Volume 8 Issue 2 Fall 2015
A publication of GuideStone Financial Resources
GuidedGiving
[ Making life better for God’s retired servants ]
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
PROVIDED FOR
page 1
Just in the nick of
time is a curious
phrase. The phrase
apparently came
into our lexicon in
the latter part of
the 16th century to
reflect that exact
time when something had to be in place.
A nick was a defined, particular notch, so
something in that notch (or nick) was exactly
where it should be, and neither too early nor
too late.
THANKS
A MILLION!
page 4
#GIVINGTUESDAY
page 6
YOUR GIFT
ALWAYS FITS
page 7
THE JAMES CODE
IS COMING!
page 7
Provided For
By Breanna Balsam
Singing in church. Braving the outdoors. Praying for guidance.
Larry Rainy, a talented music director, has witnessed God’s
provision in his life through ministry beyond the stage.
Any listener would admire the way his blue eyes twinkle and
his weathered hands gesture excitedly as he shares his
story. His posture graced with dignity, his deep voice fills
the room when he speaks.
Now 72 years old, Larry recalls when he began his
relationship with Jesus. It all started with a Sunday school
teacher at Faith Memorial Baptist Church.
“I was 10 years old in a 10-year-old Sunday school class, and as
I was leaving, the Sunday school class teacher, Bill Ward, stopped
me and asked me if I had ever considered giving my heart to
Jesus. No one had ever confronted me that direct before.”
Continued on page 2
[ Mission:Dignity is a ministry of GuideStone Financial Resources ]
We’ve all been there: We made it to the
gate just in the nick of time to catch a flight.
We made it to a seat in church just in the
nick of time to catch the start of worship.
We received the news just in the nick of
time to avoid a lengthy delay on the
morning commute.
For our Mission:Dignity recipients, sometimes
the financial assistance they receive comes
just in the nick of time. Larry Rainy certainly
understands how help comes at the right
time. A talented music minister and Home
Mission Board missionary, Larry found God
provided physical help in his ministry, just in
the nick of time. In his front page story, he
talks about how Mission:Dignity’s assistance
came to him just in the nick of time. His is
like many of the nearly 2,000 men and
women your gifts help each month: So many
tell us their assistance check came as they
were praying about how to pay for groceries
or gas or some unexpected expense. God
answered their prayers through your gifts,
just in the nick of time.
You’ll also read about the good and godly
people at Prestonwood Baptist Church.
That great outpost of the kingdom, led by
Continued on page 7
2
I’VE NEVER SEEN GRACE GIFTS APPROACH ME
just in the nick of time
AS MISSION:DIGNITY HAS AFFORDED ME.
Larry Rainy
Larry fled the scene.
“I was out of there. I didn’t stop to give him an answer,” he chuckled.
“But, then I sat in a 1,500-seat auditorium, when the same thing
happened from the pulpit ... I heard [the pastor] say, ‘Somebody here
has never asked Jesus to come into your heart.’ I thought he and the
Sunday school teacher had gotten together on all that.’”
Convicted by the Holy Spirit, Larry stepped forward to receive Christ.
Shortly after, he won someone to the Lord — a neighbor his own age.
“I was able to present the gospel in such a way that was presented to
me the day before, that Carlos prayed in my backyard to receive
Christ,” he remarked, touched by the memory.
CALLED TO SING
It wasn’t long before God called Larry to music ministry. This happened
in high school at a Billy Graham conference. After George Beverly
Shea sang, Graham made an appeal — twice — to anyone
feeling led to music ministry. Larry knew he couldn’t sing
higher than a middle C, much less spell “minister of music.”
But the Lord was tugging at his heart.
Now, his voice trembles with emotion as he shares
what happened.
“[Graham] said, again, ‘There’s a young person
here who thinks that he can sing like George
Beverly Shea.’ I don’t know why I’m weeping
— it was fun — but boy, God quickened my
spirit to go down and make that public
confession of faith.”
The Lord provided him with a scholarship,
and he studied music at Sam Houston University.
He attended three other schools as further ministry
opportunities opened.
COMMITTED TO SERVICE
Alongside his music ministry, Larry felt led to serve with the Home
Mission Board (now called the North American Mission Board). He
took on the job of restoring rundown campsites for ministry use.
