GENEROSITY - bfok.org...Generosity is published in the spring and fall by The Baptist Foundation of...
Transcript of GENEROSITY - bfok.org...Generosity is published in the spring and fall by The Baptist Foundation of...
G E N E R O S I T Y T H E B A P T I S T F O U N D A T I O N O F O K L A H O M A
F a l l 2 0 1 6
NEED TO BUILD? Church Loans HISPANIC CHURCH CHANGING LIVES Ministry Highlight
DRIVEN TO KINGDOM IMPACT
LUGREG TRUCKING FUELS GREG AND SUSAN KANNADY’S PASSION FOR
BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP
Many of our parents told us that life isn’t fair — or easy. I prefer to think of it as a challenge.
The book of James instructs Christ-followers to expect challenges and to embrace them with joy. Challenges lead us to spiritual maturity, and in an earthly sense, they inspire innovation.
Today’s market environment is no different. Low interest rates and sluggish growth have limited investment returns to single digits, which negatively impacts the ability of Christian organizations to sustain Kingdom work. Such challenges drive the Foundation to seek out new, innovative ways to provide ministries and churches with the financial support they need.
This November, we will debut a groundbreaking charitable giving app called “MustardSeed.” We believe it has the potential to dramatically impact ministry by tapping into our digitally dominated world to engage a new generation of givers.
The idea is simple. MustardSeed rounds up your everyday credit and debit purchases to the nearest dollar, and then sends that change to the ministry or church of your choice.
This means that when you shop for groceries, fill up your gas tank or grab lunch with friends, you are simultaneously supporting Kingdom causes. A few cents here and there may not seem like much, but when your gifts join thousands of others, you become part of something bigger.
When we began our 25x25 initiative three years ago, we committed to distributing $25 million annually to Southern Baptist ministries by the year 2025. And while an uncertain market makes that goal more challenging, it will also make meeting it more rewarding. We believe MustardSeed will prove to be part of that success.
As Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 17, with faith the size of a mustard seed, nothing is impossible.
Robert Kellogg, President & CEO
GENEROSITYFall 2016
A magazine for clients and stakeholders who support The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma’s mission to promote charitable planned giving and provide financial management for the gifts that strengthen Southern Baptist ministries.
PRODUCTIONMike Schueler | EditorMary Criner | Associate EditorVI Marketing and Branding | Design
CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJohn AmbraMark KellyTobin Perry
PHOTOGRAPHYJeremy ScottMarcus Wehmuller
ADMINISTRATIONRobert Kellogg | President & CEOShryln Treadwell | Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Corporate ServicesDavid Depuy | Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Client RelationsJerry Vaughan | Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer, Ministry ServicesJim Wilsie | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services
Generosity is published in the spring and fall by The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Recipients include approximately 10,000 clients, stakeholders and churches in Oklahoma. To request a copy or to update mailing information, please call 1.800.949.9988 or email [email protected].
L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T
ON THE COVER
OLD FRIENDS—Greg Kannady takes LuGreg’s original truck on a brief spin inside the gravel parking lot behind the company’s Kingfisher headquarters. He put more than a million miles on the vehicle during the early years at LuGreg Trucking; his wife, Susan, had it refurbished as a gift. Kannady now trusts the driving to other LuGreg team members, though he admits there are days he misses being behind the wheel.
F A L L 2 0 1 6
NEED TO BUILD?HOW DO YOU START?CHURCH BUILDING LOANS & FUNDS MANAGEMENT
4 5 MARKET REPORTINVESTMENTS
CARING FOR RETIRED PASTORSGUIDESTONE FINANCIAL RESOURCES
14
FLOWER GIFT KEEPS BAPTIST VILLAGE BLOOMINGIMPACT HIGHLIGHT
16
HISPANIC CHURCH PLANT PAYS BIG DIVIDENDS IN CHANGED LIVESMINISTRY HIGHLIGHT
10
WHY FINANCE WITH THE FOUNDATION?CHURCH BUILDING LOANS
6
GREG AND SUSAN KANNADY: CALLED TO BE STEWARDSGIVING HIGHLIGHT
8
FBC NEWCASTLE: ‘DIGGING DEEP AND REACHING WIDE’MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT
18 NEW STAFFMEMBERSFOUNDATION NEWS
19
G E N E R O S I T Y
L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T
One of the most exciting — but challenging — realizations for many churches is the need for more space. In recent months I have received a number of calls from congregations who have outgrown their worship or education areas. Most of these calls are seeking advice on next steps.
KNOW WHAT YOU WANTStart by identifying and defining the need. You have to know what you need in order to know what to build. I recently talked to a pastor of a growing church who knew a larger sanctuary was needed, but his biggest concern was, “How big should we build it?”
Here’s a breakdown to get you started: 1. List building elements you want in the project. 2. List your functional needs. 3. Put together a plan that includes ministry, finance and facilities.
