The founder, Dr. Tim A. Smith, felt that while there were many mission organizations fulfilling their respective corporate vision objectives, there were very few that gave opportunity for the individual missionary to fulfill his/her personal vision. There are many unique ‘one of a kind’ mission opportunities that were unfilled because they did not fit the profile of an existing mission sending agency. Ripe For Harvest World Outreach does not lower the standards for the individual missionary candidate but broadens the base of opportunity to which the applicant can qualify. Dr. Smith, raised on the mission field himself, wants the qualified missionary candidate to be able to respond to our Lord’s request ‘…ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’ (Mt. 9:37).

This ministry began in 1979 as White Harvest Missions under which name it operated until 1994. To better reflect the newer Bible translations it was reincorporated as Ripe For Harvest. Then in 2006 it was reincorporated again as both a mission organization and a church using Ripe For Harvest World Outreach. The verse that reflects this name is John 4:35b, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest”.

Ripe for Harvest is a Field Driven Ministry meaning that we allow the missionary the freedom to follow God’s leading in their ministry focus. Typically, ministries are Corporate Driven which means that within the organization, the leadership at the top sets the ministry direction for the missionaries to follow. Our model is just the opposite as we allow the missionary the freedom to follow God’s leading wherever and whatever that may be.

We are a W-2 employer and each staff member raises his/her own financial support through friends, family, business, and supporting churches. These donors send their support gifts to Ripe For Harvest World Outreach where the monies are disbursed to cover the staff’s salary and project expenses.

See Candidate Criteria.

Currently there are 200 missionary families representing 30 countries and 15 states in the USA.

Yes. When the Lord has placed a particular country and people group on your heart, the role of Ripe For Harvest World Outreach is to help you answer that specific call.

Ripe for Harvest does not require applicants to attend an orientation to determine their eligibility. Whether you want to start a new ministry or continue on with an established work, we want to make the process as easy as possible and not place a time/financial burden on you or your family.

It depends on the country and/or mission project selected. Needless to say, knowing the language of a particular country goes a long way in helping share the Gospel of Christ, but there are many mission opportunities where there are no language requirements.

Ripe for Harvest World Outreach is interested in the health and well-being of both you and
your family. Unfortunately, a comprehensive group health and life insurance program is not available for you and your family. We refer staff to Cigna International, Aetna International, Good Neighbor Insurance, info@gninsurance.com;
International Medical Group (IMG), or www.MissionaryHealth.net.

When you choose insurance coverage, these insurance companies can provide brochures
describing your benefits.

The premiums for insurance coverage on you and your family are at your expense and can be
added to your set salary.

Today’s many health insurance plans and options can be confusing and complicated. That is
why Ripe for Harvest World Outreach has taken the time to carefully review these companies
and the plans they have available.

Yes, we are incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and have received a ruling by the IRS as tax-exempt(Tax # 20-2322235). The Board of Directors govern the organization and set the staff and field compensation and expense policies and procedures. The board serves without pay.

We are members of the NAE and have adopted their Statement of Faith:

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe that, for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: that they are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
8. We believe God’s plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage and that the Biblical definition of marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman.

Not in the sense of working with groups or individual staff for a two or four week ‘work’ or ‘mission’ trip. Short term in mission circles is considered one or two years and yes, we encourage you to consider this time frame. However, many of our mission staff are long term career staff members.

Many of our staff members are career missionaries transferring from another mission sending agency and have extensive training and experience either on the field or in academia. However, for those with limited training or experience, Ripe For Harvest World Outreach helps the individual through books, training manuals, internet sites and articles which can help them achieve the needed skills to be an effective ‘worker in the harvest field’ (Mt. 9:37). Periodic field visits by home office staff add to the training as well as give supervision to each staff member. Periodic written field activity reports back to the home office are required.

Yes, once every couple/three years an international mission staff conference is held in the United States or in regional parts of the world.

W-2 employee.

We have pastors, evangelists, youth workers, Bible translation, medical, aviation, and church planting specialists, mission school teachers, ESL teachers, performing artists (i.e. singers, musicians, actors, illusionists), writers, Bible conference speakers, seminar leaders, and many other ministry opportunities too numerous to mention.

Like all mission organizations and churches, there are home office expenses that need to be covered. This includes rent, staff salaries, accountants, legal counsel, required IRS reporting, postage and mailing supplies, operating supplies, travel for field visits, computer programming and maintenance, and just the everyday expense of running an office. Ripe for Harvest administrative share is 12% of each dollar donated. If a staff member raises more than $80,000 a year, this fee will be reduced to 10% (adjustment will be made after the conclusion of the calendar year). All the rest goes back to the staff member and his/her work or their project.

This organization was founded by Dr. Tim Smith with the idea that each person has a personal vision they want to fulfill. Dr. Smith spent 25 years with other para-church organizations including the Billy Graham Organization, Campus Crusade Jesus Film Project, and Sports World Ministries. In each of these organizations he was helping to fulfill their wonderful founders’ vision and considered it a privilege to help them. He also spent 20 years n the pastorate. But it still did not help him fulfill his vision: to help individuals fulfill their personal vision. Ripe For Harvest World Outreach gives each staff member the opportunity to fulfill their God-called vision by handling the day to day administrative and home office duties to keep the ministry in compliance with all the legal, civic, and governmental agencies.

We make it very easy to join RFH. Please follow the 3 Steps on our Join page.