(FAQ's) Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Where is your office located?

As of December 2014 YMI (Youth Missions International) main office is located in Seattle,WA. We are directly next to CenturyLink Field However, there are offices and team members in several states within the U.S. and we have other YMI field offices in the UK, Brazil & Peru. My work station is located in the Seattle office and I am commuting by Sounder Train from Tacoma. 


2. What is BASE Sports? 

 History: "Headquartered in Seattle, Base Sports became a division of Youth Missions International (YMI) in July of 2013. After years of growth of its own sports camps, and in line with the global reach of sports ministry, Base was formed to take sports ministry to a whole new level. Staff members have joined YMI's effort that have a combined 28 years of experience in sports ministry and will ensure that this vital ministry continues to flourish and grow under Base Sports."
         
Purpose: "To equip the local church with sports ministry tools that enact life change and develop fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ." 

Equip churches and individuals to use sports as a tool to share the word and love of God.

Provide opportunities for children to learn skills and grow in their personal faith.

Engage with local churches to offer different types of sports ministry that will impact their local communities.

Produce curriculum and training that will create effective ministry.

Prepare young people to live and share their faith in the global communities they serve.

      

3. What exactly is a "Church Relations Coordinator?" 
         
I wear a few different "hats" as the CRC for Base Sports. They include Sales & Evangelism, Encourager & Cheerleader. We are heading into our summer season, which is the biggest season for Base Sports as you can imagine. So for now my primary role will be a liason between the churches we currently have signed up to do Sports camps with Base Sports/YMI. I will be available to answer questions, give direction, provide resources and my favorite part to build relationship with and pray for the Children and Youth directors that will be using our curriculum and teams. Once the fall comes, I will also spend quite a bit of time recruiting churches and selling them our curriculum and generally educating them on the significance Sports Ministry can have in their church. Underneath it all; my personal intent is to get the word of God and Jesus' love into the hearts of as many children & youth as possible. 
          

4.  Why do you need to raise your own support? 
          
YMI is a 5013C non-profit organization. We are fully staffed by "Volunteers" and recognized as a Missions Organization. Each staff member from the Director/President on down is self-funded like any other Missions organization. In order to fulfill the call God gave us to serve Him full time with this organization, we each need to get donations from friends, family, churches etc... in order to pay our personal and household bills. 


5. How Much money are you asking for/do you need to raise? 
I am blessed that I do not need to raise quite as much as some of my co-workers. As of February 2015 my total monthly need is $1,250. This primarily covers taxes, retirement (required by the org) health insurance etc... less than half of this money will go to pay my household bills. This need will change (go up) however as my kids get older. I hope to have 30-40 people commit to supporting me monthly, with a donation of $35-50. Will you consider being one of them? (All donations are tax-deductible) 
          

5. How do I send you money? 

You may send a check-
                    payable to: Youth Mission International. 
                    mail to: 901 Occidental Ave. South. Suite 304 
                                Seattle, WA 98134
                    designate: MIA POWELL on the Memo line
                                      --OR--
You may pay online- 
*Click the link below or go to www.ymimissions.org and scroll to the bottom of the page and click "give". 
*Please fill out the donor/billing information & the frequency which you are giving. 
*Designate: MIA POWELL in the "comments" section.  

                                http://www.ymimissions.org/give/

6. How do I know the money is being spent wisely, what form of accountability is there? 

* First of all YMI is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (EFCA) http://www.ecfa.org/. A national organization for many Christian Non-profits; that helps to maintain ethics and accountability.

* We also have a board of directors that meets quarterly and along with many other decisions they are responsible for, they oversee the spending of money for the org as a whole. 

* For myself personally... all the money you donate designated directly to me, is filtered through YMI. I receive an actual paycheck directly from YMI 2 times per month. 
        
* I will have an annual review of my spending with HR department to assess both my "needs" and make any adjustments as well as to make sure that the money I am getting is being spent wisely etc... 
         
*It's encouraged for YMI staffers to not use Credit cards often, to avoid debt where possible and not default on any payments for any of their household bills.