Ephraim House’ partnership with Pioneers Oceania & Trellis has seen the arrival of a missionary couple from Papua New Guinea (Manasa & Rhoda Bogo) and the Ahana family from Lagos, Nigeria!

While there are many cross-cultural layers to navigate, one of the layers that is the driving force behind mobilising missionaries from countries with low GDP is the layer of managing financial support and budgets. Cross-cultural missions sees all sorts of support programmes that are different to our Western ways of raising regular, consistent financial support on a weekly or monthly basis.

Ephraim House in partnership with Trellis and Pioneers Oceania, is uniquely setup to allow for innovative ways for missionaries from low GDP countries to have their expenses covered so they can continue to serve effectively amongst Australia’s First Nation’s people, and still, with integrity uphold Australia’s taxation laws.

How? and What expenses can be covered by Ephraim House to supplement local support funds raised by the Missionaries home countries?

Ministry Accommodation Expenses
Thanks to Melos Education Ltd, Ephraim House rents 3 houses on our ministry site, so missionaries are able to live on site without having private rental agreements and expenses. It also helps Maruma-li Community Ministries benefit from GST claims, and feed these benefits back into property operation expenses!

We are able to offer accommodation to missionary families at a reduced board rate, and use money that is donated to further reduce these expenses. We are also able to reduce this rate if families contribute voluntary hours towards the maintenance of the properties.

For example:

Real costs to run 1 House:

Rent to Melos: $350 per week
Electricity: $100 per week
Basic Maintenance: $50 per week

Expense Reductions:

GST Benefit/Deduction: $41.66
Financial Contributions from Supporters: $100
Voluntary Hours of Maintenance: $200

= Weekly expense to missionaries
= $158.34

Ministry Travel, Transport & Vehicle Expenses

The vehicles that Missionaries use when serving with Ephraim House are owned by Ephraim House, and therefore all of the associated expenses (fuel, maintenance, repair) are paid for by Ephraim House, rather than the missionaries. The ministry work here also involves alot of travelling. Missionary families are invited to put fuel in vehicles for personal or individual travel that is not part of a specific ministry programme. Money that is donated into this Missionary Expenses support account can be used to reduce the costs to missionaries but still cover essential maintenance and repair costs.

We can also claim, GST free all travel related expenses including train trips, flights, taxis, buses etc. We are also registered with Australia’s major airlines for additional points benefits and discounts as a business.

For example:

1. If the Bogos travel from Moree to Goodooga (330km oneway / 660km return) they can opt to request that support funds raised cover that trip at the EHM travel rate $0.60c / km. = 660 x 0.60 = $396. They will pay to refuel the vehicle using the EHM fuel card, and the $396 will be transferred from the EHM Missionaries Support account to the MCM Operations account, and this claim recorded accordingly. The $396 covers fuel and contribute to vehicle maintenance and servicing costs.

• 2. The Ahana’s need to fly to Sydney for ministry related meetings. Ephraim House is able to book their flights, with discounts and avilable points through Qantas and less GST, and then the total cost less reductions is taken out of their Ephraim House Support Fund balance.

Internet & Mobile Costs

Internet & Mobile Costs are provided to each of the missionary families. Support funds raised can be claimed against these expenses from support budgets. Approx cost for Internet and Mobile = $30 per month per support family.

Groceries for Living on-site

Groceries for those living on-site are considered a property operation expense to Ephraim House and can be claimed from a missionary family’s support fund budget. There is often not a lot of GST in groceries, but amounts claimed are less GST if any.

Missionary Support Statements

Each missionary family will be given a monthly statement showing how much support has been raised to cover their ministry related expenses. Any support expenses that fall outside their available budget, will need to be covered by their other supports raised through their sending organisation / church.

How can we partner and support this Innovative Missions Support initiative?

We would love to get in contact with you and discuss ways your church, missions committee, youth group or family can support andcontribute to this fund – either on a one-off basis or reguarly. Please either give Paul (0438758629) or Erin (0413115558) a call, or send an email to erin.s@piexoc.com

Bank Account Details for Missionary Expenses

Financial contributions can be made to:
(Please note these are NOT Tax Deductible Donations)

Account Name: Ephraim House Moree
BSB: 012735
Account: 327370353

Reference: Bogo / Ahana Support – If wish to make a general allocation to the support fund just write ‘general’.
To request a receipt please email office@marumali.org