This brings us to the next step in the building process: finding someone to design the project. An architect’s experience can be tremendously valuable during this phase. They can help with assessing the feasibility of facilities with respect to site conditions, existing facility coordination, general construction costs, project costs and even safety issues. In some cases, design/bid/build contracting firms have qualified people who can fulfill this part of the process. The person hired should meet with the church to get an understanding of the scope of the project and help clarify the needs.
PLAN YOUR BUILDING PROJECT One of the benefits of the design process is that it brings into focus the true cost of a project. Knowing what to build is important, but knowing its cost is crucial. This will determine important issues, such as fundraising and financing. This is also when the personality of a church emerges. Should the
project be built debt-free? If debt is acceptable, should upfront cash be raised before construction begins? Or, should fundraising be combined with debt? These are important discussions that can determine the actual start of construction. You should build a team that consists of church representation, architectural and engineering consultants, and the contractor. Planning prior to construction can help avoid problems during construction.
Once project costs and the available amount of upfront cash are known, you can begin to secure financing for the remainder. It can be a daunting task. At the Foundation, we understand that going into debt is a serious matter. We want to partner with churches to help them borrow wisely with an appropriate level of debt. Our loan application process is easy to understand and designed to avoid paperwork nightmares.
BUILD THE FACILITY Finally, be involved in managing the project budget, timelines and expectations of the church. Rely on the design firm and contractor to keep you informed, but don’t leave all the big decisions up to them. The church should play an active role in making key choices and keeping the project on track.
It’s important to have realistic expectations. We all like to think everything will be perfect before, during and after a project is completed. But the truth is that there will be challenges to overcome in every build. The Foundation is your resource during this process. We can help manage those expectations and get the building you want.
Call 1.800.949.9988 ext. 4269 or email [email protected] to learn more about how the Foundation can help your church prepare for a building project.
NEED TO BUILD? HOW DO YOU START? b y J e r r y V a u g h a n
C H U R C H B U I L D I N G L O A N S
4 G E N E R O S I T Y Fall 2016
The U.S. stock market has posted modest positive gains with the S&P 500 Index up 7.8 percent through the end of August. The MSCI EAFE, an international market index, is positive 0.5 percent while the MSCI EM, an emerging market index, gained 14.6 percent. The Barclay’s Aggregate Bond Index is positive 5.9 percent, which has been the biggest surprise of the year. While we are happy with the positive returns, it certainly hasn’t been easy getting them. The markets do not respond well when there is so much uncertainty. Investors often look to history as a guide, but even that is of little use when there is no history to guide us.
One of the largest uncertainties continues to be interest rates. We are entering our ninth consecutive year of historically low interest rates as the Federal Reserve has sought to stimulate the economy. An example of lower rates is the interest rate for the 10-year Treasury Note seen below. The gross domestic product (GDP) growth has risen from the lows experienced in 2009 but has yet to return to normal levels. The combination of low interest rates and slow GDP growth have placed a ceiling on investment returns, keeping performance expectations in the low single digits.
The recent vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union (Brexit) as well as the upcoming U.S. presidential election are also uncertainties. While the result of the Brexit vote is known, the vote’s impact on the
economies of both the United Kingdom and the Eurozone remains to be seen. Similarly, the U.S. presidential election presents several risks. Not only are we unsure of who will be elected, but we also do not know what policy will be passed due to potential gridlock in Congress.
We are hopeful that these unknowns will soon be behind us. As we head into the remainder of 2016, we look for continued improvement in U.S. economic growth, interest rates to rise and the price of oil to recover. Though the economy is still not yet performing as we would like, it is in much better shape than many of our global competitors.
Facing so much uncertainty, the Foundation maintains a balanced approach with a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds and alternative assets. The portfolio continues to perform well with positive returns of 4.0, 5.7 and 6.0 percent net of all manager fees and expenses for the trailing one year, three years and five years, respectively. This compares to the portfolio’s passive benchmark of 6.4, 4.8 and 5.8 percent over the same time periods. In addition, the risk of our portfolio, as measured by standard deviation, continues to be less than 60 percent of the passive benchmark over the trailing five years.
M A R K E T R E P O R Tb y D a v i d D e p u y
8 %
6 %
4 %
- 4 %
2 %
0 %
- 2 %
12/1/94 12/1/97 12/1/00 12/1/02 12/1/05 12/1/08 12/1/09 12/1/11 12/1/13 12/1/15
INTEREST RATES VS GDP GROWTH RATEGDP GROWTH RATE10-YEAR TREASURY RATE
I N V E S T M E N T S
Fall 2016 G E N E R O S I T Y 5
If you have any questions about Foundation investments, please contact David Depuy at 1.800.949.9988 ext. 4222 or [email protected].
