Generosity Magazine Fall 2013 by Generosity Magazine

T H E

B A P T IS T

F OU N D A T I O N

O F

O KL A H O M A

FALL 2013

GENEROSITY Fall 2013 A magazine for clients and stakeholders who support The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma’s mission to promote charitable planned giving and provide financial management for the gifts that strengthen Southern Baptist ministries.

Production

Barros Design Group| Design Layout Jayme Glover| Writer Taprina Milburn| Editor & Writer Derek Watson & Marcus Wehmueller | Photographers Send questions/comments to: Editor, Generosity 3800 N. May Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73112 communications@bfok.org

Administration

Robert Kellogg| President & CEO Dan Allen| Chief Development Officer, Senior Vice President, Donor Services Janna Charles| Assistant to the President & Corporate Secretary David Depuy| Vice President, Director of Investments Brad Johnson| Vice President, Controller Taprina Milburn| Vice President, Marketing & Communications Andrea Olsen| Executive Assistant to the President Michael Romero| Vice President and Trust Counsel Shryln Treadwell| Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President, Beneficiary Services Jerry Vaughan| Senior Vice President, Church Services Jim Wilsie| Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President, Support Services

Area Managers

Curt Gathright| Northwest Area Manager Kathy Lee Hatchett| OKC Metro Area Manager Paul Kersh| Southwest Area Manager David Polk| Southeast Area Manager Jerry Zumwalt| Northeast Area Manager Generosity is published in the fall and spring by The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Recipients include approximately 10,000 clients, stakeholders, and churches in Oklahoma. To request a copy or to update mailing information, please call 405.949.9500. “…through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” II Corinthians 9:11

Your Foundation

arlier this month, the Foundation hosted its annual Client Appreciation Dinner at the Devon Tower in Oklahoma City. We had the privilege of visiting with and thanking many of our donors for their generous support of Baptist ministries. We were also pleased to introduce a new recognition, the Heritage Award. The Heritage Award seeks to honor those individuals whose work, as a former staff member or board member, has contributed to the advancement of the Foundation’s mission. This year we were honored to recognize Charles Sutter as the first recipient of the Heritage Award. A trust client since 1968, Mr. Sutter served as a Foundation board member from 1984 through 1990, and as an advisor to the board from 1991 through 1996. He was awarded the board member emeritus designation in 2005. Mr. Sutter retired from Southwestern Bell after a prestigious 34 year career. He and his late wife Ina were active members of First Edmond, before retiring to Monkey Island. The Sutters have three sons: Chad, Charles and Kevin. To say Charles has had an active retirement is an understatement. As a volunteer, he directed the rebuilding and remodeling of the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children campuses in Oklahoma City, Madill, Owasso and the Boys Ranch Town in Edmond. During his service on the board, Mr. Sutter served in numerous capacities including chairman of the board, and his most significant contribution may have been the cost recovery fee system that has saved our clients more than $5 million during its 13 years. It seemed appropriate to have Mr. Sutter as our first recipient of the Heritage Award. His investment in and dedication to the work of the Foundation has been invaluable.

Robert K. Kellogg Foundation President & CEO

Contents

Cover Story 2

Disaster Relief: God’s People Help in Time of Need Disaster

Relief

completely

funded by the state missions offering and the donations of Southern Baptists.

Features

Departments

14 Donor Services —

Committed to Leaving Spiritual and Financial Legacy

Missionaries Share Gospel Through Games

New Building Rejuvenates Congregation

Making a Difference at Any Age

10 Giving Reminders

Year-End Charitable

by Dan Allen, Chief Development Officer, Senior Vice President, Donor Services

Investments — Market Report: Foundation’s

Church Building Loans & Investment Funds

Endowment Portfolio Earns Positive Net Performance by David Depuy, Vice President, Director of Investments

Servicing a Loan

by Jerry Vaughan, Senior Vice President, Church Services

Donate Online www.bfok.org | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Generosity

Disaster Relief: God’s People Helping in Time of Need

By Jayme Glover, BFO Communications

“… God had us in the palm of His hand. He hadn’t

spinning at 295 MPH. The infamous May 3rd tornado

forsaken us because He never does, and He answered the

was the world’s strongest tornado in history at one mile

prayers of His people around the world [that night].”

long spinning at 318 MPH, so the May 31st storm was on

This heartfelt quote came from Disaster Relief Director,

track to do some major damage.

