Curtis D. Sharp
Executive Officer for Denominational and Public Relations
214-720-2127
Curt.Sharp@GuideStone.orgHawkins declares 2008 as Year of Service
February 23, 2008
News Release Date: February 28, 2008
DALLAS — Drawing from an Old Testament passage, GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins told trustees, “As we celebrate 90 years of ministry, our theme for 2008 will be on service.” Trustees met in regular session Feb. 25-26 in Dallas. Trustees also heard a report from Chief Operating Officer John R. Jones.
Speaking from 1 Kings 12:7 which says, “If you will be a servant to them and serve them and answer them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever,” Hawkins reminded trustees that GuideStone’s role is that of a servant.
“In all we do, our attitude should be that of a servant,” Hawkins said. “That attitude should be reflected in our actions and expressed through our lives and through our lips.”
“This year is a strategic year as we complete GuideStone 90, the first phase of our long-range plan, GuideStone 100. Foremost in GuideStone’s 90 years of service has been an emphasis on its relief ministry,” Hawkins told trustees.
“We are now re-branding our financial assistance ministry. The new name, Mission:Dignity, declares that we are on a mission to bring dignity to those who have given faithful years of service to Southern Baptist work and have significant financial need.”
In actions last year, trustees approved an increase in the qualifying income guidelines and doubled the financial assistance amounts for those retired ministers or their widow who have long years of service and the greatest financial need.
Jones updated trustees on the program areas of GuideStone (retirement, investments, insurance and financial assistance) and also previewed strategic initiatives for 2008.
“In a year of significant financial markets volatility, GuideStone Funds continued to perform very well compared to mutual fund peers. For the five-year period ending Dec. 31, 2007, 8 of 10 Select funds in the GS4 class exceeded their respective mutual fund peer universe median as measured by the Lipper Ranking,” Jones said. Lipper Inc., a Reuters Company, is a nationally recognized organization that compares the total return performance of mutual funds within a universe of funds having similar investment objectives. Please keep in mind that past performance does not guarantee future results.
“In addition, GuideStone Funds ranked 30 out of 228 mutual fund families in the most recent Fund Family Fiduciary Rankings prepared by fi360. This report ranks mutual fund families based upon the percentage of their individual funds that pass fi360’s due diligence screens. These screens include the fund's track record, assets, management tenure, style consistency, expense ratio, risk adjusted performance and performance relative to their peer group among other criteria.
“As of Dec. 31, 2007, retirement contributions and rollovers into our retirement plans topped $500 million for the first time in GuideStone’s history,” Jones said. “This milestone represents participants’ continued commitment to planning for their future retirements and confidence in GuideStone Funds.”
Turning to GuideStone’s medical plans, Jones highlighted that in 2007 the medical plans net enrollment increased by 11.2%.
“We continue to see significant growth in both our personal and group programs,” Jones told trustees. “During the past four years, over 6,000 persons have been added to the medical programs.”
In the Financial Assistance area, Jones reiterated the good news concerning more generous eligibility guidelines and future increases in benefits for financial assistance recipients who have the greatest financial need. Information concerning the Adopt An Annuitant ministry may be requested by calling GuideStone at 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433) or by emailing the Financial Assistance Department at adopt@GuideStone.org.
Jones also reported on GuideStone’s initiative to offer property and casualty insurance to churches and ministry organizations.
“We believe we can offer a competitive property and casualty program that provides risk management programs for churches and ultimately reclaim dollars for ministry that have been lost to for-profit insurers,” Jones said.
The trustees’ relief committee affirmed the addition of 33 new applicants in the fourth quarter. Eleven applications were approved for grants.
Trustees accepted the recommendation of their general officers nominating committee and re-elected for a one-year term Robert L. Sorrell, Tennessee, as chairman and Timothy E. Head, South Carolina as vice-chairman.
At the Monday evening dinner meeting, four trustees were honored for their years of service to the Board. Those receiving recognition were: Sam Burk, Jr., Colorado; David A. Galloway, Louisiana; William F. Hansen, II, Virginia; and Larry A. Standridge, Tennessee.
You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of GuideStone Funds before investing. For a copy of the prospectus with this and other information about the funds please call 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433) or download a prospectus (pdf). You should read the prospectus carefully before investing.
The Fund Family Fiduciary Rankings™ is a quarterly report on the major fund families. Fi360 leverages the technology used to determine the Fi360 Fiduciary Score™ for mutual funds and exchange-traded funds to establish a ranking for each family. Only shops with five or more funds with at least a three-year track record are considered in the report. Within each fund family, the percentage of funds that have either a “Passed” (Fi360 Fiduciary Score™ 0) or Appropriate” (Fi360 Fiduciary Score™ 1-25) classification is calculated. This percentage is then used to rank order the families. In the instances where two or more fund families tie (share the same percentage), preference is give to the shop with the greater number of funds offered. All fund share classes are considered in the rankings.
GuideStone Funds shares are distributed by PFPC Distributors, Inc., a registered broker-dealer and underwriter of the funds, 760 Moore Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19406. GuideStone Funds is a controlled-affiliate of GuideStone Financial Resources.
Word version - Hawkins declares 2008 as Year of Service