GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP)–O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources, highlighted four program areas — retirement, investments, insurance and financial assistance –- during the entity’s annual report to the Southern Baptist Convention June 14.
“We are still excited about the final approval of our name last year and the support we have received among Southern Baptists for our effort to re-brand our products and services,” Hawkins said. “We believe we serve as a ‘guide stone’ for the pastor at the crossroads preparing for a secure financial future.
“Just as the ancient Roman guide stones offered information on directions, distances and dangers, GuideStone Financial Resources provides our retirement participants these same services,” he said.
GuideStone makes direction and guidance available through the online Morningstar Retirement ManagerSM tool. Distance is measured with discussion of time horizon and targeting a retirement date.
Looking toward investments, Hawkins noted that GuideStone Funds, the largest Christian-based, socially-screened registered mutual fund family in the world, will celebrate its fifth year of operation Aug. 27.
“We have been serving the Southern Baptist community since 1918,” Hawkins said. “This five-year anniversary is a significant event in our long history, but our reward is in knowing that we are participating in something that offers a valuable opportunity to our pastors and participants.”
Insurance continues to be a major initiative at GuideStone.
“At GuideStone, we have used a three-pronged approach to confront the insurance challenge,” Hawkins said. “The first responsibility is GuideStone’s and in the past year we have offered enhancements in the life and health areas to provide additional flexibility in plan options, deductibles and competitive rates.”
Taking advantage of significant discounts through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, medical rates have been stabilized. While more than 40 percent of personal plan medical participants received a decrease in rates in 2005, more than 57 percent of personal plan medical participants received a decrease in rates for 2006.
“The second step is your responsibility to improve your overall health through proper diet and exercise,” Hawkins said, adding that the wellness center in the SBC exhibit hall had attracted more than 1,000 messengers by the end of the second day of the convention.
“The numbers are improving. Total cholesterol count is down, blood pressure is dropping and blood sugar numbers are dropping,” he said. “Unfortunately, the preliminary report for the Greensboro convention reveals that 70 percent of pastors have a medium-to-high risk for cardiovascular disease so there is still work to be done.”
The final initiative is the responsibility of the church. Hawkins urged churches to include life and health benefits in their church budget for their pastor and staff.
“If we work together, we can make a difference,” Hawkins said.
During the past year, the Endowment ministry was renamed the Financial Assistance ministry and continues to promote the Adopt An Annuitant ministry. The response to the 2005 Adopt An Annuitant Sunday was more than four times the amount of recent years, and June 25 is the date for the 2006 observance.
Individuals and churches continue to open their hearts and their hands as they help to underwrite the financial assistance given to those in desperate need, GuideStone said. The Cooperative Program provides approximately $1.4 million to help meet the need, and individuals and churches contributed an additional $5 million to the ministry.
“Every dime we receive goes to these dear people, and I consider myself a blessed person to be Christ’s hand extended to these soldiers of the cross,” Hawkins said.
–30–
