Generosity Magazine Spring 2021

WAT E R S E D G E A D V I S O R S & M I N I S T R Y S E R V I C E S

Spring 2021

RIDING FOR JESUS Not everyone who goes to

church sits in a pew. Find out how Freedom Crossroads Biker Church is reaching its community through this unique ministry.

2020 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

GIVING TO THE END: A DONOR’S STORY

NEW CHARITABLE GIVING TAX INCENTIVES

A Word From Our CEO SUNDAY BEST – Pastor Allen Briggs (center) leads the growing congregation of Freedom Crossroads Biker Church in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

JOY IN THE JOURNEY W

hen Andrew Potter became the founding president of The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma in 1946, the Foundation managed a mere $76,000 in assets for Oklahoma Baptist ministries and was focused almost exclusively on endowment. My, how things have changed.

2021 is a milestone for our organization.

This October, we celebrate our 75th anniversary while November will mark our first full year under our new name, WatersEdge. Thanks to the Lord’s blessing and the relentless generosity of Oklahoma Baptists, assets under management have grown from $76,000 to more than $527 million. We distributed $20 million to ministry in 2020 alone, including $13.5 million in endowment.

Though endowment remains core to our identity, we’ve responded to the needs of Southern Baptists by adding

multiple service lines. For individuals, we offer estate planning and planned giving solutions like donor advised funds and charitable gift annuities. For churches and ministries, we provide loans, investments and accounting.

I didn’t know Andrew Potter, but it makes me smile when I imagine his reaction if he could’ve seen the ways God has grown the organization he helped create. How I wish I could introduce Potter to Allen Briggs, better known by his biker handle, “Speedy.”

Briggs is pastor of Freedom Crossroads Biker Church in Holdenville, Oklahoma. From old photos of Potter, I gather the Baptist preacher would have stuck out like a sore thumb among the leather-clad congregation. But, I believe Potter would have been proud to know that the organization he led all those years ago is today playing a role

in discipling a group of Jesus-loving bikers who may not have otherwise set foot inside a traditional church building. Freedom Crossroads is one of hundreds of Southern Baptist churches that have grown their ministries with help from the biblically grounded financing available through WatersEdge. Currently, Freedom Crossroads is using a $30,000 WatersEdge loan to renovate a new sanctuary, providing the church with needed growing room. What’s more, the interest from Freedom Crossroads’ loan will be given back to ministry, strengthening churches that invest with WatersEdge.

In this issue of Generosity, you’ll meet others whose lives and ministries are being impacted by Potter’s work and that of dozens of WatersEdge staff members who have faithfully served Southern Baptists for the past threequarters of a century. Only time will tell what God will do with WatersEdge over the course of the next 75 years.

I will have long since gone home to be with Jesus when we celebrate our 150th anniversary. But I pray I would be just as surprised and delighted as Andrew Potter if God allowed me a glimpse of the way He continued to use WatersEdge to transform lives with the Gospel.

Robert K. Kellogg Chief Executive Officer WatersEdgeServices.org

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Inside

AMAZING GRACE AT THE CROSSROADS They love Jesus and don’t need a suit and tie to prove it. Learn how God is using this unconventional congregation to make disciples at the intersection of biker culture and Christianity. PG. 14

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ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT Take a closer look at the numbers that provide insight into your generosity’s impact through WatersEdge in 2020. PG. 6

Q&A WITH HEATH THOMAS Oklahoma Baptist University's 16th president explains the importance of donors and endowment. PG. 10

CARES ACT GIVING Learn how unprecedented tax incentives could multiply your charitable giving in 2021. PG. 12

FAITHFULNESS MULTIPLIED Russell Graeter started tithing so his wife, MaryAnn, would stop bugging him. But her steadfast witness eventually led the couple to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to ministries that God is using to impact lives with the Gospel. PG. 24

MINISTRY FINANCE: LESSONS FROM COVID Find out how experienced pastors and their churches overcame financial obstacles and set their sights on future ministry. PG. 22

ON THE COVER Robert Narcomy joined Freedom Crossroads Biker Church in early 2021 and enjoys serving and riding with fellow believers.

Generosity

PANDEMIC PRESENCE Discover how Baptist Village Communities’ chaplains found new ways to serve seniors in spite of the coronavirus. PG. 30

Spring 2021

Generosity is published biannually by WatersEdge.

To subscribe for free, request a copy or update mailing information, please call 800-949-9988 or email info@WatersEdgeServices.org.

Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

Contributors Holly Blakey Heather Hamilton Sheryl Hash Carla Hinton Katie Hurst Sue Sprenkle Marcus Wehmuller

Production Mike Schueler Editor-in-Chief Anna Dellinger Managing Editor Marissa Crowson Visual Editor Jacob Blaze Design

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#BECAUSEYOUGIVE

INVESTING IN TOMORROW A group of “Herdies” (students who work for the Oklahoma Baptist University admissions office) listen to instructions from Kalyn Fullbright, their supervisor, assistant director of admissions for prospective student experience. These OBU students believe so strongly in the university's mission that they want to ensure the same opportunities for their younger peers and work diligently to make high school seniors’ visits to Bison Hill memorable. Many OBU students depend on scholarships to help cover tuition, and your generosity provides these scholarship dollars. #BecauseYouGive, students receive more than a nationally ranked education grounded in a Christ-centered worldview.

OBU President, Heath Thomas, says donors are investing in transformed lives, too.

WatersEdge planned giving professionals can help maximize your gift’s impact.

Contact us today at 800-949-9988 or give@WatersEdgeServices.org or donate online at WatersEdgeServices.org/give.

Photo by Heather Hamilton 4

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2020

Annual Impact REPORT

Even in the midst of a difficult year, WatersEdge donors faithfully supported hundreds of ministries through smart giving solutions like endowment, donor advised funds and charitable gift annuities. More than 240 families created estate plans to protect their loved ones and make a lasting Kingdom impact.

As churches and ministries adapted to a “new normal,” WatersEdge provided support with powerful financial tools like loans, investments, accounting and online giving. The Lord’s blessing allowed WatersEdge to provide millions in financing for growing congregations while simultaneously returning millions in loan interest to multiply churches’ cash resources.

2020 Contributions ENDOWMENTS

5.7 Million

$

DONOR ADVISED FUNDS

2.9 Million

$

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES

0.3 Million

$

CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS

0.1 Million

$

20.2 Million

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PLEDGED TO MINISTRY THROUGH ESTATE PLANS

47 Loans CLOSED IN 2020

5,000

$

AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS BY MINISTRY ACCOUNTING CLIENTS

2020 2015 30.3 Million $

5.6 Million

$

LOAN INTEREST RETURNED TO MINISTRY

$

527 Million

69.7 Million

$

MINISTRY INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2020 WatersEdgeServices.org

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2020 Annual Impact Report

ENDOWMENT DISTRIBUTION WatersEdge is privileged to help steward the resources of God’s people through endowment. Each year, churches and ministries receive millions in endowed funding that is used to meet a myriad of needs, from missions to scholarships to disaster relief and more.

These endowment distributions ultimately advance God’s Kingdom, aiding ministries’ work to spread the Gospel and make disciples. In 2020, WatersEdge distributed $13.5 million to more than 300 charitable beneficiaries.

This would not be possible without the generosity of thousands of individuals and families who joyfully answered God’s call to give back.

n a i t ris h dren l i C h C | & s n er o h i t o ies r t ill s M i in M M sk r i -R the t O |A s& ing t e n n ch Pla r h io u h urc ries C a h n i C em & S n & m s s n i io el s s i lts M u | d A n or i n e S |

$3 $ $ $1.4 1.8 M Mi ill M llio ill io n Ev $1 an M $0. g ill 5M io illi on

8 5.

n ucatio d E her g i H

TOTA L

13.5

$

MILLION

TO MINISTRY THROUGH ENDOWMENT

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Our endowment distributions have been used to fund our missions budget over the years.

They’ve also allowed us to engage in significant work on our facilities without crippling our regular operating budget.

In a world where the landscape is shifting quickly around the church, having these types of tools available can be a game changer for a congregation that has the resources and vision to use them wisely.”

The Prichard Scholarship comes from an endowment, and it’s helped because it lifts a financial burden off my family and therefore off of me. So, I can focus on my studies and not have to worry about finances.

My education is definitely laying the groundwork and giving me the ability to think critically about the Bible.

It’s taken me where I wanted to go and exceeded my expectations.”

Michael Taylor Pastor FBC Ponca City Oklahoma

Cole Kliewer Biblical and Theological Studies Major at Oklahoma Baptist University

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More Than an Education MISSION-MINDED GIVING MEETS TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING AT OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY.

By Anna Dellinger

O

klahoma Baptist University (OBU) is a nationally ranked Christian university with an enrollment of 1,700 students from across the country and around the world.

Heath Thomas, the 16th president of OBU, talks about the impact of charitable giving on the university's future.

What are the most serious obstacles to funding OBU is currently facing?

“Legislation like the Equality Act is attempting to strip institutions like OBU of maintaining their religious commitment to, for instance, the Baptist Faith and Message. It requires the institution to hire based on LGBTQ-affirming practices, and prevents Christian organizations from acting on what the LGBTQ community views as discriminatory practices against them. But, if OBU wants to maintain its fidelity to Christ, the church and the Word of God, we're going to maintain our commitment to a biblical view of sexuality.