Sam Porter, as he recounts the day after the last tornado in

“I prayed and said, ‘God, you can’t let this happen,’ and

a series of destructive storms that tore through Oklahoma.

I promise you He answered that prayer because the storm

On Saturday, June 1st, as Porter drove through the streets

picked up right before Yukon, and it never touched down

of south Oklahoma City all the way to Stanley Draper

again… God didn’t take the tornado away; He just picked

Lake, he was amazed to see no destruction in an area he

it up, like a Father protecting His children.”

knew should have been demolished.

In 14 years as director, Porter has seen a lot. He’s been

That previous night, May 31st, Porter was at home

to or helped by sending a workforce to every major

with his wife watching the weather as the world’s largest

disaster in those years including 9/11. Yet, despite all he’s

recorded tornado in history formed just east of El Reno,

witnessed, he still says, “Nothing is as destructive as an

Oklahoma. Its forecasted path was down I-40 straight into

F5 [tornado], and I’ve seen every kind of disaster in the

the heart of Oklahoma City. He remembers watching five

world.”

vortexes form into one tornado logged at 2.6 miles long

Disaster Relief has been a major source of aid for

Director Sam Porter fields questions from reporters after the May 20, 2013 Moore tornado. Photo provided by the BGCO.

Generosity | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Donate Online www.bfok.org

destruction for some time now as it is dubbed, according

Salaries are paid through Cooperative Program giving

to Porter, the largest trained volunteer workforce in the

dollars, thus all of the money donated to DR goes to

entire world. Though the Red Cross and Salvation Army

taking care of the disaster. This could be anything from

may be more widely known, it cannot be said about

buying or maintaining equipment such as skid steers

each of these organizations that the volunteer base is

and track hoes to providing food through the large meal

completely trained. This can be said about Southern

truck, distributing Bibles to victims and even extensive

Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR). The relationships between

emotional and trauma counseling training for chaplains

these organizations is strong though, as SBDR has an

and volunteers to help those suffering from loss. These

agreement to prepare 85-90 percent of all hot meals served

volunteers were able to be on site helping at one fourth of

by either the Salvation Army or the Red Cross. FEMA also

all homes and businesses destroyed that day, around 1,100

works with SBDR to distribute contact information to any

locations. And DR doesn’t solely help Southern Baptists,

victim needing help.

as Sam says, “…it doesn’t make any difference what faith,

Helping is exactly what Disaster Relief does. Within 20 minutes of the May 20th storm hitting Moore, Porter had made his way to First Moore and within two and a half

nationality, creed or anything.” “We do disaster relief in order to earn the right to share the gospel.”

hours, the DR meal truck was on site ready to prepare

SBDR had close to 1,500 ministry contacts on the

what would be more than 206,000 meals in 40 days.

ground presenting the gospel and helping victims learn

Serving meals isn’t the only thing the organization does

about Christ. Between 70 and 100 people chose to accept

for victims. They also have equipment to move debris

Christ after meeting with Disaster Relief volunteers.

similar to what demolition companies use. The difference

“God always shows up in the middle of disaster.” And

is that what a demolition company charges an individual

Porter would know, as he’s seen his fair share of them.

for debris removal, anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000,

SBDR is able to not only do the physical work needed to

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief does the same for free.

clean up an entire city after destruction, but the volunteers

This stat is overwhelming when you consider how many

are also able to do the emotional work it takes to restore

homes DR cleared debris from during the spate of storms-

a human soul from suffering. They are able to share the

more than 1,000. DR was able to do $4 million worth of

good news of Jesus Christ.

work for nothing because of the generosity of donors. Disaster Relief is completely funded by the state

If you would like to make a donation to Disaster Relief today, please visit www.bfok.org.

missions offering and the donations of Southern Baptists.