50 YEAR AVERAGES10-Year Treasury Rate = 6.5%GDP Growth Rate = 2.9%
6 G E N E R O S I T Y Fall 2016
What prompted Trinity to refinance with the Foundation? We were coming up on the next five-year period of our current adjustable-rate loan, and that’s always a good time to examine your options. In the end, the Foundation offered us a great rate and the opportunity to further our impact on the Kingdom.
How has the new building affected Trinity’s growth?The new facility includes a 1,200-seat auditorium that has allowed the church to grow and still meet as one group for worship. There’s a large commons area that encourages fellowship and significant space dedicated to kids and youth.
C H U R C H B U I L D I N G L O A N S
Q&A WITH DAVE DOLPHIN, EXECUTIVE PASTOR OF TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH OF YUKON
WHY FINANCE WITH THE FOUNDATION?
It’s the kind of problem every pastor wishes they had. Nearly 10 years ago, Trinity Baptist Church had too many members and too little space. Rapid growth was squeezing the congregation out of its original building, but God had already orchestrated a solution: 20 acres of land was donated to the church, plus two Trinity members happened to be an architect and a builder. The construction was financed with a local bank, and the church built what is now its current facility on Cemetery Road in Yukon.
Recently, Trinity’s leadership made the decision to refinance the church’s loan with The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma. Dave Dolphin, executive pastor of Trinity, talks about the experience and why they chose to work with the Foundation.
Fall 2016 G E N E R O S I T Y 7
In the years that followed after building the new facility, we saw the church increase in size significantly. The youth had their own dedicated space (instead of having to share the main auditorium with the Sunday morning worship service), and there were many new families with young children who were attracted to a kids’ ministry area that was fun and safe.
What were the advantages of refinancing through the Foundation compared with other financial institutions?We love the Foundation’s heart for ministry. Paying interest on a loan is just part of the process, but knowing that interest goes to eternal, Kingdom-building opportunities is encouraging. The Foundation and Trinity share the same love for Jesus and His people, and that makes it a great partnership.
Has the space opened opportunities for community outreach?Definitely. There have been many opportunities, but the most recent is holding a free medical clinic in our building every Tuesday evening for the community. Faith Clinic’s mission is to offer the healing hope of Jesus Christ and contribute to health and well-being by providing quality, holistic healthcare to every patient.
What’s the vision for Trinity during the next 5-10 years?We’ve been fortunate to have two long-term pastors lead the church for nearly all of the 35 years it has been in existence. We are currently searching for our next senior pastor to help Trinity continue to reach the unchurched of the Canadian Valley area. We want to connect them to a vibrant community of believers who are experiencing spiritual transformation through a passionate commitment to Christ and His Word.
The Foundation’s loan rates are extremely competitive, and 100 percent of loan interest supports ministries at home and abroad. We offer loans for a wide range of church and ministry needs, including construction, facility renovation and expansion, and refinancing.
For more information on church building loans, contact Jerry Vaughan at 1.800.949.9988 ext. 4269 or email [email protected].
Clean waterfor villagers
Housing for pregnant women
Countless otherBaptist causes
Meals for hungry children
FOUNDATION LOANS SUPPORT:
Executive Pastor Dave Dolphin (center) leads worship during Sunday service at Trinity Baptist Church.
CALLED TO BE STEWARDS: ‘A HUMBLING OPPORTUNITY’
G I V I N G H I G H L I G H T
Greg Kannady has come a long way since he left college
in 1981 to start a business with his parents. But his heart for
giving to God’s Kingdom hasn’t changed from the days he was
working hard to build LuGreg Trucking in Kingfisher, Oklahoma.
“God gave me a calling at Oklahoma State University
to start a business,” Kannady recalls. “And the primary
purpose of that business was the opportunity to impact
my team members, and the people we interact with day-
in and day-out, for the Kingdom of Christ.”
LuGreg Trucking provides fluid logistics services to
Oklahoma’s oil industry from seven locations in the
northwestern part of the state. Kannady’s 150 team
members know a percentage of the company’s profit
comes off the top for Kingdom causes.
“It’s important for my wife, Susan, and me to give back
because that’s who we are in Christ; we want to emulate
that heart of sacrifice demonstrated by Christ on the
cross,” Kannady says.
“The opportunity to participate in God’s plan and the
ability to be good stewards, that’s a gift, a humbling
opportunity that brings joy and peace,” he adds.
“I’m just so thankful for the privilege to participate.”
The Kannadys channel much of their giving through
a donor-advised fund at The Baptist Foundation of
Oklahoma, which allows a person to send tax-deductible
grants to their favorite ministries out of an account
managed by the Foundation.
b y M a r k K e l l y
8 G E N E R O S I T Y Fall 2016
LuGreg Trucking is more than a business for Greg and Susan Kannady. It’s an opportunity to impact eternity.
