FALL/WINTER 2017
THE BAPTIST FOUNDATION OF OKLAHOMA
Hope After the Storm 100,000+ HOMES DAMAGED. YOU CAN
HELP SOUTHERN BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF REBUILD LIVES AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY.
SAVING SINGLE MOTHERS IN CRISIS
DEBUNKING ESTATE PLANNING MYTHS
SPREADING THE GOSPEL FOR $3 A DAY bfok.org
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BY MARK KELLY
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY’S FUTURE WITH AN ESTATE PLAN.
An estate plan is for everyone. It maps out critical end-of-life decisions like your will, children’s guardianship, healthcare directives, and charitable giving. The Foundation makes it easy and affordable. Get started today at bfok.org/ProtectMyFamily.
BFOK.ORG/PROTECTMYFAMILY
Inside RESTORING HOMES (AND HOPE) IN HOUSTON Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are rebuilding lives shattered by Hurricane Har vey. But with more than 100,000 homes damaged in the deluge, much work remains before the city is whole again. Learn how your giving makes Southern Baptist Disaster Relief possible and how you can get involved. PG. 12 ON THE COVER: A young volunteer helps gut a flood-damaged home near Spring, Texas, a Houston suburb.
CHILDREN’S HOPE PROVIDES FRESH START FOR SINGLE MOMS
MYTH-BUSTING ESTATE PLANNING
REACHING SOULS’ ETERNAL ROI
Erin’s life was abusive from the start, and it quickly spiraled out of control during an unplanned pregnancy at age 18. She found help and Jesus through a ministr y of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children.
Think estate planning is only for the wealthy or retired? Don’t let common myths like these stop you from protecting your family and assets.
This Oklahoma City-based ministr y reaches thousands with the Gospel on just $3 a day. Find out how you can help. PG. 26
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PG. 8 G ENE ROS IT Y Fall/Winter 2017 Generosity is published biannually by The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma. To subscribe, request a copy or update mailing information, please call 1.800.949.9988 or email communications@bfok.org.
PRODUCTION
Mike Schueler | Editor Marissa Crowson | Associate Editor VI Marketing & Branding | Design
CONTRIBUTORS Lauren Capraro Stephen Draper Catherine Finch Kathy Lee Hatchett
Marc Hooks Russell Rankin Jeremy Scott
Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.
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Being the hands and feet of Jesus
H
arvey, Irma and Maria. Three devastating hurricanes in less than 30 days. As I grieve for the families whose lives have been ripped apart, I’m also grateful for the opportunity to offer tangible help.
At this moment, hundreds of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are at work in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. They’ve been there for weeks, dressed in their familiar yellow shirts, providing hot meals, removing debris and rebuilding homes. But above all, they’re bringing hope. Times of crisis tend to open hearts to the Gospel. When everything of earthly value is lost, we naturally seek security in things that can’t be moved by hurricane-force winds or swept away by floodwaters. As Christ-followers, we know our Creator is mankind’s only constant. And in a natural disaster, God’s love is often most evident after the storm breaks. That’s when believers like you and me step out of our comfort zones to wrap arms around those who are hurting. Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief teams are doing just that in Texas. There, Hurricane Harvey dumped 27 trillion gallons of rain in six days, damaging 100,000 homes and displacing more than 1 million people. Don Williams, who leads Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief efforts, estimates recovery will take years in the Houston area alone. He says the single greatest need
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PHOTO BY MARC HOOKS
“‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” Matthew 25: 37-40
TRASHED—Piles of debris line neighborhood streets across Houston after residents “mudded-out” their flood-damaged homes following Hurricane Harvey. A combination of waterborne bacteria, mold and Texas heat made the piles reek. “I wish you could take home the smell so others can understand,” one homeowner said.
is Oklahoma Baptists willing to surrender a week or weekend to help rebuild homes. There is no cost to volunteers other than transportation to and from Houston. Meals, lodging, equipment and training are provided. This is possible because of the generosity of Oklahoma Baptists. Disaster relief work depends on donations. Your gifts have already prepared thousands of meals. Your donations have equipped volunteers with chainsaws, wheelbarrows and other equipment to clear downed trees and gut waterlogged homes, as well as providing building materials to make them whole again. This assistance is offered completely free of charge. As they work, Oklahoma Baptists also are praying with homeowners. They offer them God’s Word, share the Gospel, lead the lost to faith and connect them with local Baptist churches. I invite you to join with thousands of Oklahoma Baptists and support disaster relief efforts by giving your time and resources. Simply visit bfok.org/give to make a financial contribution or okdisasterhelp.org to go as a volunteer. Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus — hope after the storm.