“If the government moves in a way that inhibits us from operating according to our beliefs, it's going to keep students from taking advantage of Pell Grants or other federal aid. This would prevent a good number of students from attending OBU, because one in four come from a family with an annual income of $40,000 or less. We’ve got to extract ourselves from any government dependence and provide resources to our students. And so, endowment that provides scholarship dollars is going to be vital moving forward.”

LEADING THE WAY – Heath Thomas is OBU’s 16th president.

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What are some non-traditional ways that donors can support OBU? “Historically, we’ve had gifts of property, mineral assets and stocks and bonds, and we can make any of that work. But, the primary way that

“Giving to OBU through endowment and scholarship funds advances our mission of transforming lives by equipping students to live all of life all for Jesus.” people can invest in OBU is prayer.

Prayer is the first reflex of the church.

Our greatest need is not financial at OBU. Our greatest need is that we would continue to receive the favor of God. Without it, we won’t survive. Our prayer is, ‘God help us to be a faithful university for Christ and His Kingdom.’”

Tell us about a donor who has made a particular impact on the university.

“The Louise M. Prichard Scholarship [an endowment managed by WatersEdge] has impacted countless churches and ministries across

the state of Oklahoma and beyond.

Right now, the Prichard Scholarship distributes $2,000 per ministry student annually, and it’s been providing for decades. That’s a legacy that keeps on giving. ”

Not everyone can make a large gift. What is the value of smaller donations to OBU?

into the 21st century and beyond.

The partnership has been phenomenal in making it easy for donors to give and know that their gift is secure.

It’s managed properly and distributed properly. And that’s absolutely vital for healthy giving partnerships with our donors.”

Why is OBU’s mission worth supporting?

“Recently, we received a $100 gift.

It’s not a $1,000,000 gift, but you know what? Someone said, ‘I believe in the mission of OBU and I want to invest.’ It’s like the widow's mite.

It’s not how big or small the gift, it’s the heart behind it that says, ‘I want to partner with OBU in transforming students' lives.’ That’s a beautiful thing.”

How does OBU’s partnership with WatersEdge impact OBU donors and the university as a whole?

“OBU’s partnership with WatersEdge is a gift from God, because WatersEdge is a resource that helps us facilitate giving and management of our gifts, advancing OBU’s mission

“Giving to OBU through endowment and scholarship funds advances our mission of transforming lives by equipping students to live all of life all for Jesus. We want to see doctors, lawyers, educators, scientists, community leaders and ministers make a positive, Gospel impact in their world.

“It’s easy to think about OBU as a university like any other educational institution. But, when donors partner with OBU, they’re investing in more than an education. They’re investing in life change. They’re investing in Kingdom impact. They’re investing in the next generation of future shapers, and that’s a great privilege.”

Invest In Kingdom Impact And Life Change Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) transforms lives by equipping students to pursue academic excellence, integrate faith with all areas of knowledge, engage a diverse world and live worthy of the high calling of God in Christ. OBU partners with donors like you to carry out its mission. Contact the giving professionals at WatersEdge today to multiply your gift’s impact. give@WatersEdgeServices.org | 800-949-9988 WatersEdgeServices.org

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COVID’s Silver Lining NEW CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL EXTENDS AND EXPANDS TAX INCENTIVES FOR 2021 CHARITABLE GIVING.

By Holly Blakey

director, donor relations

S

cripture teaches Christians that God actively redeems tragedy, bringing good from even the worst of circumstances. Global pandemics are no exception. Among COVID’s silver linings are new opportunities to share Christ’s love with those who are hurting, and that includes giving.

New COVID relief legislation has

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created one of the most favorable tax environments for charitable giving in recent memory. This means 2021 is uniquely suited to allow you to make an even greater Kingdom impact. To explain why, let’s begin with a brief history lesson.

Rewind to March 2020 when Congress passed the CARES Act. You’ll

remember that CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) provided relief to millions of Americans struggling during the early months of the pandemic. Lawmakers understood churches, charities and other nonprofits would likely struggle too, and they included tax incentives in the CARES Act designed to encourage charitable giving.

New COVID relief legislation has created one of the most favorable tax environments for charitable giving in recent memory. idated Appropriations Act, 2021), this incentive has been extended into 2021.

For example, this means that if your 2021 adjusted gross income is $75,000, you can deduct up to $75,000 in charitable contributions, leaving you with zero taxable income.

When it comes to taxes, there are two types of people: those who take the standard deduction and those who itemize deductions. The good news is that the CARES Act’s giving incentives apply to both.

