In an interview with Debbie, she shared with us a few details about her 42-year tenure here in the Mission Office.  Debbie’s role is very integral to our day-to-day functionality and helps bring continuity with her valuable history with three Mission Directors through the years.  We encourage you to submit any questions or words of appreciation to Debbie at debbie@bbfimissions.com.

Tell how and when you came to the Mission Office and what your role is here.

I began working in the Mission Office April 23, 1976 as a computer programmer.  My responsibilities have changed several times during the years that I have been here.  Currently, my title is database administrator, which means that I know what information is stored in the computer and I write reports pertaining to the data.  In a small office, no matter what your official title is, you do more than one job.  I send out missionary end-of-month statements each month, take care of missionary Personal Compensation Worksheets (PCWs), and answer lots of questions. (Keep those questions coming, I consider it job security.)  I also take care of preparing and sending 1099 and 1095 information at the end of the year.  There are many other things that I get to help with, but these are my primary responsibilities.

Tell us about your family.

My husband Bennie and I have been married for 47 years and had 3 sons.  Our first son died when he was three weeks old of congestive heart failure. Our second son was killed in a car accident just before his 30^th birthday.  We have one son left and I threaten to wrap him in bubble wrap!  He is married to a wonderful lady and they gave us the best gift ever, grandkids. We have a five-year-old grandson and a granddaughter who will be three in February.  I love being a grandma and I do my best to spoil them rotten.

What is one thing that few people know about you?

I love power tools: saws, sanders, routers, planers. I like to go to Lowes & Menards.  I love the beautiful grain that some woods have, just add a little stain and you have something amazing.

What is your favorite indoor/outdoor activity?

My favorite activity inside or out is playing with my grandkids!

Inside, I like decorative painting and crafty stuff.  Outside, I love long walks and seeing the beauty that God created, just for us to enjoy. Boy does He love us!!

What are your personal goals?

I just want to make a difference in someone’s life.  I want to show God’s love and be faithful.  I want to finish well.

What are some major accomplishments that the Mission Office has achieved during your tenure?

When I first started working at the Mission Office we mailed the EOM statement on the last working day of each month.  The mail service was so slow in many countries that it might be close to a month before the missionaries would receive their statement and know where they stood financially.  The only way that a missionary could know quickly how much money was deposited for them was to call the office and ask.  The phone rang constantly on the last day of the month. Now missionaries are able to go online at the end of each day and see exactly what has come in for them up through that day.  They receive their EOM statement by email on the next to last working day of the month.

Through the years, I have seen remarkable increases in the amount of funds processed, the number of missionaries, and the services provided by the Mission Office. Yet, with the use of technology, we still have the same number of employees.  We have been able to use advances in technology to offer more and better service to both the missionaries and the churches.

Although not everyone has enjoyed the changes that have been made regarding personal compensation and quarterly reporting, these have been very important changes to meet IRS regulations and protect both the missionaries and the Mission Office.  We have come a long way and will continue working to streamline these processes and stay up-to-date on IRS regulations.

What do you like most about working in the Mission Office?

The people involved, working with the missionaries and hearing their stories.  I love to feel like maybe I have helped in some small way to make things easier for some of the missionaries so that they can spread the Gospel around the world.