2) Tell me about the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
3) How large is the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church?
4) How is the work of World Witness directed?
5) What about the day-to-day activities?
6) On how many fields does World Witness have work?
7) Must World Witness missionaries be of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination?
8) What about doctrinal differences?
9) Is there a statement of faith?
11) Must the missionary raise his own support?
12) What about the financial resources of the missionary on the field?
13) What if my friends send in donations?
15) What about personnel benefits?
1) Who is World Witness?
World Witness is the Board of Foreign Missions of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. World Witness was incorporated in the State of South Carolina in 1907 as the Board of Foreign Missions of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
World Witness is a member of EFMA (Evangelical Foreign Mission Association), ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment), and ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability).
2) Tell me about the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is an historic Presbyterian church with congregations from Canada to Florida but primarily located in the southeast United States. It shares common historical roots with other Presbyterian Churches. The ARP Church was formed as a union of the Associate and Reformed Presbyterian Churches in 1782 in Philadelphia. It is characterized as a conservative, evangelical church.
3) How large is the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church?
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is made up of over 200 churches and approximately 34,000 members in the Southeast United States.
4) How is the work of World Witness directed?
The work of World Witness is directed by a volunteer board, which is elected on six-year rotating terms by the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. There are twelve elected members, our treasurer, and a representative of the Women's Synodical Union.
5) What about the day-to-day activities?
World Witness maintains its offices in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination headquarters, 1 Cleveland Street Suite 220, Greenville, SC 29601. The Executive Director with his staff carries out the day-to-day activities of administration, promotion, and coordination of the work on the field.
6) On how many fields does World Witness have work?
Current work is maintained in Mexico, Pakistan, the Middle East, Russia, Germany, and with Persians. Through cooperatives, work is carried on in Spain, Singapore, West Asia, Africa and international students in the U.S.
7) Must World Witness missionaries be of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination?
For short-term no, but for career yes. Short-term missionaries maintain their own denominational affiliation. Career missionaries are already members of the denomination or take the time to become members. World Witness strongly believes the missionary should be bonded to the part of the Body of Christ that is sending it out in missionary service.
8) What about doctrinal differences?
A part of the screening process carried out by the Candidate and Personnel Committees of the Board of World Witness ensures that all candidates are appropriately comfortable with the Presbyterian and Reformed nature of World Witness. This policy minimizes the possibility of major doctrinal differences on the field.
9) Is there a statement of faith?
The basic Statement of Faith of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination is the Westminster Confession.
10) What about finances?
A copy of our previous year's financial statement is available in the Annual Minutes of the ARP Synod. You will note that the proportionate distribution of the World Witness cash flow is in a healthy balance. Promotion and administration take approximately eight percent of the World Witness dollar. In addition to the finances shown as current income and expenditures, the Board of World Witness maintains reserve funds.
11) Must the missionary raise his own support?
World Witness policy is that the home office works together with the missionary in securing enough partners and supporters to send the missionary out fully supported. Short-term missionaries are responsible for raising their own support. The goal is to develop partner relationships with congregations and individuals in the manner that Paul partnered with the Philippian church. They knew each other, prayed for each other, and the Philippians were involved in meeting the physical needs of Paul. Support levels are uniform and determined by the Board of World Witness according to current policy.
12) What about the financial resources of the missionary on the field?
World Witness does not believe in sending missionaries empty handed to the field. Missionaries are provided with ample project and work funds for their assignment.
13) What if my friends send in donations?
Because the home office and administrative expenses of World Witness are maintained by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination, 100 percent of all gifts and donations received for the support of missionaries, their projects, or personal use go to the cause designated by the donor. Absolutely no deductions are made for administration, handling, or forwarding of these funds. All donations for the work of World Witness, of course, are income-tax deductible.
14) What about the family?
We of World Witness have a very high view of the family and the need for families to stay together as a unit. For couples, both the husband and wife are screened by the Board and appointed to foreign missions; however, an assignment is only given to the husband. The wife goes to the field as a wife and homemaker. She is encouraged to become involved in assignments on the field to the limit of her ability and time without sacrificing her responsibilities at home. Parents are never "forced" to send their children to boarding school.
15) What about personnel benefits?
All career missionaries (assignment for over three years) are under the total personnel policy and benefits of World Witness. This includes health insurance, pension plan, life insurance, Social Security, housing, travel and other benefits.