Larry admitted feeling insecure with this calling.
“I knew how unworthy I was and untrained, and I was hoping that
those things would never come to the surface just by willingness
to try to do what I understood from the Lord’s leadership.”
1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433)
3
His faith in the Lord’s provision was challenged several times at these
campsites. He sacrificed comfort, health and finances — ultimately to
be blown away over God’s faithfulness.
At a camp in New Mexico, he faced the problem of dangerous
electrical work. If he made a mistake, he could wreak havoc on the
surrounding property. He prayed to the Lord for help, and his answer
arrived on wheels.
“I would look up that old country road, and here comes an RV the next
morning. Bright and early. I’d know who it was in my spirit.”
The driver was taking a two-week vacation with his wife. He volunteered
to spend his time lending a helping hand.
“It was amazing,” Larry lit up with a grin.
“I would simply say, ‘I was expecting you,
because I prayed for you last night.’”
Larry was honest about his financial struggles while working at the
camps. No one who hired him for the projects could afford to support
him with a salary.
“I had to provide my own income, so right away I would get out into
a community somewhere and find a secular job that would pay me
enough for my expenses of having been there.”
He shared about a particular time he needed employment while
working in New Mexico. A local military base had released 6,000
people, and Larry questioned how he would be able to find a job.
“The Holy Spirit knew this was all going to go on with that big base
being closed. Within days, I had interviewed with 14 companies, and
the job market all the way up to Albuquerque had seven offers.”
He paused in amazement.
“Three of them I could drive to keep the camp.
I took all three.”
CONNECTED TO SUPPORT
As time passed, however, Larry found himself
struggling more and more financially.
[ Mission:Dignity is a ministry of GuideStone Financial Resources ]
A friend from the Tarrant
Baptist Association advised
Larry to contact Mission:Dignity.
At first, Larry struggled with
asking for help.
“I’ve never had a problem
asking for someone else. But I
do still have a problem asking
for myself, to have financial
help. And I guess GuideStone
made it easy, because it was a
form that I filled out,” he said.
He applied for financial assistance
after feeling what he now fondly
calls a “holy nudge” from the
Holy Spirit.
Larry has been blessed by
Mission:Dignity, and he’s eager
to share the good news about
the ministry to others in his
shoes. He’s handed out
plenty of brochures and has
discovered a need for extra
gasoline to distribute more.
He smiled again as he testified
to the providence of the Lord.
“I was wondering, ‘How am I
going to do it, I’ve got to do it,
God’s put that on my mind.’
The gasoline expense would
come just in the nick of time.
In employment, a gift, cash
from a relative, just in time to
buy the gasoline.”
He is grateful for how his needs
are provided for through
Mission:Dignity.
“I’ve never seen grace gifts
approach me … just in the nick
of time as Mission:Dignity has
afforded me.”
4
Thanks
a Million!
O.S. Hawkins presents Teaching Pastor Jarrett Stephens of Prestonwood Baptist Church with the Harold and Judy Vick Mission:Dignity Church Award.
RENDER THEREFORE
TO ALL THEIR DUE:
TAXES TO WHOM TAXES
ARE DUE, CUSTOMS
TO WHOM CUSTOMS,
FEAR TO WHOM FEAR,
honor
TO WHOM HONOR.
ROMANS 13:7, NKJV
Mission:Dignity recipients have lots of reasons to be thankful,
and now they have a million more!
Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, recently became the second church in the
history of the program to surpass the $1 million mark in giving to assist retired
ministers, workers and their widows in need. (Sagemont Church in Houston was the
first.) The milestone was reached earlier this spring.
Prestonwood has enjoyed a vibrant relationship with Mission:Dignity since 1996. In
addition to gifts made specifically from church funds, what sets Prestonwood apart is
the extent to which church members have been encouraged to give directly and
generously to Mission:Dignity.
Each year, the church hosts a Mission:Dignity Sunday celebration with video clips and
brochures shared through Bible Fellowship classes on all three campuses. The ministry
is also highlighted in the worship services and attendees are invited to give.