Robert K. Kellogg President & CEO bfok.org
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#BecauseYouGive INTO THIN AIR IMB workers hike a nearly 15,000-foot peak in Nepal’s Himalayas. Villages here are separated by miles of incredibly rugged terrain. It can take weeks to access them from the capital city of Kathmandu, where Southern Baptist missionaries Radford and Sarah Bagby* have planted their lives. #BecauseYouGive, the Bagbys are making Christ’s name known among Nepal’s 29 million people, most of whom are Hindu or Buddhist. It’s slow, hard work, Radford said, but the Bagbys are seeing progress. They’ve watched God use their children to open hearts among Nepalis. The couple has trekked mountain paths for days at a time with their toddlers, even while Sarah was pregnant. The children got dirty, played with yaks, and villagers warmed to their family. “People see our kids, and they open up about their lives,” Sarah explained. Visit bfok.org/give to support the Bagbys and thousands of other IMB missionaries serving around the world. *Names changed for security.
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PHOTO BY C.S. STANLEY
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#BecauseYouGive
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PHOTO BY JEREMY SCOTT
KA-RIP! Students dubbed the “Denim Deacons” erupt in cheering during Ka-Rip Wars at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU). Ka-Rip is the school spirit chant used at OBU sporting events. New students learn the yell during Welcome Week, then divide into brightly colored groups to see who can do it best. OBU welcomed 555 freshmen this fall, the graduating class of 2021. #BecauseYouGive, they’ll receive a nationally ranked education grounded in a Christ-centered worldview. Donate to OBU today at bfok.org/give.
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NEW LIFE—Erin and her daughter, Evie, relish the sunshine at the playground that’s part of their new home at Children’s Hope, a ministry that provides a fresh start for at-risk single mothers. Since it began in 2007, Children’s Hope has helped more than 300 families.
BREAKING THE CYCLE Erin’s childhood was hell. Now, Children’s Hope is helping her escape to build a better life for her daughter. BY LAUREN CAPRARO
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rin* was the definition of a single mother in crisis. Neglected and abused as a child, she ran away from home and bounced in and out of foster care before becoming pregnant at 18. But Erin’s life changed radically when she met Jesus. She found a safe place to start over with her daughter, Evie, through a program called Children’s Hope. A ministry of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC), Children’s Hope provides at-risk single mothers with a stable, loving home while helping them acquire skills to build a successful, independent future for their families. Erin said the life Children’s Hope gives Evie is a far cry from her own childhood. The memories are painful to share, but she wants others who are struggling to know
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there is hope even in the darkest circumstances. “I was already in foster care by age 2,” she said. “When I was about one-and-a-half, I got into some of my mom’s drugs, and I overdosed. I had to be medi-flighted.” After moving in and out of foster care for several years, she ended up living with her mother again. “At that point, her drug use was out of control. I decided that I couldn’t live with her anymore.” When she turned 12, Erin decided to move in with her father. “I had only seen him a handful of times — ever,” she said. “I thought anywhere would be better than with my mom, but it was worse.” Erin lived in isolation with her dad for five years. She was
forbidden to have any contact with outside family members and was regularly abused. “He pulled me out of school to homeschool me, but he didn’t homeschool me,” she said. “It was a control thing.”
