Annual Mother’s Day Offering will go to assist needy retired ministers

By Butch Blume
butch@baptistcourier.com

Published March 10, 2008

 

If Richard McLawhorn had his way, South Carolina pastors “who have given their lives to serving Jesus Christ” would never have to worry about a lack of resources if they wished to spend their retirement years at either of the state’s two Baptist senior adult communities.

To that end, he hopes a new initiative designed to assist ministers who have underfunded retirements will be a good start. [...]

[My Commentary]

I support this effort fully. As I said in my letter to the Baptist Courier dated February 20, 2008:

If we give scholarships for South Carolina Baptist students at the beginning of their ministry careers to go to our Baptist colleges and seminaries, then why can’t we give scholarships to help South Carolina Baptist ministers and their spouses at the end of their ministry careers to live in one of our retirement communities? In doing so, this would be a wonderful opportunity to tell retired Baptist ministers and their spouses in South Carolina “thank you” for their service to the kingdom.

If 500,000 South Carolina Baptist would be willing to give up one Big Mac value meal at McDonalds, we would raise $2,500,000. This amount would be able to establish a fund that would provide financial assistance to help retired ministers and their spouses to live in the Bethea and Martha Franks homes.

For those who say there is not enough money for this, I say that there is more than enough money to do this; it’s just that it is in our wallets.

If you would like to affirm your commitment to this effort, please feel free to say so in the comment thread.