Among the Kingdom causes the Kannadys benefit through
their giving:
• Falls Creek Conference Center: “Because of the impact Falls Creek has had on the world.”
• Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children: “Because of Christ’s calling to support those who are less fortunate or vulnerable.”
• Dayspring Villa (a faith-based shelter for women and children): “Because it seems more and more prevalent that women are placed in situations where they are very vulnerable.”
• Baptist Village Communities: “So that we may be faithful to those who were so faithful to us.”
• Promise Keepers: “Because they really solidified what I felt was my biblical responsibility as a man, as a husband and a father.”
• Water4 (a nonprofit that addresses the global water crisis): “Because they share the Gospel to meet these people’s most basic need, which is Jesus Christ.”
City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City –– another faith-
based ministry that benefits from the Kannadys’ generosity
–– serves thousands of homeless men, women and children
each year with a place to sleep, healthy meals and tutoring
for children.
“To see the hundreds of children that come to the mission
with their desperate parents truly touches my heart,” says
Tom Jones, president of City Rescue Mission. “We choose
not to accept any government funds because we would not
be able to share the Gospel of Christ with each and every
person who enters our doors. It’s donors like the Kannadys
who make this possible.”
Greg McNeece, president-elect of Oklahoma Baptist
Homes for Children, echoes the sentiment.
“With our commitment to helping people and the desire to
share the Gospel, we have never taken state or federal funding
to care for the physical or spiritual needs of those we serve,”
McNeece says. “Greg and Susan have an amazing heart
to see lives changed for those who find themselves in a
place of hardship.”
I am grateful for their commitment to children. They are
making an eternal impact today and for generations to
come.”
The Kannadys’ “first and foremost” giving priority is their
local church, First Baptist Church of Kingfisher.
“Greg and Susan Kannady are two of the most generous
and loving people I have ever met,” says their pastor, Scott
Watkins. “They have a great compassion for the lost and
the needy, yet also a heart for discipling and strengthening
the church. Much of what we do at FBC Kingfisher would
be next to impossible without them, but their humble
attitudes would never articulate that.”
Giving to Kingdom causes is a simple act of obedience that
arises out of gratitude for God’s grace and faithfulness,
says Susan Kannady.
“Most people are waiting for some big reason to give,”
she says. “People think, ‘Well, it’s small. It doesn’t matter.’
But everything matters. If it’s a gesture the Lord told you
to give, then give and be obedient. If you’re waiting for
that big thing to do, you’re not going to get to those big
things until you’re faithful with the small things.”
Fall 2016 G E N E R O S I T Y 9
To learn more about planned giving through the Foundation, please contact Mike Romero at 1.800.949.9988 ext. 4203 or email [email protected].
Mark Kelly is a Southern Baptist journalist and host of a podcast at godsrevolution.net.
10 G E N E R O S I T Y Fall 2016
I G L E S I A B A U T I S TA C E N T R A LM I N I S T R Y H I G H L I G H T
QUAIL SPRINGS’ INVESTMENT IN HISPANIC CHURCH PLANT PAYS BIG DIVIDENDS IN CHANGED LIVES
Divorce. Not an option Humberto Manzano and his
wife, Maria Bravo, thought they’d ever consider. But as
their marriage reached a breaking point, divorce seemed
inevitable. Manzano worked full time in the oil fields, which
meant he spent long periods away from home — with little
time left to invest in his marriage.
The couple’s marital woes worsened when they moved from
Texas to Oklahoma in 2012. That’s when a friend invited
them to a new Spanish-language church in northwest
Oklahoma City, Iglesia Bautista Central (IBC). Figuring
they had nothing to lose, the couple decided to give
church a try.
“It was a last resort to try to save our marriage,” Bravo says. “God not only saved our marriage, but more importantly, He saved us.”
Manzano and Bravo came to faith in Christ shortly after
they arrived at IBC. The couple says they’re now trying to
live as husband and wife on God’s terms. Bravo serves as
the church’s administrative assistant; Manzano is an elder
and a part of the church’s finance team.
b y To b i n P e r r y
IBC members join Felix Cabrera in a prayer of dedication after touring the church’s new building, adjacent to Quail Springs Baptist Church.
Maria Bravo, Humberto Manzano and Pastor Felix Cabrera.
Fall 2016 G E N E R O S I T Y 11
GROWING IMPACT
“We responded to God’s calling, repented from our sin
and placed our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior,”
Bravo says. “It felt like a huge burden was taken off our
shoulders. Our eyes were opened, and we started to see
all the things we were doing wrong and are now learning
to do them God’s way.”