She found solace in one place: Wednesday night youth group. “I had talked my dad into letting me go to a church youth group, even though he was adamant about telling me how much he didn’t believe in God.” While youth group provided temporary escape from her toxic home life, Erin knew she had to make a change. One particularly cold day, the church van picked her up and took her to youth group as usual. “I told my friends I had a ride home,” she said. “Afterward, I just took off walking. It was in the middle of the winter.” Erin trekked across rural Oklahoma on foot with no agenda, desperately hoping to make a better life for herself. Since she had been cutoff from family members by her father, she had no one to turn to. “I didn’t know where I was going. I wanted to die. I didn’t care,” she remembered. After traveling 20 miles in three days with no sleep, Erin walked into a convenience store and called 911. “I told them I was a runaway.” She was treated for severe frostbite and hypothermia, and eventually placed in a youth and family shelter until she aged out at 18. A few months later, Erin discovered she was pregnant with Evie. “I wanted things to work out with Evie’s dad. That was my plan,” she said. But after three years, she realized the relationship wasn’t healthy. She broke up with Evie’s father and began living in a trailer park with her mother. “She told me I was doing everything wrong,” Erin said. “She told me I was a bad parent, and the worst part was, I believed it.” At the time, Erin was participating in the HIRE program at Moore Norman Technology Center. During an informal interview, she was asked a question that changed the bfok.org
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course of her life: “How is home?” Suddenly all her struggles erupted to the surface. “I just started bawling and said, ‘Home’s not great.’” The interviewer gave her an application for Children’s Hope, and within a few weeks, Erin and Evie began a new life together. “They’ve helped me so much,” Erin said. She loves how family advisors and campus staff help her be a better parent to Evie. “Before, I didn’t have anybody positive in my life saying, ‘You got this.’” One of Erin’s favorite things about Children’s Hope is the ability to regularly attend church. She said she knew God loved her but thought she didn’t deserve His love.
Then one day something stirred in her heart. “I don’t know how to describe it, other than feeling like God was speaking to me about how it was time to [get saved].” She accepted Christ and was baptized. Erin wants to be a positive role model for Evie and pursue her dream of becoming a guardian ad litem — a lawyer that advocates for children. “I want to pay it forward,” she said. When asked about her incredible journey, the humble 22-year-old always directs the conversation back to God. “It’s been hard, but I know that God has plans for me and for Evie and for everything that’s ever happened — it happened for a reason.” *Last name withheld.
YOUR GIFT CAN SAVE SINGLE MOTHERS IN CRISIS. The Foundation’s giving experts can help multiply your donation to Children’s Hope, a ministry of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children. Make a gift today that will change a family forever. give@bfok.org
800.949.9988
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bfok.org/give
FASHIONISTAS—Strutting down the catwalk, Erin and Evie (left) model new dresses during Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children’s (OBHC) annual Style Show. The event raises support to help provide for the more than 200 children in OBHC’s care.
CHURCH CHURCH LOANS LOANS THAT THATCHANGE CHANGELIVES. LIVES.
When When you you borrow borrowfrom fromThe TheBaptist BaptistFoundation Foundation of of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, you’re you’reinvesting investingininmore morethan thanaa building. building. You’re You’reinvesting investinginineternity. eternity. Our Our rates rates are are extremely extremelycompetitive, competitive,and andevery every penny penny of of loan loan interest interestisisgiven givenback backto toministries ministries that that touch touchlives liveswith withthe theGospel. Gospel.
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HOPE after the storm
Hurricane Harvey damaged or destroyed more than 100,000 homes in Texas. Now Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are rebuilding lives and restoring hope — and they need your help. BY RUSSELL RANKIN | PHOTOS BY MARC HOOKS
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WATER MARK—Muddy lines around the perimeter of Kevin Johnson’s living room reveal the height of floodwaters that filled his home in Humble, Texas, during Hurricane Harvey. “It was so much worse than I thought,” he said. “It’s depressing to lose everything.”
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tanding in his north Houston garage, Jimmy Sullivan sorts through possessions that represent a lifetime of memories. It’s all going in the trash. Everything is wet, and the smell is hard to describe. You know it only if you’ve been through a flood. “We’ve lost everything,” he said, rubbing a hand wearily across his face. “It’s hard because this house represents all three of our boys and our seven grandkids. A lot of memories are tied up here.” Sullivan and his wife raised their sons in the sprawling, ranch-style home. It’s set deep on a large corner lot in Spring, a suburb of Houston, Texas. Sullivan, a retired plumber, spent a lot of time landscaping the lush yard marked by towering trees, thick azaleas and shrubs. This past July he won the neighborhood’s “Yard of the Month.” Although flooding is a regular occurrence in many parts of Houston, Sullivan said his home had never flooded in the 47 years his family had lived in it. But something felt different the last week of August, as warnings came that Hurricane Harvey had strengthened and was bearing down on the Texas Gulf Coast. As the torrential rains came, the Sullivans hoped for the best. But when water began entering the house, the couple left with one of their sons who had arrived in a truck to drive them to safety. Sullivan said he had no clue what he would find when he returned. When the downpour subsided, he approached the house in a borrowed airboat, skimming atop several feet of water in his yard and tying the boat to a ceiling fan under his porch. The Sullivans’ story is repeated in neighborhoods and communities all over Houston. According to meteorologists, nearly 30 percent of Houston’s Harris County was submerged by Hurricane Harvey’s fierce rains. The storm inflicted an estimated $160 billion in damages and affected more than 100,000 homes.
