If you could encourage someone to be Christ's hand extended to someone else in need what approach would you take?
Paul provides some pointed guidance in Galatians 6:10 when he says, Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Through GuideStone’s important Mission:Dignity ministry, we have the opportunity to do good to a special group of believers within our Southern Baptist family — more than 2,000 aged ministers or their widows in critical financial need.
Widows like Alice Burks who served alongside her husband for 41 years in mostly rural churches. Before her husband Gordon passed away, he was concerned about how Alice would make ends meet after he died. Thanks to Mission:Dignity donors, Alice is making it. She tells us, “I praise God every day for how He has supplied my needs and taken care of me since my husband passed away. I thank God for all the wonderful people who contribute to this financial assistance grant program."
Or consider J.P. and Wanzell Skinner. The first time J.P. preached at Rock Creek Baptist Church in 1949, there was no offering plate. They took up the collection in a hat and he got $5, plus some loose change. Eventually, they called him as their pastor and paid him $20 a week. For more than 42 years, they served 10 small, rural churches. He never made more than $300 a week as a pastor, and very few churches contributed toward his retirement. Thanks to Mission:Dignity donors, the Skinners and hundreds like them are able to pay their bills and live with dignity and security in their retirement years.
So, what would you like others to do if you were in Alice Burks’ shoes? Or in J.P. and Wanzell Skinner’s situation?
Taking care of these soldiers of the cross has been part of GuideStone’s ministry since our inception some 93 years ago. We’d like you to join us in this incredible ministry that blesses our heart daily.
You can order materials from Mission:Dignity to share with your church or Sunday school class. You can take up a special offering on Mission:Dignity Sunday, June 26, or make it part of your regular giving year-round. We encourage you to take time to remember these retired Southern Baptist ministers and their widows and join us on our mission to provide dignity to those who have given so much.