State of the Ministry, January 2013

In the past 12 months (December 1, 2011, to November 30, 2012) we have seen the greatest number of new members (5,280) join Samaritan Ministries, more than in any other year in our history of health care sharing. Our net growth during this period was 3,107 households, more than 16 percent.

To help put the growth in new members in perspective, when Samaritan began in September 1994 with the very first member household (my family), it took 64 months to reach household number 5,280. What happened this past year took more than five years at the beginning of the ministry.

When I first saw the number 5,280, it seemed familiar, and I quickly realized that it is the number of feet in a mile. Jesus said that if someone should compel you to go one mile, go with him two. In this case, I’m looking forward to mile number two.

I’m confident that our growth is largely because of people like you telling your family and friends about Samaritan Ministries. While we try to get the word out by various means, such as magazines, radio, and conferences, our best advertising comes from our members. You tell others we may never reach, and your personal testimonies enhance our other advertising efforts. With your help, and the Lord’s continued blessing, this coming year can be even better than another “mile” of 5,280 members.

Of course, numerical growth is not an end in itself. The purpose of our health care sharing ministry is to enable brothers and sisters in Christ to bear one another’s medical burdens with prayer and encouragement, as well as financial help. We cannot measure the prayers that have been offered, although we do have testimonies from members about their power and effectiveness.

Financially, health care costs have continued to rise, and Samaritan members are not immune to these increases. In May, following prorating in seven of the previous 12 months, members overwhelmingly voted to approve a share increase proposal that took effect in June, two years from the previous share increase. Our monthly share amounts are now $150 for one-person memberships, $300 for two persons, $215 for single-parent families (divorced or widowed), and $355 for families of three or more persons, and we are sharing $6 million each month in medical needs.

We were encouraged to see how God provided for the unpublished amounts of needs during the prorated months. First, many health care providers reduced their charges to members whose needs were prorated. Then gifts by members to our pro rata fund made up the difference. We are not aware of any members whose needs were prorated who did not have their needs met in full, either by provider reductions, pro rata donations, or other provision from the Lord.

Another place where we see the effect of rising costs is in our Save to Share™ ministry for needs that exceed $250,000. Nearly 10,200 of our member households have also joined in Save to Share™, and together they have set aside nearly $6 million to help with one another’s extremely large needs. There have been an increasing number of these needs in recent months, and Save to Share™ members have given nearly $750,000 this year for the needs of fellow Save to Share™ members.

For the entire history of Samaritan Ministries, new members have sent their annual fee and the shares for their first three months to the office. Continuing members have sent only their annual fee to the office. This makes the ministry heavily dependent on income from new members, and the Board of Directors has instructed the staff to develop a structure that will be sustainable no matter how many new members are coming in.

We hope to have something to present to you before the middle of the year. The proposal we are working on would spread the annual fee over a 12-month period, so the amount sent each month would be a little higher, but the load would be evenly divided. You would still be able to tell how much of your money is going to needs because need money would be sent directly to other members just as it is now. The only money used for administrative expenses would still be what is sent to the SMI office. We will be giving you more information as soon as we have the details worked out. Please be praying for us as we tackle this challenge.

Changes in government regulation of the health care system continue to present major challenges to people of Biblical faith. With the full implementation of the federal health care law scheduled for 2014, and with health care provisions from other laws already being enacted, the impact on Christians and on all citizens is becoming increasingly clear.

Most insurance policies will now be required to cover birth control, including abortion-inducing-drugs, as well as abortion itself, to receive government approval. All citizens will be required to be covered by an approved government plan. But under the health care law, members of health care sharing ministries, like Samaritan, meet the insurance requirement without using these morally reprehensible policies (see United States Code 26, Section 5000A(d)(2)(B)).

God has provided a way for Christians to help one another with health care needs without supporting practices that violate our faith. We have a “good news” message that all Christians and Christian ministries need to know. It is becoming more important than ever for Christians to work together in the practice of our faith.

There is more interest now than ever in health care sharing. We are receiving more inquiries every day. As we look forward to making it possible for more members to join us, we are working to expand and upgrade our ability to serve. We are also working to establish an interactive website where members can be served online.

In a recent letter, we told you more about the efforts we are making to improve our technological capabilities, and we asked for your prayers and financial support. We continue to need your prayers in this challenging and exciting time. We also could use any financial support you may be able to give. While it is too late to receive a tax deduction for 2012, it is not too late to give. If you are able to help, you can use the form at the bottom of your share slip to designate your gift.

We appreciate your involvement in this strategic ministry God is using to enable members of the Body of Christ to work together in a Biblical way. Please be praying that the Lord would use all of us working together to further His Kingdom on earth. Let’s move on to the second mile, the third mile, and more.

For The Kingdom!