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NO TRESPASSING—A spray-painted sign warns looters to stay away from a flooddamaged home in Spring, Texas, a Houston suburb.
STARTING OVER—With help from Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers, Jimmy Sullivan is rebuilding the home he and his wife have shared for the past 47 years.
LEGWORK—Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief assessor Jeff Johnson evaluates the damage to a north Houston home that’s already been stripped to the studs. Volunteers will treat the exposed wood for mold and then begin rebuilding. The labor and materials are provided at no cost to the homeowner thanks to Southern Baptists’ generosity.
Even before the rains ended, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief teams mobilized and headed south to help families like the Sullivans. Partnering with churches in Houston, Oklahoma Disaster Relief quickly set up a command center, feeding center and shower trailer for relief workers. Disaster relief (DR) teams from other states, like Colorado, also set up operations in churches to serve affected communities. Assessors began canvassing neighborhoods to determine which homes needed a “mud-out” — the process of gutting all walls, carpet and flooring affected by water and treating the exposed studs with a chemical to prevent mold. Chainsaw crews deployed further south, near Corpus Christi, to assist communities damaged by Hurricane Harvey’s strong winds. Don Williams, who directs disaster relief for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, said the teams are well-trained and prepared for long-term work to help Houston recover. “The greatest thing about Southern Baptist disaster relief is that it’s volunteer-driven,” Williams said. “Many people make donations at times like this, and that’s definitely needed. But without volunteers, it doesn’t work. There’s no other place they’d rather be than here helping these communities. All of this happens because of the generosity of Oklahoma Baptists and Southern Baptists across the nation.
“We represent Christ,” he continued. “We work so that people will see Jesus is in us. Our heart is to help these communities in the name of Christ. That’s the attitude that Oklahoma disaster relief reflects.” Dan Fuller, incident commander for the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team, said the response following Hurricane Harvey has been unique in that many churches and neighborhoods worked proactively to clear homes. “Texas is like Oklahoma in the sense that we don’t wait for help,” he said. “We’re going to get after it ourselves. That’s what we’re seeing in Houston. But there are still people in shelters who haven’t been able to address their homes. Our assessors will be out there, walking the neighborhoods,
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CHOW LINE—Bulk meal preparation is a signature of Southern Baptist disaster relief. Oklahoma’s mobile feeding unit can cook 20,000 meals per day, and served more than 87,000 hot meals to hurricane victims and first responders in the weeks after the disaster.
knocking on doors and talking to neighbors. We will help anyone who needs help.” Fuller also pointed out the important roles chaplains play on each mud-out team. “It’s emotional for a homeowner to walk into their house and see all their walls torn out and everything they own piled on the curb headed to the landfill,” he said. “At those times, people need someone to listen to them. This is another way we extend the compassion and love of Christ.” Oklahoma Baptists will have a presence in Houston long after the storm, Fuller said. “Oklahoma churches are invited to come down and partner with Houston-area churches to continue the work,” he explained. “It won’t just be Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief, but laypeople and churches will work alongside one another to get this job done.”
