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1. WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE?
- Central Missionary Clearinghouse, Inc. was granted a charter by the State of Texas on January 28, 1974 and was organized in Houston, Texas, on February 21, 1974. CMC is a non-profit corporation organized "to promote Christianity and its principles through evangelism and missionary endeavors, including the establishing of churches and schools, translating, printing and distributing Bibles and Christian literature, and the use of all media available to present acceptably the message of Christianity".(Quoted from the Charter) Under the laws of Texas, CMC must have a board of directors, with a minimum of three. The directors see that the organization functions as legally incorporated and approved by the Internal Revenue Service. CMC is approved as an "Exempt Organization" under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is listed in the Cumulative List of Exempt Organizations (Pub. 78, Revised 10-92, page 285) that are qualified to receive tax-deductible gifts under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In 1981 the IRS audited our books from the beginning of the organization and gave us continued approval.
More importantly, the directors oversee this ministry; seeing that it maintains its doctrinal position, its scriptural purpose and its financial integrity.
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2. IS CMC ANOTHER MISSION BOARD?
- CMC is not a mission board, but is a fundshandling agency. In the "Mission Handbook", published by Marc/Zondervan, missions are listed as SENDING agencies, SERVICE agencies or SUPPORT agencies. CMC is a Service Agency. Because we are a Service Agency, we do not qualify, approve, send or support missionaries.
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3. WHAT IS YOUR DOCTRINAL STATEMENT?
- We believe the New Testament Baptist Church is the pillar and ground of the Truth and the only depository of doctrine. Each missionary, therefore, must agree with the doctrine of the church of which he is a member (See Question 5 & 10). The directors hold to our statement of faith commonly held by fundamental Baptists. This same statement of faith was adopted by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, Springfield, Missouri, in its inception in 1950. A copy will be sent on request.
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4. WHAT IS CMC'S PHILOSOPHY OF MISSIONS?
- Basic to the philosophy of CMC is the concern that a missionary be sent to the field without control by outside organizations of people, other than his home church, his supporting churches and the Holy Spirit. In practice, this means we do not dictate to the missionary how he spends his money, how much money he can receive, or how or where he works. Agreement between CMC policies and the missionary requires certain divisions of income, such as personal support, ministry support and ministry expenses, which are for the missionary's protection. Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men." (2 Cor. 8:21) The missionary's financial arrangements are confidential to us and any information must be given by the missionary, not by our office.
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5. WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR MISSIONARIES?
- There are no qualifications such as age limit, health, education, etc. The procedure for using CMC's services ia as follows. A missionary is sponsored by the church where he is a member. He is recommended by his own pastor and commissioned by his home church. In addition, he must have the recommendation of two other fundamental Baptist pastors. These three pastors (that he has chosen) become his "missions committee". Each individual missionary is accepted by CMC based on the recommendations of the three pastors and after a consultation with the President.
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6. WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF CMC?
- CMC exists to serve the churches and missionaries by processing funds for missionary endeavor. We receive gifts from the donors, issue tax-deductible receipts, accumulate the funds in each missionary's account, prepare complete reports for the missionaries and in every way we know, provide information for the missionary that will be helpful in his relationship with the churches. Our ministry includes getting the funds to the missionary as quickly and safely as possible, using whatever method agreed upon with the missionary. On the missionary's instructions we maintain savings accounts, building funds, furlough funds, emergency funds, etc; we make bill payments, insurance premiums and keep up hospitalization and retirement programs, as well as transfer payments for taxes.
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7. IS CMC FILLING A NEED?
- Although several churches are helping missionaries by serving as their home-base, most do not have the resources to process large numbers of gifts and handle the details involved. CMC is organized to provide that service. It seems our work is acceptable to both missionaries and pastors. Without any advertising, we receive inquiries from missionaries almost every week. We feel that we are filling a need, and if so, the churches and missionaries will use us. If not, then we are satisfied, because we are simply trying to bring Glory and Honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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8. HOW MANY MISSIONARIES AND CHURCHES DOES CMC SERVE?
- More than 165 families have signed the "Missionary Agreement" and have been accepted by CMC. About that many more families are utilizing CMC services to some degree, largely because Independent Baptist Churches are also finding it convenient and economical to send their mission funds to CMC for processing. At this time, more than 3800 churches are utilizing the services of CMC.
It should be noted by individual donors that CMC makes every effort to abide by the Revenue Code governing non-profit organizations. We are committed to honor all designations of donors consistent with CMC policies and revenue laws. However, discretion in use and disposition of all tax-deductible gifts, whether designated or undesignated, is under the control of the Directors. If any designation is unacceptable, the donation will be returned.
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9. WHICH FIELDS ARE OPEN TO YOUR MISSIONARIES?
- The field is the world and CMC will serve any mission field where the missionaries desire to go. CMC does not exercise control over where the missionaries serve. In fact, we do not consider any area of the world off-limits to the missionary enterprise. CMC has included a page where you can
view a list of mission fields where missionaries using CMC are presently ministering.
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10. IN VIEW OF YOUR LACK OF ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL OVER THE MISSIONARIES, HOW DO YOU DISCIPLINE THEM?
- When a missionary is associated with CMC, he signs this agreement:
"The missionary agrees to the following procedure if in the opinion of CMC it becomes necessary. In the event a question shall arise concerning the legal, moral, doctrinal or financial integrity of the missionary, CMC shall ask for a meeting with the three pastors who signed the letters of recommendation. CMC will give them, and only them, any evidence it has to offer. The missionary is to be given sufficient notice to enable him to attend the meeting, if he desires. If these pastors decide to withdraw their recommendations, this agreement will be terminated, and the churches so notified. CMC would then continue to handle funds only in its function as a service to churches, without further responsibility to the missionary."
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11. WHAT IS YOUR FINANCIAL POLICY?
- CMC does not make appeals to the churches for home-office support nor do we ask for gifts from the missionaries. Gifts to CMC General Fund are accepted, of course, but are not solicited.
Missionaries are not asked to subsidize CMC or to support its operation. They are asked to "pay their own way". They simply reimburse the office on a pre-arranged scale for actual expenses incurred and services rendered.
The increasing number of missionary families utilizing CMC facilities with only word-of-mouth endorsement, indicates satisfaction with CMC financial policies. Any questions about these policies should be addressed to CMC's President.
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12. WHO IS YOUR PRESIDENT?
- CMC founder and President is Rev. Jack Bridges, Pastor Emeritus of the Central Baptist Church of Pasadena, Texas. He received the Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Bible Baptist Seminary of Fort Worth, Texas, in 1946, and served four years as associate pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Tyler, Texas.
In 1950, he organized the Freeway Baptist Church of Houston, Texas, which he pastored for 14 years. In 1964 he became Assistant Director of Missions for the Baptist Bible Fellowship, Springfield, Missouri, and in May, 1968, he became Director, where he served until November 16, 1973. He then became pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Pasadena, Texas, until June 28, 1992, when he retired from the pastorate in order to work full-time with CMC.
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13. WHERE SHOULD OUR MISSIONARY SUPPORT BE SENT?
- All operations of CMC have been consolidated in the Houston, Texas area. Therefore, all missionary contributions and support should be sent directly to our one mailing address:
CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77218-9228
Field addresses for missionaries are available by calling 1-800-CMC-PRAY. Our fax number is 281-599-7511.
Note: Tapes, packages and personal mail should be sent directly to the missionary!
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