Recently, in an effort to live out God’s agenda for his
marriage, Manzano resigned his position in the oil industry
to take a job where he’d be able to spend more time with his
wife and continue serving at IBC. The transition also meant
a significant cut in salary. It wasn’t a decision Manzano
made lightly –– or without a lot of prayer and Godly counsel.
“Before, we would have thought there’s no way I can leave
the oil industry and take another job. Money-wise we could
never make it,” he explains. “Now we know God is taking
care of all of our needs.”
The couple is grateful that God brought them to IBC, where
they are discovering more about who He created them to be.
“At IBC, our members have come from more than 15
countries all united with the same purpose –– to glorify and
honor God in everything that we do,” Bravo says. “At IBC
we truly are more than a church. We are a family.”
But the story of how God transformed Manzano and Bravo’s marriage didn’t begin when they first visited IBC. It actually started
more than a decade earlier when Hance Dilbeck became the pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
When Dilbeck took the reins in 2003, Quail Springs was running about 600 in attendance. (It has now grown to more than
2,000.) Church leaders soon realized that the church’s property limited potential growth. After some strategic planning,
the church decided to fully develop the land it owned and plant new churches — in Oklahoma City and beyond — to help
multiply the congregation’s impact.
As part of that Kingdom-building journey, Quail Springs brought Felix Cabrera on staff in 2011 to plant a Spanish-language
church out of the congregation. Cabrera had seen a need for a new church among the Hispanic population in the area.
Hance Dilbeck, senior pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church.
IBC members line-up for lunch during a church “ family fun” event.
“We believe that church planting is one of the best long-term, Kingdom-building uses of resources,” Dilbeck says.
“The Hispanic population in Northside Oklahoma City and
Edmond is growing every day,” Cabrera says. “People from
21 different Spanish-speaking countries — and from Brazil —
are arriving to our community. They need the Gospel.
The majority of the Hispanics come from Catholic and
neo-Pentecostalism backgrounds. They don’t believe in Jesus.
We are desperate to reach them with the truth of salvation.”
Quail Springs paid Cabrera’s salary and provided him with
resources as he started a Sunday School class and later a
Spanish-language ministry of the church. In January 2015,
Iglesia Bautista Central became a new church. During the past
five years, Cabrera has seen a Sunday School class of eight
multiply into a church with an average attendance of 185.
To accommodate that growth, Quail Springs recently
purchased a neighboring property and set aside a large
portion for IBC’s use.
“Quail Springs is the perfect example of a mother church,”
Cabrera says. “They not only provide a space where we
can meet, an office where I can work and offer counseling
to our people without cost, but they’ve also put action with
words. They provided all my financial needs to give me the
freedom and flexibility to be in ministry full-time to reach
out and visit people, to preach the Gospel and to develop a
healthy ministry without the financial stress that the majority
of other pastors face.”
Quail Springs hasn’t stopped with just one new Hispanic
church, though. It didn’t take long to realize Cabrera had a
keen eye for new church planters — and a natural network of
relationships with potential planters. Quail Springs partnered
with IBC to start the Red 1:8 Church Planting Network, which
helps discover, develop and deploy church planters in North
America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through the Red 1:8 Network, Quail Springs and IBC now
support 30 church planters in Oklahoma and elsewhere.
“New churches tend to reach new people,” says Ray
Anderson, Quail Springs’ missions and evangelism pastor.
“Existing churches naturally become more inward, or the
constituency we reach is limited. When you can start a church
that is targeted toward a Hispanic community or a location
that doesn’t have a church at all, it really expands
Kingdom growth.”
Dilbeck believes helping new churches get started has not
only brought people into the Kingdom but also has played a
part in discipling his congregation.
“It consistently sends a message that it is not about us,”
Dilbeck says. “We’re here to serve the Lord. It’s about His
Kingdom. It’s not about our church. It works against a
self-centered, consumer mindset that is always a risk with
churches like ours.”
12 G E N E R O S I T Y Fall 2016
Pastor Felix Cabrera prays with IBC leaders before Sunday morning service.
Quail Springs’ extensive investment in church planting
was made possible, in part, by a large financial gift from
a church member in late 2012. After giving a portion of
the gift to the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program, the
church earmarked a sizable amount for church planting,
among other ministries.
To better steward the large gift, Quail Springs turned to
The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma for help. With the
Foundation’s assistance, the church was able to put the
gift to work as an investment while they waited to use it for
ministry purposes.
“It’s a relationship we can’t find anywhere else as a total
inclusive package,” says Michael Stephens, the business
administrator at Quail Springs. “When we give our money
to the Foundation to hold for us, we know it’s different
from giving it to a bank, in that the Foundation is set up
specifically to support ministries.”
When Quail Springs was ready to begin construction of a
new worship space in late 2014, they were able to use part
of the original gift as payment. Between the time the gift
was invested and the time the church needed funds
for the new space, the gift had earned an additional
$300,000 they could reinvest in ministry.