HARVEY BY THE NUMBERS HURRICANE HARVEY’S IMPACT
25 trillion
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF RESPONSE
21,480
Gallons of rain that fell on Texas and Louisiana
Hours worked by Oklahoma volunteers
51
Inches of rain, a new record (4.25 feet)
195
Homes “mudded-out”
100,000+
87,873
Homes damaged or destroyed
Meals prepared
60
173
Texas counties declared disaster areas
Homes assisted by chainsaw crews
205
Southern Baptist churches damaged
367
Families visited by chaplains
$160 billion Estimated losses
As of Oct. 31, 2017
HOW YOU CAN HELP
100%
Disaster relief budget dependent on donations
GIVE
bfok.org/give
PRAY
48+
Homes and churches currently awaiting assistance
For hurricane victims and for volunteers as they serve
GO
Volunteer at okdisasterhelp.org
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WORKING TOGETHER—Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief partnered with other state Baptist disaster relief agencies as well as local Texas Baptist churches to provide aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Volunteers cooked thousands of meals, mudded-out flooded homes and shared Christ with those reeling from the loss. Now, many more volunteers are needed to repair homes damaged by the storm.
Jerry Wallace wears the blue hat for Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief, signifying his role as second-in-command under Fuller. Wallace, a former DEA agent, said the Oklahoma feeding unit could prepare 20,000 meals a day for families who are in shelters and working to restore their homes. “It’s important for us to be here because we glorify God through our service as we represent the churches of Oklahoma,” Wallace said. A week after the hurricane, the web of freeways around Houston returned to the familiar bumper-to-bumper traffic as businesses reopened and Houstonians returned to work. But today, more than 2 months later, the real work of rebuilding is just beginning for many homeowners. Kevin Johnson has a small creek running behind his home in Houston’s northeast metro. When the outlet to the San Jacinto River backed up during the rains, the levees in the northern community of Conroe were opened to prevent flooding. These two water sources turned the creek into a raging river that inundated Johnson’s neighborhood. Johnson’s home, where he has lived since 2004, sits at the top of a sloped yard. Yet, the house still wears a dirty waterline stripe more than 6 feet above the ground. In the street, the water would have easily been 10 feet deep. “I was hoping the water wouldn’t be more than 4 feet deep,” he said, motioning to walls already bowing from water damage. With his family displaced to an area motel, Johnson said he spent several days parked at a mall outside his neighborhood. From the elevated vantage point, he sat and watched, waiting for the waters to subside. He said his heart fell when he finally made it back to his house. “It was so much worse than I thought,” he said. “It’s depressing to lose everything.” Johnson had not made much progress when an Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team arrived at his house. Fetid odors permeated the structure even though every door and window was thrown open wide. Despite the need to tear out soiled carpet and drywall, Johnson stood on his back patio with a fishing rod and can of oil, trying to clean the flood silt out of his reel. The damage to his home was so extensive he didn’t know where to start.
“You can’t blame God for what has happened here,” Johnson said. “It won’t be overnight, but I’ll be all right.” Fuller, incident commander for the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team, said the commitment of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is strong, and the reputation of the volunteer army continues to grow. “There is an understanding now that with any natural disaster in the United States, the Southern Baptist ‘yellow shirts’ are going to be there,” said Fuller, a 21-year veteran of Southern Baptist disaster relief work. “It’s a happy feeling because we know the work we’re doing is making a difference. People know that Southern Baptists are going to stay there until the job is done. A lot of other organizations show up and work. That’s great. But they’ll run out of volunteers. The Baptists will be there until the end. It’s the Southern Baptist way.” Jimmy Sullivan said he and his wife were “asking the Lord what they should do” moving forward. Sullivan had thought his entire home was destroyed by the flood. However, after the mud-out by disaster relief workers, he realized there was hope.
“It seemed like a total loss, but the bones of this house are sound,” Sullivan said. “It may have gotten hurt, but it’s going to come back. We all are, by the grace of God.” GIVE HOPE TO HURRICANE HARVEY VICTIMS. Gifts to Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief are rebuilding lives in Houston. But much work remains, and your generosity is critical to provide continued assistance. The Foundation can help. Contact us to support disaster relief efforts today. give@bfok.org
800.949.9988
bfok.org/give
Jeff Johnson (no relation) assured Johnson that teams would be returning to work at his house. That, and the fact that Jeff prayed for Johnson before he left, encouraged him. bfok.org
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OBU’s Women of Vision:
Join this unique group of philanthropic females focused on practical improvements that leave a legacy. BY CATHERINE FINCH
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W
hen it comes to giving, there is strength in numbers. It’s a truth that drives Oklahoma Baptist University’s (OBU) Women of Vision. Founded in 2015, Women of Vision (WOV) is a giving circle. It empowers women to be philanthropic leaders by making significant financial contributions to the students, programs, faculty and staff at OBU. Alumnae comprise most of the group’s membership, which is coordinated by OBU’s director of development, Gretchen Trimble.
