Trustees Review Strategic Progress Supporting Pastors and Churches; Approve Mission:Dignity^® Honorarium Increase

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts

Trustees of GuideStone Financial Resources met July 27–28 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, reviewing progress on key initiatives designed to strengthen support for pastors, churches and ministry leaders across the Southern Baptist Convention while also approving an increase in Mission:Dignity^® assistance for retired ministers and widows beginning in 2027. Updates ranged from retirement and financial wellness initiatives to church benefits, insurance and health plan solutions and ministry support, reflecting GuideStone's commitment to helping ministry leaders start well, stay well and finish well.

GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck noted that GuideStone's 2026 theme, drawn from 2 Samuel 5:12, "For the Sake of His People," reflects the organization's commitment to serving pastors, churches and ministry leaders through financial security, resilience and ministry support.

"The Lord has established and exalted GuideStone, but He has not done those things for the sake of GuideStone," Dilbeck said. "He has established and exalted us for the sake of His people."

Helping Pastors Build Financial Resilience

Leaders shared encouraging progress from GuideStone's Ministers' Financial Foundations pilot, operated in conjunction with Baptist state conventions in Kentucky and Tennessee. The initiative helps younger pastors build financial resilience through education, coaching and retirement savings incentives. Early results show strong engagement with financial education, coaching and retirement savings participation.

"We know that one of the primary factors in finishing well is getting started well," Dilbeck said.

Caring for Those Who Served

Trustees approved an increase in monthly Mission:Dignity honoraria beginning January 1, 2027. Benefits for the neediest couples will grow to $800 per month in assistance.

During the first half of 2026, Mission:Dignity assisted more than 2,100 individuals representing more than 1,600 households. Mission:Dignity provides assistance to retired Southern Baptist pastors, workers and widows facing financial hardship.

"At its most basic level, finishing well is about freedom from anxiety," Dilbeck said. "We don't want people worrying about how they're going to pay their rent. We want them to have the freedom to continue serving the Lord."

Mission:Dignity is supported by gifts from churches, individuals, foundations and Sunday school classes, and receives no Cooperative Program funding. For more information about Mission:Dignity, to give, apply for assistance or refer someone in need, visit MissionDignity.org.

Deepening Relationships with Southern Baptist Churches

Progress also continued through GuideStone's SBC Core initiative, which seeks to strengthen relationships with Southern Baptist churches and increase awareness of the resources available to pastors and congregations. Research conducted earlier this year provided new insight into church needs and opportunities to expand engagement.

Outreach efforts highlighted the unique realities of many smaller congregations, including churches served by bivocational pastors.

"We've learned there is a meaningful opportunity to serve ministry partners more holistically," said Chief Operating Officer Mark Borchgardt. "In many cases, the challenge is awareness of the full range of ways GuideStone can serve churches and ministry partners."

Advancing Initiatives That Strengthen Service

Discussion also focused on several strategic initiatives first highlighted during the winter trustee meeting, including software modernization, data governance, artificial intelligence and operational improvements. Leaders reported continued movement from planning into implementation, with a focus on improving member experiences and expanding GuideStone's capacity to serve churches and ministry partners.

"We believe AI can help remove routine work from our teams so they can spend more time doing meaningful, mission-oriented work serving members and ministry partners," Borchgardt said.

The meeting also marked the completion of the strategic deliverable related to GuideStone's property and casualty insurance initiative. GuideStone's independent multi-carrier agency now serves more than 550 churches across 12 states and continues expanding its reach.

Stewarding Resources to Serve Future Generations

Reports presented during the meeting showed continued financial strength across the organization, with enterprise assets reaching $29.2 billion at the end of the second quarter. Leaders noted that strong reserves and operating performance help GuideStone fulfill long-term commitments while continuing to invest in ministry service.

The enterprise also reported continued growth in retirement, investment and wealth management services.

"Stewardship is about resources, but it is also about stewardship of opportunity," Dilbeck said. "We have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve."

Looking ahead, leaders discussed priorities for the second half of 2026, including expanded church outreach, continued growth of the Ministers' Financial Foundations pilot, ongoing technology modernization efforts and preparations for member-focused initiatives planned for 2027.

"What we do is strengthen ministers, advance the message of the Gospel and help strengthen churches and ministries," Dilbeck said.

Roy Hayhurst is director of executive communications at GuideStone^®.