The Advance: What It Is and How to Give

December 7, 2011

As a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries, funds from The Advance bring my ministry and mission to life.

In Nebraska, it means watching the financial support of congregations and individuals become a community garden in the parking lot of an organization serving Hispanic senior citizens.  The money we receive through The Big Garden’s Advance number provides the literal seeds that create food for our neighbors.

When I served in Mongolia, it meant that financial gifts made through the Advance provided the mission center with the means to begin a kindergarten, strengthen its home hospice ministry and heat the church when it was -40 degrees outside.  The money given through the Advance projects in Mongolia enabled practical, life-giving ministry to be done in the name of Jesus.

Your gifts through The Advance breathe life into the mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church.

There are over 1,000 projects and 300 missionaries around the world which can be supported through the Advance. All Advance projects go through an approval process that ensures accountability, integrity and transparency. Because it’s the designated giving arm of The United Methodist Church, all administrative costs are covered by church apportionments.

“I find The Advance to be one of the most powerful ministries of the United Methodist Church for a number of reasons,” United Methodist Ministries Executive Director Stephanie Ahlschwede said. “It offers one-stop ‘shopping’ for designated giving; it supports both domestic and international ministries; guarantees that 100% of the gift will go directly to the project for which it was given; and offers both congregations and individuals the opportunity to live out what it means to be part of a connectional Church.”

All Advance projects must be affiliated with the United Methodist Church or a partner of the UMC. Congregations and individuals can search for projects based on their passions or interests, including by regions or types of ministry.

“Often a church will decide to support a missionary as well as the project with which the missionary works so that their financial and prayerful support is holistic of the ministry,” said Rachael Barnett, mission support liaison for The Advance.

An example of this cohesive approach to support through the Advance would be supporting both the Big Garden (3021107) and missionary Lisa Maupin (3021274), who serves as a Church and Community Worker here at United Methodist Ministries in Omaha.

Churches can get credit for their donations when they note online which congregation the donation is from. This allows the missionary or project coordinators to know their supporters and helps the church track their giving.

The heart of giving through The Advance is the bridge it forms between United Methodists and United Methodist projects around the world.

“Many churches that support a missionary don’t wait for the missionary to visit the church, but plan a trip to visit the missionary through a Volunteers in Mission team,” said Barnett. “Some churches that support the UMC in other countries will Skype with their partner church across the sea and share in bible study and worship together via the Internet!”

Connect to the mission and ministry of the UMC and find a project or missionary to support through the Advance this year. To find potential projects, go to www.advancinghope.org.

If you have questions about giving through The Advance, you can contact Rachael Barnett at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Advance projects and missionaries located in Nebraska:

The Big Garden- 3021107

Lisa Maupin, Church and Community Worker- 3021274

Randy Hilderbrant, Church and Community Worker- 982961

Jalingo UMC Orphanage- 3021070

By: Erin Eidenshink, United Methodist Ministries staff member

General Board of Global Ministries Young Adult Missionary