Manzano and Bravo are just one example of the life-
changing return that’s come from wisely stewarding the gifts
God has given Quail Springs –– both financial and spiritual.
The couple deeply appreciate the church’s investment
in their lives and in the work of IBC. Not only has Quail
Springs provided material support for the church plant,
but the couple says the church has personally encouraged
them. They point to notes left by Quail Springs’ members
reminding them of their prayer support as Manzano
transitioned to his new job.
“It has been a real blessing what they have done for us,”
Bravo says.
FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP
Fall 2016 G E N E R O S I T Y 13
To learn more about how the Foundation can help your church multiply ministry funds, please contact Jerry Vaughan at 1.800.949.9988 ext. 4269, or by email at [email protected].
Felix Cabrera with his wife, Denisse, and daughters Andrea (left) and Adriana.
MISSION:DIGNITY PROVIDES FINANCIAL COMFORT TO RETIRED PASTORS, WIDOWS
M I N I S T R Y H I G H L I G H T
Jean Choate still has the quilt from First Baptist Church
of Okeene. It was a Christmas gift from the women of the
church where Jean’s late husband, Bill, served as pastor in
the late 1960s.
“Each one of the women made a block and then stitched her
autograph on it,” Jean recalls. “They’d go into the library to
pass around the pattern and I’d be coming down the hall.
They really thought I’d find out and ruin the surprise.”
The Choates were both surprised by the quilt, but not by the
love and care of that congregation.
“It was just wonderful, and every time I look at it, it brings
back lots of memories,” Jean said. “Most of those women
were older and have gone on to heaven. Whenever I went to
Falls Creek, I’d take the quilt with me and put it on my bed.
All the kids would come by and look at it. It was in our house
when we had a fire in 1985, but the Lord took care of it.”
The Lord also took care of Bill and Jean during 67 years
of marriage and 55 years of ministry. They were married in
1948 while Jean was just 16 and Bill was 19.
“We eloped with some friends of ours. They were witnesses
for us and we were witnesses for them,” Jean remembers.
“I had the first of our four children when I was 18 and the
second a year later. We were married four or five years
when we were saved.”
A few years later, God had some additional plans for the
Choates. Although Bill had a successful window-washing
business and they were living comfortably, God called them
into vocational ministry. Jean remembers the visit to an
elderly pastor’s home after lunch one Sunday.
“At the time, we hadn’t even talked about seminary and I
never thought about it. Billy asked the pastor if he should
go to seminary. I thought to myself, ‘Where did that come
from?’ The old preacher told him, ‘Anything that can make
you a better servant of God, that’s what you ought to do.’
It wasn’t long before we sold our house, packed up our kids
and our dog and moved to Fort Worth.”
During seminary, Bill continued to wash windows and took
a pastorate in Cisco, Texas, about 150 miles to the west.
14 G E N E R O S I T Y Fall 2016
b y J o h n A m b r a
When Jesus was preparing for His departure, He told His disciples He would send another Comforter. Although He wouldn’t
be with them any longer in person, there was One who would come alongside them in the days ahead, providing not only
wisdom but also encouragement and strength for the journey.
Mission:Dignity is a great comfort to the retired pastors and widows assisted through the program — serving as the arms of
Christ extended in a personal and tangible way. Two-thirds of the recipients are widows of pastors and their monthly grant
is a reminder that they are loved and not forgotten.
SUPPORT MISSION:DIGNITY You can help care for retired pastors and their widows through Mission:Dignity. To learn how, please contact Mike Romero at 1.800.949.9988 ext. 4203 or email [email protected].
John Ambra is Director of Development for GuideStone Financial Resources.
Fall 2016 G E N E R O S I T Y 15
After graduation, the family moved back to Oklahoma
where they served eight different churches in Ringwood,
Meridian and several other small communities. When Bill
retired, he and Jean stayed in Comanche and Bill took up
auctioneering to make some extra income.
In 2013, the Choates began receiving a monthly assistance
grant through Mission:Dignity, the benevolence ministry
of GuideStone Financial Resources. Mission:Dignity helps
nearly 1,800 ministers and widows across the country,
including 67 in Oklahoma. Most of these pastors served
small, rural churches with little pay and, sometimes, no
benefits. About $7 million in assistance is distributed each
year, funded primarily by the direct gifts of individuals,
Sunday School classes and churches. Donors often include
Mission:Dignity in their wills and estate plans.
When Bill died in October 2015 after an extended illness,
Jean was encouraged to know that Mission:Dignity would
continue to help her.
“I taught school for 25 years and all we’ve had to live on
was my teacher pension and a little bit of Social Security
since Bill had opted out back in the ’60s. Now, with just me, I
couldn’t make it without that extra gift from Mission:Dignity.