“This giving circle allows women to come together to meet practical needs, make a positive difference, and celebrate the joy of giving,” Trimble said. “The impact we make by uniting is far greater than what we can do individually.” To join, each WOV member pledges a $1,000 annual contribution. A special rate of $500 per year is offered to OBU faculty/staff (or their spouses), as well as current students and recent graduates. The group started with 58 charter members and almost $47,000. They decided one of their first improvements to the school would be providing additional lighting on campus. Approximately 25 additional lighting fixtures were installed as part of phase one of the OBU campus lighting improvement plan. This year, WOV membership has grown to 78 and has raised nearly $70,000. The group voted to equip buildings on campus with keyless card access as their next philanthropic project. Trimble said this endeavor, along with the additional lighting, is evidence of WOV’s desire to improve safety and security for OBU students. It’s an effort she’s proud to be part of. “I knew I couldn’t ask other women to give to Women of Vision if I didn’t give myself,” Trimble added. “WOV has allowed me to be a part of big projects on campus that I could not have done in a lifetime by myself.” The “Keyless Card Access” project was underwritten almost entirely by WOV. Since dormitories are already equipped with keyless card access technology, the project
focused on other major buildings including Ford Music Hall, the Art Building, Wood Science, Thurmond Hall, Mabee Learning Center, Shawnee Hall and parts of the Geiger Center. For senior Madi Crow, keyless entry provides peace of mind. “I appreciate the security of card entry because I know that only people who need to be in the Art Building will be there,” she said. “I also appreciate the convenience because if I need to work on a project late at night, I can access the Art Building and its resources without having to call to get it unlocked.” At their annual meeting this fall, the Women of Vision discussed possible projects for 2018. The group prayed and cast their votes, selecting the “Campus Ministry Center Renewal” project. The purpose is to create a welcoming and functional environment for all students. The project will provide a technologically sound and aesthetically acceptable space for spiritual growth encounters. This includes the purchase and installation of a sound system, video presentation equipment and new furniture, plus minor remodeling. The estimated cost of the project is $80,000, and nearly every penny will be funded by WOV. “The Women of Vision are dedicated to the students of today and tomorrow, dedicated to OBU and dedicated to ‘doing,’” Trimble said. “Put simply, the Women of Vision strive to do more together.”
CASTING VISION—At their annual fall gathering, OBU’s Women of Vision voted to revitalize the Campus Ministry Center. The group raised more than $75,000 to fund the project.
CATCH THE VISION AND HELP BUILD OBU’S FUTURE. JOIN WOMEN OF VISION TODAY. gretchen.trimble@okbu.edu
405.585.5426
okbu.edu/WOV bfok.org
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8 MYTHS OF ESTATE PLANNING No believer knows when Christ will call them home. Don’t let one of these common misconceptions stop you from protecting the people and possessions you’ll leave behind. BY KATHY LEE HATCHETT
MYTH 1: I DON’T NEED AN ESTATE PLAN BECAUSE … WAIT, WHAT EXACTLY IS AN ESTATE PLAN?! While this technically isn’t a myth, the nature of estate planning seems shrouded in mystery. This may be because it’s difficult to talk about what happens when we die. So what is an estate plan? A set of essential legal documents that settle critical end-of-life decisions like asset distribution, children’s guardianship, healthcare directives and charitable giving. Specifically, an estate plan allows you to:
PASS ON POSSESSIONS according to your wishes and values LEAVE INSTRUCTIONS for your care if you become disabled or incapacitated
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CHOOSE A GUARDIAN for children under age 18
PROVIDE for loved ones with special needs
SUPPORT your church and other charitable causes
TRANSFER OWNERSHIP of your business
CARE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS who have difficulties dealing with money
MINIMIZE court costs, attorney fees and other legal expenses
MYTH 2: ONLY WEALTHY OR RETIRED PEOPLE NEED AN ESTATE PLAN.
MYTH 7: IT’S COMPLICATED AND TIME CONSUMING.
