The Bottom Line
Where the Money Goes
Harold Lance
07/15/2012
During the past 30 years, ASI has provided encouragement and financial assistance to hundreds of Seventh-day Adventist schools, hospitals, outposts, publications, lay ministries, colleges, orphanages, training centers, and health care facilities. It has sponsored thousands of new One-Day Churches and schools, church roofs, picture rolls, evangelism training for thousands vis- à-vis the ASI New Beginnings DVD evangelism training series, and much more. An estimated $1 million has been generated from the annual special projects offering at each ASI convention, as well as from its ripple effect.
The 1980 ASI Convention held in upstate New York resulted in the first $100,000 offering, with ASI leadership quickly catching the vision for matching the giving potential of ASI members and supporters. Since the early 1980s, the ASI special projects offering has gradually increased in both amount and number of ministries and entities assisted. Typically, the offering goal is between $1 million and $2 million, and the number of selected recipients is between 30 and 40.
Each applicant completes a thorough written application process that includes verification of nonprofit and corporate status, review of recent financial statements along with a list of officers and board members, and confirmation that the ministry is committed to the mission and message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The application process also requires a carefully projected budget plan and proposal concerning the project to be funded. Project leaders are required to be Adventist church members in regular standing. ASI Missions Inc. board members prayerfully review each application.
Selected recipients typically receive half of the designated funds in December following the annual ASI convention. The other half is remitted the following spring after the project ministry has provided an initial project report that describes progress made. A final report is also required, showing how the monies were spent and providing pictures and verification that the project was completed as originally proposed.
The criteria followed in selecting projects include the strong likelihood that the project will significantly advance the mission and message of the Adventist Church. Local church projects and regular budget needs generally are not approved.
This year, ASI has selected 37 projects to receive grants from the funds gathered at the 2012 ASI International Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. An offering goal of $1,263,000 has been set. Each project will receive a designated amount, and two will additionally each receive half of the offering overflow. ASI is thankful for the generosity of those who give every year to support these worthy projects and to advance the kingdom of heaven.
See page 28 for the story behind ASI’s special offering projects.
