33
Years
80
Missionaries
15+
Countries
450+
Trips
Pastor Bernie LaTour and his wife Jean began their missionary work with New Tribes Mission in South America in 1970. They subsequently moved to northern Virginia in 1988 where Pastor LaTour served as Director of Missions for a large nondenominational church that had been supporting them. Y.E.S. was founded in November 1990 out of a need to centrally manage the donations provided for some of the missionaries with whom Pastor LaTour was working at the time.
The Board of Y.E.S. is committed to biblical standards of financial stewardship, sending as much financial support to the field as possible. Y.E.S. operates with a volunteer staff and on the lowest administrative costs possible.
Our first and primary charge is to “Enable the Saints to Serve” — to be guided by the Spirit and their sending church without organizational encumbrances. Just as Paul was sent by the church at Antioch, our missionaries’ primary accountability and support system is their local church.
The Board has in-depth background and experience in the management of ministries, mission work, the preparation of missionaries, accounting, bookkeeping, income taxation for missionaries, and personal financial management. The Board partners with “sending” churches in the oversight of Y.E.S. missionaries.
Our mission is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world by assisting in developing, promoting and monitoring the work of our members and encouraging members and providing cost-effective financial services, training, and support to enable them to focus on their calling.
Many churches started in the field lack a strong support system. To support the pastors and to enable these churches to grow, we have been given ICFC. This new arm of Y.E.S. will provide training, conferences, and a means for pastors to communicate with and support one another.