(TrinityFi) Almost four years have passed since Gospel for Asia (GFA), the global promoter of native missionaries, settled a class action lawsuit for $37 million. GFA has finished paying back $37 million to former donors (Editor’s Note. They were accused of only sending 13%of its donations to the mission field instead of their promosed and advertised 100% ) The settlement agreement also required GFA to “publish annual reports of all work accomplished with donated funds.”
While the 2022 annual report is not yet available, we can review the 2021 annual report.
If the annual report is accurate, GFA provided water for 39 million people, sponsored 142,000 children and taught 27,000 women to read. While the reports of charitable activities are impressive, there is no disclosure of how much these activities cost.
The GFA annual report doesn’t disclose total assets, travel costs, legal expenses or other financial numbers that cautious donors may wish to review before giving. By claiming to be a church or association of churches, GFA also avoids filing the IRS Form 990 which discloses salaries of top ministry executives and features an itemized statement of expenses. *
Understanding Restricted Donations
GFA collects money for constructing church buildings, drilling water wells, supporting missionaries, child sponsorship and livestock. But does the money reach its intended recipient?
As required by the settlement, GFA’s website features a disclaimer which says, “Regardless of particular designations, moneys are raised for ministry purposes, and GFA retains discretion to use donated funds in any manner that serves our charitable objectives.”
Imagine giving money to support a missionary and then learning the missionary family or church never received the funds.
In 2019…to continue reading, click here.
Editor’s Note. This article was writen by Barry Bowen and published at TrinityFi