God Is Our Source: Tom and Peggy Hall By Taprina Milburn, Vice President, BFO Communications Like a lot of seasoned Oklahomans, Peggy Hall stepped outside to check the May sky, ominous and pregnant with dark clouds. “I couldn’t see the tornado, but I heard it coming; we had waited too long,” the Bethel Acres resident recalled. She and her husband, Tom, Pastor of New Life Baptist Church, took cover inside their double-wide mobile home—Peggy under the piano and Tom in the hallway with a pillow he’d grabbed from the sofa. “We hunkered down. I kept picturing us rolling over with our house coming

Donate Online www.bfok.org | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Generosity

apart around us. But while we were going through it, I

ation and felt a responsibility to help raise funds to get

prayed and God gave me peace; I wasn’t afraid,” she said

them back on their feet. Help came in from individuals,

tearfully.

churches and associations in state and out-of-state, and

When the tornado was over, the couple stepped outside to look at the damage. The twister had ripped off their screened porch, blew out windows, some walls, and lifted

donations to the Baptist General Convention’s Disaster Relief ministry. “I just prayed that God would send some help,” Cook

the roof and dropped it back

said. “And he did.

down.

Each time someone

“It’s by the grace of God

made a contribu-

that we were not hit by one

tion, I called Tom

piece of glass. It was going all

and he would say,

over the place like bullets,”

‘Praise the Lord,

Tom said.

praise the Lord,

The couple did not have

praise the Lord.’

home-owners insurance, and

Tom has served

they couldn’t fathom how

the Lord for many

they would ever be able to

years and they are

rebuild or replace it without

a precious couple.

going into major debt. And

They are so worthy

to compound their misfor-

of what they’ve re-

tune, Tom had a heart-attack

ceived.”

a week after the disaster and

In fact, donations

was in the hospital for three

made to Disaster

days. Disaster relief teams

Relief helped the

cleared debris and boarded

Halls buy a new

up windows for the Halls, and they were able to live in the damaged home. Peggy said that initially they

Tom and Peggy Hall “It’s been Christians start to finish who have helped us,” Pastor Tom Hall said.

out going into debt. “It’s been Christians start to finish

contacted FEMA for help and

who have helped

they provided enough money

us,” Tom said. “If it

to put a tarp on their roof, but she added that she felt a

hadn’t been for God’s people and their hearts, we wouldn’t

strong sense that they were to wait on God’s help.

be sitting here today. God uses people; he puts it into peo-

“God is our source. FEMA isn’t our source. So we just

ple’s hearts to give. And if you haven’t ever been through

waited and when we waited, God showed up,” Peggy said.

something like this, you can’t understand how someone

God showed up by sending his people, the Halls said.

giving to the Baptist Disaster Relief fund gives a spark of

As Tom recovered, church groups and individuals minis-

hope to those who have gone through it.”

tered to the couple by continuing to clear their property of debris. Director of Missions Russell Cook, Pottawatomie-Lincoln Association, learned about the Halls’ situ-

mobile home with-

Generosity | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Donate Online www.bfok.org

Foundation Announces Minerals Management Services The Foundation can help enhance the value and man-

lion. The fee for managing these assets is five percent of

age the complexities of a church’s or association’s oil and

mineral income. This fee is only charged for producing

gas properties.

properties; no fee is charged to monitor non-producing

Increasingly, Oklahomans are gifting a portion of their

properties.

oil and gas (mineral) assets to their local Baptist church

Minerals management services in-

and the administration of these assets

clude: gift valuation, negotiation of

can be complicated and time consum-

oil and gas lease/agreements, prepa-

ing, said Foundation President Robert

ration of oil and gas documents,

K. Kellogg.

communication with oil companies,

“I am pleased that we are able to

timely receipt of royalties, recovery of

offer minerals management services

unclaimed mineral royalties, and re-

to Oklahoma’s Baptist churches and

porting.

associations, alleviating the adminis-

Working with the Foundation to

tration burden while generating in-

administer your church’s or associa-

come for the church,” he said. “The

tion’s mineral assets is an easy process.

