. Should I start my own 501(c)3 non-profit church or
organization?
Absolutely! But, if you are not gifted, knowledgeable, have
an interest in administration, nor the time to devote to
your new organization, then join us and let us do the paper
work and you do your ministry. For we feel that this is our
ministry. Ephesians 4:11-12 says it best: “It was he who
gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare
God’s people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up”. We are the ones to prepare you for
‘works of service’!
19. How do I give to Ripe For Harvest World Outreach and/or one of its
missionaries?
Simply write a check made payable to
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach,
2824 N. Power Rd #113282, Mesa, AZ 85215-1672. If it is
for a specific missionary or mission project indicate the
designation on separate slip of paper included with your
check. You may also use our
Electronic Donations Form. You will receive a tax deductible receipt and a
return envelope.
20. What steps do I take to apply as a missionary
candidate?
Go to the Missionary Candidate page
and download each of the forms, fill them out and mail to
Dr. Tim Smith, Ripe For Harvest World Outreach, 2824 N. Power Rd #113282,
Mesa, AZ 85215-1672. Upon being accepted by the
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach mission board then begin notifying your prayer
partners and donors along with your supporting churches and
make preparation to go to the field of God’s choosing for
you!
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Ripe For Harvest World
Outreach
QUICK FACTS. . .
Founded in 1979
Over 125 missionaries
Ministries in over 30 countries of the world
A non-denominational mission-sending agency
Our missionaries are involved in evangelism,
discipleship, church planting, teaching, prison
ministries, conference speaking, Bible
translation, ESL opportunities, spiritual
counseling, music & creative arts evangelism,
house parenting in mission schools and
orphanages, and many other ministries that are
“Ripe For Harvest.” (John 4:35b)
Click
HERE to
meet Dr. Tim Smith, President of Ripe For
Harvest World Outreach
Click HERE
to view our Statement of Faith
Click
HERE
for a Printable Brochure (8 1/2" x 14")
Members of the
National Association of Evangelicals
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