Tom and Mary Meneley responded to that invitation nine years ago and have made a
monthly gift ever since. While they share with numerous charitable causes in the
community, Mission:Dignity is particularly close to their hearts.
1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433)
5
“It is a great joy to be able to serve God
by sharing His blessings with those in need,
especially those called to the ministry,”
Mary noted. “We have been blessed over and over by reading the letters from
recipients included in the GuideStone newsletters and the wonderful book sent to us a
couple years ago. Tom and I both are from humble backgrounds and know what it
means to be in need. We never expected to have the finances we have been blessed
with and are grateful God has trusted us with this stewardship. We pray we honor Him
by being a conduit of His resources.”
Prestonwood may be a large church but it hasn’t lost its personal touch. Several groups
in the church have reached out to local Mission:Dignity recipients for direct ministry.
One of these is the Wisdom Seekers class, which has hosted an annual Christmas
brunch honoring Mission:Dignity recipients for the past 16 years.
“We were getting together every December for a big meal and to exchange gifts with
each other,” recalled Sylvia Sheets, who was instrumental in changing the emphasis of
the event. “We had everything we needed and decided we ought to make this brunch
about others and not ourselves. We knew about Mission:Dignity and asked GuideStone
if we could get the names of local retirees we could invite.”
Invitations went out to 37 Mission:Dignity recipients in the Dallas area and about half
were able to attend that first year. Attendees share a delicious covered-dish meal, enjoy
a musical program and have a chance to tell a little about their personal journeys. Each
one goes home with a basket of goodies and a cash gift.
“Three or four of the retirees have been here every year since we started,” said Sylvia.
“When you think that some of these people were already in their 70s when we had the
first brunch, it’s amazing to see God still working in their lives. We love them and they
have become family to us.”
Prestonwood was named a recipient of this year’s Harold and Judy Vick Mission:Dignity
Church Award for its outstanding commitment to God’s servants in need. Pastor Jack
Graham is grateful for the response of his church family.
“It’s such a joy for us as a church to partner with GuideStone and Mission:Dignity.
To come alongside retired Southern Baptist ministers, workers and their widows and
help provide for them in a small way is something the people of Prestonwood have
rallied around through the years,” he said.
“We know that the Scripture tells us ‘to give honor to whom honor is due,’ and these
men and women who are supported through Mission:Dignity have faithfully served
Christ and His church for so many years. This is a ministry that we have fully embraced
and count it an honor to participate.”
To the folks at Prestonwood — and to all who join them
in giving of time and resources — our Mission:Dignity
recipients have one thing to say:
[ Mission:Dignity is a ministry of GuideStone Financial Resources ]
Thanks
a million!
O.S. Hawkins greets a supporter at Prestonwood
Baptist Church.
Harold and Judy Vick
MISSION:DIGNITY CHURCH AWARD
Named for longtime GuideStone trustee Harold
Vick and his wife, Judy, the award honors
churches that have not only made a significant
commitment to support the Mission:Dignity
ministry through generous donations but also
encouraged others to get involved as well.
Churches honored in 2015 were Prestonwood
Baptist Church of Plano, Texas; Providence Baptist
Church of Opelika, Alabama; and Crosspoint
Church of Whitesboro, New York.
Prestonwood is the second church, following
Sagemont Church of Houston, to give more
than $1 million to Mission:Dignity. Providence
has provided a monthly gift to Mission:Dignity
since May 1989, and Crosspoint has given to
Mission:Dignity for 20 consecutive years.
The award was first presented to Sagemont
Church in 2013 for its more than $1.5 million in
donations. In 2014, it was presented to Johnson
Ferry Baptist Church of Marietta, Georgia, for
its 25 years of support and outreach to local
recipients; Leonardtown Baptist Church of
southeast Maryland for 25 years of consecutive
giving; and Woodstock Baptist Church in
Jacksonville, Florida, for being the secondlongest-giving church in the U.S.
6
DECEMBER 1
SAVE THE DATE
What is #GivingTuesday? It’s a global movement started in 2012 to move our
focus from “getting” to “giving.” Thanksgiving is a day for giving thanks. Black
Friday and Cyber Monday are two days for getting deals. And #GivingTuesday
is a day for celebrating our blessings and giving back to causes we care about.