This is the single biggest misconception about estate planning. While it may sound like something for the “rich and famous,” everyone needs an estate plan, regardless of income, age or marital status. Even those with modest means (or significant debt) still have assets like their home, personal effects and other possessions that must be distributed. For young families, an estate plan answers questions about who will care for their children if both parents die. For single or older individuals, an estate plan details healthcare directives should injury or illness prevent them from making decisions for themselves.
Not with help from the Foundation’s estate planning experts. Begin by using our free online estate planning tool at bfok.org/plan. You’ll be guided by the Pattersons, a family working through an estate plan of their own. Plus, you have the option to meet with the Foundation’s estate planning professionals in person to ask questions or review your plan. These services are complimentary.
MYTH 3: MY SPOUSE/FAMILY WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS AFTER I’M GONE. This is a tremendous burden to place on family members who are already grieving your loss. Without an estate plan, you are forcing them to guess your wishes. I’ve seen families torn apart by disagreements over how a loved one’s assets should be divided. An estate plan resolves this by detailing your desires in advance.
MYTH 4: I’M MARRIED BUT DON’T HAVE CHILDREN, SO I DON’T NEED AN ESTATE PLAN. Don’t assume your assets will easily transfer to your spouse. There are often complex legal hurdles that an estate plan can help avoid. Plus, without an estate plan more of your spouse’s assets may be lost to taxes, court costs or legal fees.
MYTH 5: I DON’T NEED AN ESTATE PLAN BECAUSE I’M SINGLE. Death doesn’t discriminate by marital status. Without an estate plan, state law will determine what happens to your assets when you pass — not you. An estate plan also includes vital information about your care should you become disabled or incapacitated. If you are incapacitated, what choices do you want made about your life? Don’t assume parents, siblings, or other relatives can make choices according to your wishes. Save them from the burden of guessing what you “would have wanted.”
MYTH 8: I’LL GET AROUND TO IT EVENTUALLY. Sadly, I’ve heard this from far too many families whose loved one has unexpectedly passed away or become incapacitated without an estate plan in place. This means their possessions are subject to the inheritance laws of the state, which likely won’t correspond with the deceased’s wishes. The Bible tells us life is short and that no believer knows when Christ will call them home. Please don’t put off your estate plan. The Foundation’s online estate planning tool streamlines the process, allowing you to complete the majority of the work at your pace, from the comfort of your home — even in your PJs!
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY WITH AN ESTATE PLAN. An estate plan is for everyone. It maps out critical end-of-life decisions like your will, children’s guardianship, healthcare directives and charitable giving. The Foundation makes it easy and affordable. Get started today. estateplan@bfok.org
800.949.9988
bfok.org/ProtectMyFamily
MYTH 6: I CAN’T AFFORD IT. Did you know that most estate plans created through The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma are free? We reimburse some or all legal fees for clients who leave a 10 percent gift to ministry in their estate plan.
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YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR THEM HELP THEM BE THERE FOR YOU An estate plan provides peace of mind and supports ministry. The Foundation makes it easy and affordable. Get started at bfok.org/BeThere.
MEASURING MISSIONAL ROI How Reaching Souls International is spreading the Gospel on just $3 a day. BY STEPHEN DRAPER
REACHING SOULS—New believers are baptized by Reaching Souls missionaries as a crowd looks on. BELOW—A missionary shares the Gospel using an EvangeCube.
M
ore than 9 million decisions to accept Christ in 2016 alone. That’s the impact of Reaching Souls International.
Started in 1986, Reaching Souls is a global missions organization committed to training and equipping indigenous missionaries. The Oklahoma Citybased ministry overcomes the barriers of language, culture and travel with a strategy of “nationals reaching nationals.” These missionaries travel to local villages preaching the Gospel and planting churches on a salary of $100 per month (about $3 a day). It’s about one goal – fulfilling the Great Commission through evangelism and discipleship. Reaching Souls’ founder, Jimmy Hodges, felt God’s call to ministry at age 14 while attending Oklahoma Baptist’s Falls Creek youth camp. He took his first trip to Africa in 1972, where he asked the Lord to reveal the most fruitful way to spread the Good News. God answered with the vision for training A frican pastors to evangelize to their own people, based on 2 Timothy 2:2. Jimmy Hodges Ministries International was launched in 1986. Within a decade, the organization had 50 full-time national missionaries serving
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GOSPEL WITNESSES—More than 2,000 national missionaries serve through Reaching Souls International. The Oklahoma City-based ministry advances the Gospel in nine African countries as well as India and Cuba, and has seen more than 30 million salvation decisions since it began in 1986.
