We arrived safely in Seattle, WA on April 29 for our home assignment time this year. We have a new apartment home in Lacey, WA where we can begin our work in saying thanks to our donors and supporting churches. With Covid19 and travel restrictions, our plans are now on hold for visiting. However, we are preparing to do virtual meetings in the near future. Read further for the Monthly Matching Giving Campaign.

This was a full year of ministry and seeing new opportunities for the future in Japan. Lee Ann’s full-time English teaching assignment at Soshin Girls School has come to a close. Unfortunately, due to the virus, the farewell celebrations and graduations were cancelled. Some teachers and students made a special effort to say thanks. Gordon’s volunteer English teaching at the Elementary school also came to an end without saying good bye’s because the school closed so abruptly. But, some of the 5th graders made farewell cards for him! We are hoping to return to teach part-time for one more term if our support reaches 100% again. 

Support

Currently, we are at 55% of our support goal. Here’s how you may consider helping us in reaching our monthly support goal. This month, IM is encouraging new monthly donors and existing monthly donors to increase their support.  You can double your impact of giving! Generous donors have provided a $239,100 matching fund to help IM missionaries meet their Personalized Support Goals (PSGs)! PSGs are annual budgets that all IM missionaries must raise in order to continue working where God has called them. These funds allow us to care for basic needs, travel to remote areas, cover medical expenses, and meet other ministry expenses that arise in the course of our service.

During Monthly Giving Match 2020, when you commit to a new monthly gift for 12 months toward a missionary’s PSG, your total donation will be matched, up to $5,000 per missionary unit. For example, if you begin a new $50 monthly donation, your total annual donation ($600) will be matched—this means your designated IM missionary will receive your $600 gift, plus a $600 match amount for a total of $1,200 toward his or her PSG this year!

Here are the rules:

Match Eligibility

• NEW or INCREASED monthly recurring donations to Missionary Support only
• Online donations must be made through the Monthly Giving Match page (either self-service or by calling Donor Services)
• Donations by check must note Monthly Giving Match, the Missionary Name, and if it is New or an increased amount of an existing recurring monthly donation

Match Calculation

• 12 months of NEW or INCREASED (amount of increase) donations will be matched. Examples: New $100 monthly recurring donation matched $1,200. Existing $100 monthly recurring donation increased to $150 matched $600

Limits

• Each Missionary Unit may be matched up to $5,000
• Donations to Standard Appointment Missionaries only
• Any funds not matched as indicated above may be allocated to additional Missionary Support or to the General Fund

Notes

• Credit card donations are strongly encouraged/preferred
• Donors who may be uncomfortable with the internet may call Donor Services to place their gift over the phone
• Existing donors must create a new online donation rather than increasing an existing online donation. Donor Services can/may combine these donations later but they need to be kept separate initially to correctly calculate the match amount.

With Thanks and much Love,

Gordon and Lee Ann Hwang