Mission:Dignity participated in #GivingTuesday for the first time last year. In
one day of online giving, YOU raised $16,025. We received 63 gifts ranging
from $5 to $2,000. Eight gifts were from first-time donors. This year we will
have some matching funds that will multiply the impact of your gift.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
SOCIAL MEDIA AMBASSADORS. Would you “donate” your Facebook
page or Twitter feed to Mission:Dignity on December 1? We will have resources
you can use, and suggested posts and tweets, at MissionDignity.org/GivingTuesday
(by November 1). Email us at [email protected] and we’ll make
sure you have everything you need.
#UNSELFIES. An #unselfie is a photo you take, holding a sign that shows how
or why you support Mission:Dignity. Use the hashtags #MissionDignity, #GiveDignity
and #GivingTuesday. Send your photos to us by email and we’ll post them on our
Facebook page throughout the day on December 1.
DONATE. Make a gift online or text a gift of any size on December 1. Share that
you’ve donated to Mission:Dignity on your social media platforms and challenge
your family and friends to join you!
1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433)
7
the James Code
is coming!
YOUR
GIFT
ALWAYS FITS
Looking for a way to give a meaningful gift that can improve your tax
situation come April 15? Check out these options for charitable giving:
MADE GAINS IN THE STOCK MARKET THIS YEAR?
Consider a gift of common stock. Contact us for instructions or check out
MissionDignity.org/PlannedGiving/GiveStock.
LOOKING FOR A STEADY SOURCE OF INCOME THAT ALSO HELPS SECURE
THE FUTURE OF MISSION:DIGNITY?
Discover your options for a one- or two-life Charitable Gift Annuity at
MissionDignity.org/PlannedGiving/CharitableAnnuity.
REQUIRED TO TAKE A MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION FROM A 401(k), 403(b),
IRA OR OTHER RETIREMENT PLAN?
You can send all or a portion of the distribution to Mission:Dignity and
receive a charitable tax deduction.
LOOKING TO MAKE A GIFT FROM AN IRA ROLLOVER?
If Congress extends the law allowing individuals who’ve reached age 70 ½
to donate up to $100,000 to charitable organizations directly from their
IRA, you might be able to reduce your taxable income.
FLUSH WITH CASH?
A regular cash donation of any size is always welcome — and 100% of your
gift helps someone in need.
The best-selling author of The Joshua Code
and The Jesus Code, O.S. Hawkins, is back
with a new book focusing on putting your faith
into action. The James Code: 52 Principles
for Putting Your Faith into Action is practical,
personal and action-packed — straight from
one of the most popular books of the Bible.
Once readers have devoted themselves to
Scripture memory in The Joshua Code, and
equipped themselves to give answers in
The Jesus Code, The James Code challenges
them to give feet to their faith.
The Christian life is not about faith and works.
It’s not about faith or works.
It’s about a faith that works!
Continued from page 1
my lifelong friend Jack Graham, has joined Sagemont Church of Houston as the second
church to give more than $1 million to Mission:Dignity. Even more astounding than the
money is the way the people of that church have embraced Mission:Dignity and the dear
soldiers of the cross we support in tangible ways. We trust you’ll enjoy reading their story.
It is such a blessing each and every day to receive notes from our recipients about the
blessings they have received thanks to you. It is through your generous gifts that we are able
to be Christ’s hand extended, just in the nick of time.
Blessings,
O.S. Hawkins
President and CEO
[ Mission:Dignity is a ministry of GuideStone Financial Resources ]
Pre-order The James Code and receive
The Joshua Code and The Jesus Code e-books
for FREE. Learn more at OSHawkins.com.
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE
GuideStone Financial Resources
2401 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, TX 75201-1498
PA I D
SEBRING OH
PERMIT NO. 35
100%
of your gift
Helps Someone
in Need
Years ago, an endowment was
established that funds the operating
expenses of Mission:Dignity.
This covers staff salaries, printing,
postage and other expenses.
Every dollar of current Mission:Dignity
annual gifts is used for monthly
distributions to retired pastors
and their widows in need.
© 2015 GuideStone Financial Resources
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