“God has given me the strength to not give in to overwhelming grief at the passing of our 4-year-old daughter or of my husband of 60 years," says Mission:Dignity® recipient, Sally Moore.
Now a widow in her eighties, Sally has lived a life marked by celebration and grief, joy and sorrow, adventure and trust. In fact, Sally says that it’s a miracle she is even here at all, as the doctor didn’t think she’d make it at birth!
And yet, despite the challenges she faced, Sally testifies to the Lord's provision and faithfulness over every part of her life.
Because of Sally's health as a baby, her family moved to Florida when she was three. Doctors told her parents that Sally had a heart murmur and would do better in a warmer climate, so her dad sold his grocery store and moved the family to central Florida, just east of Tampa.
Later, at her small-town church, First Baptist Church of Mulberry, Florida, she met and fell in love with Dickie Moore. She knew he was "the one" early on, but it took him a little longer to catch on; eventually, he was just as head over heels as she was.
Dickie had dreams of playing professional baseball, but after he injured his arm pitching, that was no longer an option. After they married, the couple stayed in Florida and worked at various jobs for several years. She recalls, “I surrendered to missions as a child of about 12 years old, but Dick, though he was a natural leader and speaker, had no intention of becoming a preacher.” In fact, it wasn’t until Dick was 30 that he felt called to preach for the Lord. He started out as an associate pastor — learning the ins and outs of church life and practicing his people skills.
A few years later, the Moores were called to a church in Fort Worth, Texas, which allowed Dick to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary®. Though most of their ministerial life was spent in Florida, they also had a brief stint at an English-speaking Japanese church in Hawaii before returning to the mainland.
Through it all, Sally was by Dick’s side, supporting, encouraging and helping to raise their four children.
Raising all of their children was a joy, but one of the greatest tests of faith came with the birth of their third child, Angela, who was born with Down syndrome.
“The doctors said that ‘these children’ most likely will not live a long life, and that we could find her dead in her crib any time. He even suggested that we admit her to a government home for the handicapped and not take her home from the hospital. Of course, that option was not even considered. Her name means, ‘a messenger with a special purpose,’ and she was just that!” recalls Sally.
Though Angela never learned to talk, she could understand and respond. The other three Moore children also learned to love her and about God’s perfect love for all his children.
“I did not even know what Down syndrome was when the doctor told me, but God enlarged our focus," Sally shares. "My husband and I were able to counsel others with handicapped children or the loss of a child, for which God prepared us.”
When she was 18 months old, Angela was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away at the age of four.
“That was not easy for us, but God is faithful to give us the peace of knowing we will see her again,” says Sally. “We learned so much from that little redhead in the four years she was in our home!"
After their children were grown, Dick and Sally continued to serve in their hometown of Plant City, Florida. However, in God's providence, their youngest daughter, Bethany, who was with the International Mission Board (IMB) in Central Asia, learned of a position that needed a retired ministry couple in the United Arab Emirates.
The Moores asked God whether this was the next step of faith — and it was.
“We were approved to go, and it was the highlight of my life," Sally beams.
Their work overseas involved setting up a guest house for missionaries to come for medical leave, a vacation or transition.
She continues, "We met so many wonderful people and were able to minister to them, sometimes when they had many fears about going back to their place of ministry.”
As the Moores approached retirement after decades of ministry, the practical realities of aging and financial planning came into focus. The couple hadn’t enrolled in a retirement plan with GuideStone until they landed at their third place of ministry. “We did not make plans early enough,” says Sally.
Providentially, a local Associational Missionary (previously, Director of Missions (DOM)) introduced them to Mission:Dignity and provided the application for assistance. Since they had exhausted all their retirement savings, it was a real blessing to add a monthly grant from Mission:Dignity to their budget.
“Mission:Dignity is just one way God has supplied our [my] needs, but I praise him when that monthly amount comes in!” says Sally, “Especially for the extra Christmas bonus in December and from the Florida Baptist Convention. I am able to pay my bills, tithe and even give to several mission causes and would love to do more.”
Around the same time that the Moores connected with Mission:Dignity in 2021, Dickie began to show signs of memory loss. He continued to preach for a couple of years, until it became too hard. After a three-year battle with dementia, he passed away in 2023.
With full confidence that she'll see both her daughter and husband in heaven again, Sally says, "I assume my husband has already made contact with her. She was very special to him!”
She continues, "God is the reason [for my strength], and he has given [me] many friends who have stood by me in those times and many others as well!”
Now at 81, Sally remains active at her local church, Parkway Baptist, in Plant City. She helps by playing piano in services, visiting the sick, answering phone calls and running errands when necessary. She is so thankful that she and so many other recipients are able to live their later years with dignity through the financial assistance Mission:Dignity provides.
She shares, “Those who have given their lives to serve God and his Church are very blessed to have this service, which continues to provide extra income when they retire.”
Sally’s favorite verse comes from Romans 12 and puts Christ at the center.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 (CSB)
Despite the struggles Sally has faced, she says, “God is good and meets all my needs. I have had a wonderful life, and I love bragging on God, who has been the center and provider!”
To learn more about Mission:Dignity, refer someone in need or make a donation to help a recipient like Sally, visit MissionDignity.org.
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