Foundation partners with the Baptist

Mineral assets may be added to an

Foundation of Texas to manage more

existing endowment or church funds

than 3,000 mineral assets valued at ap-

management account, or new endow-

proximately $15 million in nine states and 80 counties.

ment and church funds management accounts may be

The same systems, services and expertise used to admin-

established to receive the assets.

ister these mineral assets are now available through the Foundation to all Oklahoma churches.”

For more details about the Foundation’s minerals management services, call 1.800.949.9988, ext. 115 or email

Mineral income earned in 2012 exceeded $4.1 mil-

Shryln Treadwell at streadwell@bfok.org.

Increase the Impact of Your Gift What You Can Give: • Cash

• Bonds

• Check

• Other Assets

• Stocks

• Online Donations

Give to an Existing Ministry’s Endowment The Foundation manages the endowments for several Oklahoma Baptist ministries. By giving any amount to an existing endowment, you partner with others to provide long-term support for frontline ministries that touch the lives of many.

Donate Online at www.bfok.org • 888.949.9988 Donate Online www.bfok.org | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Generosity

Committed to Leaving Spiritual and Financial Legacy By Jayme Glover, BFO Communications

Generosity | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Donate Online www.bfok.org

Growing up on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist Homes

important life stage. Due to her incredible scholastic

for Children is a unique experience for any child. Residents

resume--a Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist

are from all walks of life and many different backgrounds.

University in Music Education, a Master’s in Flute

Some children choose OBHC to replace their current

Performance from the rigorous and esteemed Boston

environment; others end up in the community not by

Conservatory and a Doctorate in Musical Arts in Flute

their own choosing but because of a decision made to

Performance from the University of Oklahoma—Jennifer

benefit them.

has qualified herself to teach various music courses to 130

Meet Jennifer Peck. Jennifer is the daughter of

students every semester at the University of Oklahoma.

David Peck, assistant administrator for the Oklahoma

Jennifer’s background, musical talent, scholastic

Baptist Homes for Children OKC campus. David has

resume and checklist of world traveling are all impressive,

served the organization for almost 40 years, so

but maybe her most impressive attribute is her charitable

Jennifer has not known one day in her life that didn’t

intent. Jennifer is wise beyond her years, understanding

include the Children’s Home. Jennifer was a staff kid from

what it really means to leave a legacy.

the moment she was brought home from the hospital. She

“Just as I am committed to spiritually leaving a legacy, I

was able to experience her neighbors serving children

thought it only makes sence to financially leave a legacy.”

from day one and allowed it to shape her life.

Her intent is to be a good steward of what God has

“I grew up watching people lay down their lives so that

given her, and the way she was able to do that was through

children could have hope, could have a home, family and

creating her estate plan with the Foundation. Jennifer

community.”

is one of the few people who was able to see first-hand

The continual emphasis on ministry played a huge role

how donors leaving gifts in their plans to ministries, like

in Jennifer’s life and led her to search for a way she could

OBHC, truly support the funding of that organization.

serve others. Her ministry, she found, came in the form

Because of that, she chose to leave her gift to both OBHC

of music-through the flute, an instrument she both plays and

and the OBU music program where she received her

teaches today. Music has led to many opportunities to

degree.

share Christ domestically and internationally. Jennifer

Referencing her gift, Jennifer explains her choice

has been able to travel and disciple young girls with the

beautifully: “I want children to be loved, and I want

help of her flute and talk to people she may never have

students to be able to go out into all the world and preach

come in contact with otherwise. She’s visited and played

the gospel.”

in cathedrals in Spain, Croatia, and Germany and spent the 2013 summer in Austria.

Jennifer has a plan for her estate. Do you? Call the Foundation to set up an estate planning appointment

“I’ve been able to share the love of Jesus, sometimes without even using words but with [playing] music.” Jennifer has a heart for college students and feels a passion to help these students grow and develop in this

today. 1.800.949.9988, ext. 119. The Auguie Henry Society has 808 members who, as a group, have given more than $70 million in future gifts to ministry causes.