It really helps make ends meet and has allowed me to do
things I couldn’t have done otherwise.”
“He loved me. He loved his family. He loved the church and he loved God. It’s so hard to get by without him,” Jean says.
FLOWER GIFT KEEPS BAPTIST VILLAGE BLOOMING
They came by the truckload — impatiens, begonias, zinnias
and periwinkles — to the delight of Baptist Village (BVC)
residents eager to flex their green thumbs and brighten up
their homes.
This summer, dozens of senior adults took part in the
retirement community’s annual flower giveaway, which
provides free bedding plants for BVC residents to grow
in their courtyards, patios and gardens.
“It keeps me outdoors and it beautifies the whole campus,”
says 90-year-old Doris Hill as she carries a tray loaded with
vibrant red and lavender blooms. Betty McAlister, 82, was
heading “straight home” to plant her flowers. “I think it’s
wonderful because I’m a yard person,” she says with a grin.
BVC Resident Council Chairman Sid Adkinson has directed
the flower giveaway since it began five years ago. Adkinson, 89,
says it’s all thanks to an Oklahoma City woman named
Ruth* who had a generous heart and a passion for flowers.
With the help of The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, Ruth
created a special gift in her will known as an endowment,
which allowed her to provide flowers for BVC residents
every year, indefinitely.
That’s a good thing, Adkinson says, because the flower
giveaway continues to grow in popularity, from 40 residents
in 2011 to 75 in 2016. That meant bringing in nearly 700
plants this year, which resident volunteers ferried from a
local nursery.
Chris Finley, director of BVC’s chaplain services, says the
impact of Ruth’s gift on residents’ quality of life is tangible.
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I M PA C T H I G H L I G H T
16 G E N E R O S I T Y Fall 2016
Resident Council member Gil Kettler (left) helps Jennifer Ulmer, BVC resident services director, unload flats of bedding plants ahead of the annual flower giveaway.
Margaret Gibbany agrees. The 85-year-old was among the
first in line at the giveaway and says that blooms weren’t the
only thing she expected her plants to grow.
“This brings people together,” she explains. “We meet other
residents that we don’t see but once or twice a year. It gives
people a pride of ownership of their little area and a way to
build friendships.”
Randy Ice was instrumental in creating the endowment
that funds the flower giveaway. He is a finance professor
at the University of Central Oklahoma and an advisor
to the Foundation’s board of directors. He also was
Ruth’s neighbor.
“Ruth had a wonderful garden filled with flowers, and as
she neared the end of her life she wanted to share that joy
with others,” Ice says. That’s where the power of endowment
comes in.
“Anyone can create an endowment — it’s simply a tool that
allows you to make a charitable gift, either during your life
or through your estate after death,” Ice explains. “That
money is invested and the income goes to the cause that
you are trying to support. And because an endowment lives
on in perpetuity, in the case of Ruth’s gift, the flowers aren’t
going to run out. There are always going to be flowers in the
Baptist Village because of Ruth’s Flower Fund.”
Currently, the fund is able to provide flowers only for the
Baptist Village in Oklahoma City. But Ice adds that could
expand to other Baptist Village locations across the state if
good market returns continue to grow Ruth’s endowment.
Ice’s mother, Joan, also lives at BVC. Though the 77-year-
old’s apartment doesn’t have garden space, that doesn’t
stop her from enjoying the flowers as she visits friends
around campus.
“We look out over the neighborhood and it’s just gorgeous,”
she says. “We have flowers everywhere … flowers in
backyards, flowers in front yards, flowers all over the place.
And it’s all thanks to Ruth.”
*Last name withheld for donor privacy.
To learn more about planned giving through the Foundation, please contact Mike Romero at 1.800.949.9899 ext. 4203 or email [email protected].
Fall 2016 G E N E R O S I T Y 17
“It’s really neat to watch the residents plant the flowers in their courtyards; they’ll step out and say, ‘Come look at my flowers!’
And they have that bragging right just like they had in their own neighborhood,” Finley says. “At the Baptist Village, that’s what we are
trying to create — a neighborhood environment.”
Sharing Christ with a community of nearly 10,000 people
sounds overwhelming, but it’s a challenge First Baptist Church
of Newcastle takes seriously.
Pastor Jeremy Freeman says his growing congregation is
determined to make a Kingdom impact, and the church’s new
motto of “digging deep and reaching wide” is helping drive
FBC Newcastle’s urgency to show the world who Jesus is.
“When people come to our church we want them to know
that we are digging deep into the truth of God’s Word, but
also reaching wide into the world around us,” Freeman
explains. “We want to be transformed by the One we are
learning about, and we want our learning to produce loving.”
