As our Southern Baptist participants are well aware, these autumn months serve as time for the annual meetings of the 41 Baptist state conventions we are privileged to serve. GuideStone employees will be traveling to meet with participants at each of the state conventions, ranging from Nikiski, Alaska, to Woodstock, Georgia, and from Riverside, California, to Portland, Maine, plus points between and beyond.

Even as we prepare to meet many of you in Baptist state conventions, we continue to plan meetings and benefit fairs with the universities, hospitals, children’s and retirement homes, and other churches and ministries with which we are privileged to partner.

With one more quarter remaining in 2009, allow us to reflect on the year’s accomplishments thus far:

• Fund performance continues to improve as the markets come off their March 2009 lows.
• New quarterly account statements were launched that help provide our participants with more information as they seek to evaluate if they are on track with their retirement plans.
• The launch of property and casualty coverage for churches and ministries. We are adding new churches and ministries regularly and continue to expand the number of states in which we’re licensed to provide this important coverage.

As we look forward to 2010, there are two important areas we are partnering with our churches to address:

• By December 31, 2009, the IRS requires churches and other organizations sponsoring a 403(b)(9) retirement plan to have documented policies and procedures in place that define the specific provisions of the retirement plan. GuideStone has resources available to help ensure compliance with these regulations.
• Starting in January 2010, GuideStone will partner with LifeWay Christian Resources and Baptist state conventions to conduct the 2010 SBC Church Compensation Study. You’ll be seeing more information on this in coming weeks. Be sure and return to our website in early 2010 to participate.

For more than 90 years, GuideStone has sought to be a lifelong partner with our participants in enhancing their financial security. Should you ever have questions about your retirement accounts, health benefits or other services GuideStone provides, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or by phone at 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433).