Auguie Henry Society Donate Online www.bfok.org | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Generosity

‘Pick a Card: Sharing the Gospel Through Games By Susie Rain* The middle-aged man smiles, reach-

A master storyteller, Ben takes the

es into his coat pocket, and pulls out a

audience through the trials of walking

deck of playing cards.

by faith and not sight. He shares the

Ben Lim’s* eyes twinkle as he shuffles

emotions and fears when confronted

the deck and fans out the cards. “Pick a

with problems (like hungry lions wait-

card,” he says. “Pick any card!”

ing to devour) and the assurance that

A young Chi-

God is always

nese man pulls

present when we

one

call on Him.

from

the

deck and looks

The story ends

at it, not letting

and

everyone

anyone else see.

looks

Ben asks him to

waiting for an-

act out the pic-

other.

ture. The young

plenty: 51 more

man gets down

cards from Old

on all fours, puffs

Testament Scrip-

out his chest and

ture and another

roars.

deck from the

“LION!”

the

has

New Testament.

group screams.

The collection is

Ben smiles and

a unique picto-

shows the card.

rial Bible cover-

It’s the ace of

ing

everything

clubs with a picture of three lions sur-

from creation to Christ, and is unique

rounding a man at the bottom of a den.

because Ben’s teenage daughters, Jas-

“Anyone know a story about a lion?”

mine* and Jamie* (plus one of their

the Christian worker in East Asia asks. “No? Then, let me tell you the story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den.”

Ben,

friends), drew the pictures. “I can’t begin to describe what it is like to use an evangelism tool devel-

Generosity | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Donate Online www.bfok.org

oped by your own kids. It’s beyond our imagination be-

For this project, the girls decided to use cartoon charac-

cause only God can do this,” says the church planter from

ters — a popular medium in Asia. They read and studied

Oklahoma. “All over the world, people are using these

a Scripture passage, then asked God to show them what

cards as part of evangelism and discipleship training.”

to draw.

The teens spent hours poring over Scripture passages

“Sometimes we’d draw a picture and my parents would

Ben uses as part of the Storying

say that they didn’t get it. So, we’d

Training for Trainers (S-T4T) pro-

have to come up with another one,”

gram. This approach combines

Jamie says.

oral communication with methods

Why playing cards? In East Asia,

of evangelism and discipleship,

people love to play games, espe-

training local believers to share

cially cards, making it the perfect

their faith with family and friends.

way to present a “picture Bible.” In

In rural East Asia, word-of-

some places (like China), it’s illegal

mouth and pictures are the most

to give someone a Bible, but giving

common forms of communicating.

them a deck of cards is fine.

“There are so many people here who haven’t found

Ben uses the combo-pack to train local believers in

Christ,” Jamie says. “If drawing pictures is the way to lead

sharing Bible stories and planting the Gospel. His favorite

people to Him, then it’s something you just gotta do!”

approach is to teach about the character of God and life

For the Lims, ministry is a family affair. Ben and his

lessons, working his way from creation to Christ.

wife Ellie* have always involved their children in ministry

More than 5,000 churches throughout East Asia have

by giving them age-appropriate tasks, helping them gain

adopted this unique evangelism tool. To learn more about

a heart for the nations and the confidence to share the

leaving a planned gift to International Mission Board,

Gospel. Their goal is to help their children imagine the

contact a Foundation estate planning representative at

impossible and be creative in using their gifts for God’s

1.800.949.9988, ext. 119.

purposes.

*Name changed. Article and photos provided by IMB. Donate Online www.bfok.org | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Generosity

New Building

Rejuvenates Congregation By Jayme Glover, BFO Communications

Generosity | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Donate Online www.bfok.org

“When we needed the Foundation, the Foundation was there for us.”

Christian Heritage Academy, Ford Funeral Home, and Townsend Children’s Academy. The congregation’s spirits

This was just one of the many good things Pastor Jones

were low, having to call on the Foundation three separate

of Sunnylane Baptist Church had to say about his church’s

times to ask for more money. Time and time again, the

experience working with the Foundation in the church

Foundation was able to assist Sunnylane and because of

building loan process. The loan process, no matter the

that, Pastor Jones says, “I’m really glad we went with the

lender, is a tough one as most churches would agree.

Foundation rather than a local bank because I don’t think

Sunnylane, however, had quite the obstacles to overcome

we would have had the same service with anybody else.”

during its loan process, but as Pastor Jones cites, the Foundation was there every step of the way.

