Mission income declines

Income levels across more than 100 evangelical mission agencies in the UK dropped in the year to 2020 by £13 million – with the smallest missions hardest hit, a snapshot report has revealed. But missions which are more overtly involved in proclaiming the Christian message did not see a drop in income.

Eddie Arthur, a specialist in mission agency theology, reported that 105 mission agencies suffered an overall fall in income of 4.6%. Between 2018 and 2020 it declined by around 6% and it was not expected to have recovered in 2021. He said it was too early to judge the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their incomes.

The largest missions saw an increase in income but small agencies suffered a 20% drop since 2015. He also revealed that just 63 agencies said they were involved in any form of proclamation of the Christian message – with the numbers much lower for those who seek to reach out to unbelievers. No agency with an income of more than £10 million had an overt commitment to taking the gospel to unreached places.