throughout Africa. By 1998 it had trained 5,000 evangelists, and by 2005 around 3,000 churches had been planted. In 2015, it changed its name to Reaching Souls and today supports some 2,000 national missionaries. Collectively, the ministry has celebrated over 30 million salvation decisions since it was founded. Dustin K. Manis, the current president and CEO of Reaching Souls, said the ministry is effective because its goal is to reach the maximum number of people for Christ in the least amount of time. “Reaching Souls is about reaching souls,” says Manis. “Sometimes mission work has been dumbed down to doing any kind of good in a foreign land. That’s not what we’re about. We’re about evangelism and discipleship. We want to see people give their lives to Christ, and we want to start new churches. Those are the two ways I believe you make a dent in the Great Commission.” Reaching Souls ministers in countries around the world including India and Cuba, but it has a strong foundation in sub-Saharan Africa – one of the most impoverished regions on the planet. Life expectancy here is as low
$100
($3 a day) Monthly support for each missionary
5,0006,000 People brought to Christ each year through the work of one missionary bfok.org
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as 34 in some areas. AIDS and malaria run rampant while access to healthcare and clean water is rare. This is the field for which Reaching Souls trains its national missionaries. National missionaries are indigenous evangelists who preach the Gospel on a full-time basis. They are trained, equipped and financially supported by Reaching Souls. Each candidate must be an active evangelist and complete a rigorous evaluation process before being selected by the organization. The missionaries speak in markets, villages, schools and any place they can gather a crowd. With 2,000 national missionaries witnessing to the lost and multiplying their work through disciples, Reaching Souls projects 11 million people will accept Christ in 2017 alone.
“It’s an example of how much God can do with so little,” Manis said. “Our national missionaries are living in one of the poorest places on earth, yet they have such joy. They go out every day and reach their own people for Christ.”
All this work is achieved through $100 of monthly support for each national missionary. Reaching Souls is committed to accountability and efficiency, striving to stretch its resources as much as possible. Charitable giving to Reaching Souls sees 95 percent of each donation go directly to missions and development. The $100 monthly salary for national missionaries allows them to focus exclusively on spreading the Gospel while providing practical tools for the job. A portable sound system broadcasts their voices throughout villages and noisy marketplaces. Rather than walk from village to village, a bicycle enables them to minister farther and faster. “Consider that $100 a month supports a missionary who will bring 5,000 to 6,000 people to Christ each year,” Manis said. “That’s the best investment you can make. Where else are you going to put money that will get that kind of spiritual return?” YOU CAN SPREAD THE GOSPEL FOR $3 A DAY. Giving through Reaching Souls’ endowment fund multiplies your donation and provides long-term financial stability. The Foundation’s planned giving experts can help. Support Reaching Souls today. give@bfok.org
800.949.9988
bfok.org/give
LEAST OF THESE—Children listen to a Gospel presentation from one of Reaching Souls’ 2,000 national missionaries. A gift of just $100 can support one of these missionaries for an entire month.
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LAST LOOK MAKING THE CUT
Suspended nearly 20 feet from terra firma, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Dick Faurot removes sycamore limbs at a home damaged by an EF2 tornado that swept through the Tulsa area Aug. 6. “I know it’s a help to them, but I get more of a blessing out of it than they do,” said Faurot, who recently retired from Tulsa CBS affiliate KOTV (Channel 6) after 24 years at the station as a meteorologist. Support Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief today at bfok.org/give.
Christmas with
Mark Lowry
Don’t miss this heartwarming family Christmas event filled with laughter and praise! Tickets range from $25-30; discounts available for groups of ten or more. DECEMBER 14, 2017 AT 7 P.M. CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK CENTER IN ENID, OK
PURCHASE TICKETS AT 855-TIX-ENID OR CNBCENTER.COM/MARKLOWRY