In the new building, Pastor Jones sees a rejuvenated congregation.

Pastor Jones knew when he answered the call at

“Participation in the congregation has grown greatly

Sunnylane in May of 1999, three weeks after one of the

since moving into the new building. There seems to be a

deadliest tornadoes in history had tracked across central

new enthusiasm to serve the Lord.”

Oklahoma, that this church had its share of hurdles. The

Sunnylane has seen an increase in volunteers across

church was residentially locked and a couple miles from

all ministries as well as the development of a volunteer

any major street making it virtually impossible to be seen

cleaning crew made up of 20 church members that clean

by traffic. The congregation was made up largely of Tinker

the church thoroughly every Thursday morning, saving

Air Force Base personnel because of its location. This

Sunnylane a great deal of money.

often led to high turnover as many of the members were

Likewise, with the increased space, Sunnylane has

relocated due to their job. Aside from this, Sunnylane

been able to add new ministries to its current offerings

had reached its maximum capacity and had no room to

including outdoor sports ministry camps, Mother’s

grow by early 2003. As a quick fix, the church built an

Day Out, and a quilting ministry that has made and

additional fellowship hall across the street that would

provided a couple hundred quilts to organizations such

double as Sunday school rooms and added educational

as City Rescue Mission, Grace Rescue Mission, and crisis

space in the gym. Parking was also an issue, so Sunnylane

pregnancy centers.

borrowed space from a nearby school. By September

One of the biggest changes, as documented by Pastor

2008, Pastor Jones, along with a unanimous vote by his

Jones, is the revitalization of the 29th Street corridor in

congregation, decided to start the loan process to build a

Del City. The building of the new church in 2008 was

new building on a piece of land that was purchased after

the first major building improvement that had been

he became pastor.

done in that area in a very long time. Shortly after the

The timing happened to be another obstacle the church

construction started, new business started to shoot up

would face, as more natural disasters tore through

across 29th Street including shopping centers, restaurants

the country, including Hurricane Katrina, that would

and convenience stores.

ultimately raise the prices of building materials and force

With the faith of a congregation and a lending partner

many contracting employees to aid in the clean up, pulling

that had faith in that congregation, an entire community

them from local projects such as Sunnylane’s new church.

is changed. The Foundation is always eager to partner with

Because their old building sold immediately and due to

churches in the building process. Contact Jerry Vaughan,

the prolonged period of construction, Sunnylane was in

Senior Vice President, church services, 1.800.949.9988,

transition for four years, worshiping at three locations:

ext. 108 or email jvaughan@bfok.org.

Donate Online www.bfok.org | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Generosity

Myrick Supports OBU Nursing College with Gift Annuities By Taprina Milburn, Vice President, BFO Communications Jim Myrick was introduced to the Foundation dur“So I’ve always had an interest in the medical field. My ing WWII when he was in the Navy and stationed at the

daughter went into the nursing field and teaches nursing

United States Naval Ammunitions Depot in McAlester,

on the collegiate level. So with that background and my

Oklahoma.

daughter’s career path, establishing future scholarships

Jim met Dr. Auguie Henry, the Foundation’s first full-

for OBU nursing students was important to me.”

time executive director, and became close to

After the military, Jim went on to have a 30-

him and his family. “Dr. Henry became a

year career as an American history teacher

mentor to me. He was my father away from

and coach. He and his wife, Blackie, had two

home. He was a gracious man in all that he

sons and two daughters and were married 52

said.”

/2 years when she passed away in 2001.

Dr. Henry’s devotion to Baptist ministries

Jim’s interest in supporting Baptist minis-

and institutions, including Oklahoma Baptist

tries is why he established six charitable gift

University (OBU), was the genesis of his own

annuities through the Foundation.

loyalty to OBU, Jim said. When Myrick, a lifelong Texas resident,

“I receive annuity payments while also supJim Myrick

porting future scholarships for OBU’s College

went into the military as a young man, he had the desire

of Nursing students,” he said. “I hope the result of the

to serve his country as medical personnel. However, he

scholarship is that the student will have a strong loyalty to

became a fleet Marine, which did not have medical roles

our dear, heavenly Father and I have hope the individual

for soldiers.

will be a strong supporter of their church.”