One of the primary ways FBC Newcastle demonstrates
that love is through foster and adoption services. With over
10,000 children in Oklahoma’s Department of Human
Services system, there is great need for the body of Christ
to participate in foster and adoption care. Freeman says
FBC Newcastle first became aware of this need when God
burdened the hearts of several church members. After raising
awareness and encouraging participation, FBC Newcastle
now has over 20 families directly involved in either fostering
or adoption. This includes Freeman and his wife, who recently
adopted two children.
But FBC Newcastle’s reach is
wider than Oklahoma. Freeman
says the church is also passionate
about making disciples of all
nations. In the past, the
congregation struggled to find members willing to be involved
in international missions. Not anymore.
By focusing on living out the Gospel and creating more
opportunities for people to serve internationally, Freeman
says FBC Newcastle is seeing a tremendous increase in
global outreach involvement. By the end of year, the church
will have sent nearly 80 people on mission trips around
the world.
“These truly are exciting days to be a part of God’s church.
When Christ returns, may He find His people hard at work,
doing all they can to reach people with the greatest news of
all time,” Freeman says.
FBC Newcastle’s investment in lives has also created the need
to expand their church facilities. Freeman says he’s grateful
for a partnership with the Foundation, which has helped the
church multiply ministry funds and make significant upgrades
and additions to their building.
“The Foundation has been a tremendous support to FBC
Newcastle — they’ve helped us make decisions about what
kind of loan is best for us,” Freeman says. “Not only are the
interest rates competitive, but all interest goes to incredible
ministries that help advance God’s Kingdom.
“We could not have done what we have done and reached
who we have reached without the help from the Foundation.
The future is bright at FBC Newcastle.”
18 G E N E R O S I T Y Fall 2016
‘DIGGING DEEP AND REACHING WIDE’ AT FBC NEWCASTLE
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M I N I S T R Y H I G H L I G H T
To learn more about the Foundation’s Church Building Loan and Ministry Funds Management services, contact Jerry Vaughan at 1.800.949.9988 ext. 4269 or email [email protected] Jeremy Freeman.
Growth brings change to any organization, and new faces. This year The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma welcomed four new employees. Their diverse experience will continue to strengthen the Foundation’s tenured staff as they seek to make a Kingdom impact by serving ministries throughout Oklahoma, across the United States and around the world.
F O U N D A T I O N N E W SN E W S T A F F M E M B E R S
MCKENZIE BROWN RECEPTIONISTMcKenzie Brown is a recent graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Ministry. Brown says she is excited to work at the Foundation because she desires to be part of an organization that helps impact lives for Christ. As receptionist, Brown’s main responsibility is creating a positive client experience for Foundation guests. Brown is a native Texan, and lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
TAMARA HILL TRUST OFFICER
Tamara Hill is a seasoned client relations manager who views her role as an opportunity to serve Christ by serving others. “Whether helping individuals protect their families through estate planning or supporting churches and ministries through sustainable financial resources, the Foundation’s services ultimately focus on glorifying God,” Hill says. Following several years in the banking industry, she will now work closely with Foundation clients who have Ministry Funds Management, donor advised fund and/or custodial accounts. Hill attended the University of Central Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. She and her husband, Steve, have four children: Conner, 16; Kailey, 13; Logan, 11; and Luke, 9. The family lives in
Yukon, Oklahoma.
MIKE SCHUELER DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Mike Schueler joined the Foundation’s staff following a decade with the International Mission Board (IMB), where he served as a senior writer and communication strategist. Schueler’s goal at the Foundation is to inspire generosity by sharing the stories of how charitable contributions change lives and impact eternity. “Concepts like planned giving and estate planning can sound very intimidating,” Schueler says. “I want every Oklahoma Baptist to know that the Foundation is here to help them navigate these decisions and leave a legacy with Kingdom impact.” Schueler and his wife, Kirsten, recently moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, with their three girls: Miriam, 9; Nora, 7; and Violet, 2.
MICHAEL SCHWAB DATA MANAGER
Michael Schwab works to organize data related to customer relationships — an important piece of the Foundation’s focus to serve clients more effectively and efficiently. Prior to the Foundation, Schwab worked for the United States Air Force as a technical writer. Schwab is originally from Riverside, California, and now lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He is actively involved at Heritage Church and serves as a board member of “Safe Events for Families,” a community-oriented nonprofit organization dedicated to providing family-friendly events and activities.
Fall 2016 G E N E R O S I T Y 19
3800 N. MAY AVE. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73112
NON-PROFITORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDOKLA. CITY, OKLA.PERMIT NO. 1489
For 70 years, The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma has spread joy and generosity to churches and families across the globe.
This December, we’re spreading even more with a special holiday concert for you and your family.
Annie Moses Band Christmas Concert
Raley Chapel at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OKDecember 8, 2016, 7pm
For tickets and more info, visit AnnieMosesChristmas.com
Bringing JOY to the WORLDand MUSIC to your EARS.