Divine Voyagers

As we head into a new year, and people begin to consider their finances, it is as good a time to consider giving to overseas mission. As we ask for your partnership with us, we want to be above board, so here is (hopefully) everything you need to know about supporting us financially. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out via DMs or the contact page on this blog. 

Why give?

Jesus commissioned his people to go to the nations to spread the good news. 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
(Matthew 28:19-20)

Some people are able to go and do that in person, which is what we are willing to do. Some people aren’t able to do that, but they are able to help free up others to do mission in person. By financially partnering with a missionary, you are making sure that they can settle into a new place and not have to rely on working full time to support themselves, meaning that they can do ministry more freely, particularly in places where there is no church to support them, as a church would ideally support a minister. 

By financially partnering with a missionary, you’re a part of unreached people hearing the gospel. That’s why it’s called partnership – we are fulfilling the Great Commission together. 

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”
(Luke 10:1-2)

Who is the money going to?

In short, the money goes through our missions organisation, Pioneers, to us. Part of it will go towards paying a superannuation, but most of it will get paid weekly. This system is to keep everything above board and make sure we have enough to live sustainably overseas. Anything over our personal budget will either go towards supporting bigger projects (such as renting out space for a church) or as a consideration towards the goal for the next time we fundraise (as in, we could realise that we didn’t spend as much as we thought and have a lower goal). 

10% of our budget also goes towards supporting the work of Pioneers Australia and paying staff who in turn support us (for example, counsellors and accountants) and 2% goes to Pioneers International to support other missionaries around the world. 

What is the money for?

Regular support helps us live week to week. This includes groceries, bills and rent. It also includes going to conferences, regular training, and vacation time. As much as we want to be wise with using the money people are giving us, rest periods add to the sustainability of living overseas long term without burning out. 

We also need to fulfil a one-off start up budget for things that only need to be paid for once. This includes language lessons, furniture, moving costs and a car. This means our budget for our first term is the largest, but at least we only have to do it once!

The budget may also be affected in the future by paid work, for instance if Patty starts teaching at the local Christian school, but this can’t be factored in until it actually happens. 

We also want to add that we are paying for our dog, Luna, to move overseas with us out of our own savings. This is a decision we have made again to support longevity, but the money will not come from our funds raised.

When do you need it?

Pioneers has a policy of not allowing people to book tickets until they have raised 80% of their budget, including pledges of future support. This means that we are asking for support before we have even left! Our goal is to leave at the end of 2025, God willing, so we are starting the journey of partnership now. 

Are there other ways to support you?

Definitely.
At the bottom of each blog post so far, there have been some prayer points – continued prayer would be appreciated, especially around the obstacle of funds. Ultimately, we are trying to have the mindset that we aren’t asking people for their hard earned cash, but asking God to provide so we can do what we reckon he is asking us to do. There is no way we’re going to be able to do it without him.

If you are praying for us, or have been encouraged by something you see/read, please let us know. You can do that in person, via message or through this website. Thank you to those who are already doing so.  

Once we do move overseas, there will also be space for practical partnership, like staying in touch. More to come on that. 

So, all that being said…

How do I give?

You can go to this link and when it asks you who you would like to give to, put in Tom and Patty Guthrie.

Thank you for reading this and considering supporting us – it means a lot and we hope to genuinely partner both through this blog and in other ways as we go as God has called us. Please be praying that others would be moved to support us, and also for fundraisers happening, the first of which is on the 22nd of March!