Jim Myrick receives annuity payments while supporting future scholarships for OBU’s College of Nursing students. Photo provided by OBU.

Generosity | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Donate Online www.bfok.org

Making a Difference at Any Age By Taprina Milburn, Vice President, BFO Communications

Billie McDonald took early retirement from teaching at age 57. It didn’t take her long to discover that she was bored. So when she read an ad in the Messenger for a second-grade teacher in Asuncion, Paraguay at a Christian school, she applied and was hired. “I knew that I didn’t want to live and die and not make a difference in people’s lives. Paraguay whetted my appetite for opportunities to serve, and I knew there were a lot of things that I could do being involved in volunteer missions,” the now 81-year-old Lawton resident said. In fact, Billie spent the next decade supporting herself as a faith missionary. During those years, she was engaged in more than 20 different assignments mostly in the United States but also overseas. She joined the Oklahoma Disaster Relief team in Northridge, Calif., in 1994 to help in the aftermath of the earthquake, and she served on the Palo Indian Reservation as a missionary for 10 months. She traveled to Israel with the tribe to participate in the Feast of Tabernacles and do their 120-drum Ceremony. Billie also trained to be a Long Beach seaport chaplain and ship visitor, where more than 600 ships came into port each month, and she taught English to teachers in Hangzhou, China. “To think that God has blessed me with all of these opportunities, I just wish that everyone could experience what I’ve experienced. Just because you are older and retired doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a plan for you and can’t use you,” she said. The daughter of a deacon, Billie grew up with the message of stewardship. Once a quarter, the deacons at her home church would take turns taking donated birthday and anniversary offerings to Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC). During one visit that her father and mother made, they saw two former OBHC residents getting married.

“They asked them why they would want to get married there and they replied ‘Because it’s the only home and family we ever had.’ “That story stuck with me,” Billie said. When Billie created her estate plan through the Foundation, she left a gift to OBHC. “There is a scripture that says to whom much is given much is required. God has blessed me beyond my deserving. I don’t have much, but I wanted it to count.” Although she is no longer participating in long-term missionary projects, she continues to help lead senior adult women, mostly from her church First Baptist East, Lawton, on various short-term mission trips, such as prayer walks in different states or coordinate filling backpacks with school supplies and distributing to children who live in Mexico, across the border from Fabien, Texas. “I’ve just felt that God has let me know that He will direct my steps,” Billie said. Call the Foundation to help with your estate plan or planned gift. The Foundation assisted 228 families and individuals last year with the completion of a gift through their estate plan or a charitable planned gift to Baptist ministries. These individuals designated more than $14 million in anticipated future gifts to Kingdom causes.

Donate Online www.bfok.org | The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma | Generosity

Donor Services

By Dan Allen Chief Development Officer, Senior Vice President, Donor Services

Year-End Charitable Giving Reminders As we approach the end of the year, I want to give you

substantiated by bank record, such as a canceled check or

some reminders about charitable gifts that you might make

credit card receipt, clearly annotated with the name of the

directly to your church, directly to a Baptist ministry or

charity, or in writing from the organization. The writing

through the Foundation to your church or favorite Baptist

must include the date, the amount, and the organization

ministry.

that received the donation. Cash deductions that are not

Itemize You

substantiated, such as a must

itemize

cash donation without a

order to claim a charitable

receipt, or donations made

deduction. You report itemized

directly to an individual

deductions on Schedule A

rather than a qualified

of your federal form 1040

charitable

using lines 16-19.

will be disallowed. This

Qualified Organizations

doesn’t mean that you

Only donations to qualified

shouldn’t do these random

charitable organizations are

acts of kindness, but it does

deductible. If you’re not sure

mean that you can’t claim

whether

the deduction on your tax

organization

is qualified, ask to see

return.

their letter from the IRS

Employer Documentation

(many organizations will actually post their letters

If you have money taken

on their website). If that

out of your paycheck for

isn’t

can

charity, be sure to keep a

search directly online using

pay stub, a W-2 Form, or

IRS Publication 78. Keep