The CARES Act allows itemizers to deduct up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income in charitable contributions. That’s up from a maximum of 60 percent before CARES. This benefit was set to expire at the end of 2020, but thanks to an update to the CARES Act passed in December (known as the Consol-

Why donate all of your income, you ask? Perhaps you enjoy working but don’t need the paycheck or the tax burden that accompanies it. Or, maybe your savings, investments or spouse provide enough income to meet your needs, and you’d rather use your earnings to bless others.

Whatever the reason, this temporary extension of the CARES Act gives you an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate your giving.

The good news continues for taxpayers who use the standard deduction.

Prior to the CARES Act, charitable gifts generally weren’t tax deductible unless you itemized. But CARES

established a provision for a new, universal deduction for cash gifts of up to $300. This universal deduction is available even if you choose to take the standard deduction. For the 2020 tax year, it’s capped at $300 whether you file your taxes singly or jointly.

But December’s CARES Act update extends and expands tax incentives for charitable giving in 2021, including the universal deduction for cash gifts.

Individuals who take the standard deduction can continue to deduct up to $300 for charitable contributions.

Married couples filing jointly can now qualify for a deduction of up to $600 for charitable gifts, doubling the universal deduction’s 2020 cap.

CARES Act charitable giving incentives are set to expire at the end of this year. While it is possible lawmakers could choose to extend these giving tax incentives into 2022, there is no guarantee, which means 2021 is your best opportunity to maximize gifts to your church or favorite ministries.

Don’t Miss This Unprecedented Opportunity WatersEdge is ready to help you multiply your charitable giving and maximize 2021 tax benefits available through COVID relief legislation. Let us guide you to greater Kingdom impact; start a conversation with a WatersEdge giving solutions professional today. give@WatersEdgeServices.org | 800-949-9988 | WatersEdgeServices.org

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AMAZING

GRACE

at

t h e

CROSSROADS MOST PEOPLE DON’T THINK OF HARLEY-DAVIDSONS AND LEATHER JACKETS WHEN THEY HEAR THE WORD

“CHURCH.” BUT THE MEMBERS OF FREEDOM CROSSROADS BIKER CHURCH WEAR THEIR PATCHES WITH PRIDE AS

THEY REPRESENT JESUS TO THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE DARKEN THE DOORS OF A CHURCH BUILDING.

By Carla Hinton • Photos by Marcus Wehmuller

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WEARING THE MESSAGE – Billy “Wahoo” Lumpkin has attended Freedom Crossroads from the very beginning. He is also a proud member of the Faith Riders, a motorcycle ministry passionate about sharing Christ with the world.

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Y

ou don't have to be a biker to be welcomed into Freedom Crossroads Biker Church. At the Holdenville house of worship, bikes are optional because the love of Christ keeps things rolling along.

The small, tight-knit congregation is just months away from gathering in a new sanctuary on their property in Holdenville, Oklahoma. Pastor Allen “Speedy” Briggs says Freedom Crossroads Biker Church found itself at a literal crossroads at a crucial time in their building project.

In early 2020, Briggs met a man through what he considered a series of divinely orchestrated events, and the man connected the church with a group of volunteer Christian builders. The man and his volunteer group believed in Briggs and in his congregation's mission to spread the Gospel, so they agreed to travel to Holdenville to help the biker church build a sanctuary.

It was then that Briggs and his congregation came to an important fork in the road. They had submitted two separate loan applications — one to a local bank and one to WatersEdge Ministry Services.

The COVID pandemic had slowed the loan application process to a snail’s pace. But when plans for the project fell quickly into place due to the volunteer builders, the need for funding became urgent. The church had to decide between the two loans rather quickly because the volunteers were on a tight timeline.

“We had to have everything on the

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ground ready to work when they arrived,” Briggs says.

“We applied right when COVID hit and it was four or five months that we were all kind of sitting around waiting to see what was going to happen.

Then I got a call back from both of them (the bank and WatersEdge).”

Briggs says the church's leaders chose WatersEdge, in part, because they knew the interest on the $30,000 loan would be funneled right back into ministry. (WatersEdge returns loan interest to churches through ministry investments.) With the loan secured, the project began in earnest.

The volunteers assembled the majority of the new sanctuary in a few weeks’ time, leaving some interior trim and electrical work to be completed by Freedom Crossroads’ members. Now only a few projects remain before the structure is ready for services.

“Getting the loan through WatersEdge took care of a deficit that prevented us from moving along. So, instead of taking an extra year or two to get things finished, construction was done in about two months,” Briggs says.

CHAIN OF EVENTS The preacher led worship on a recent Sunday morning, strumming his guitar

while he sang songs of his Savior.

Later in the service, he became emotional as he shared the church's testimony of faith.

Church members sat together at tables as their pastor explained that their congregation “family” had come a long way. He and his wife, Jody, both schoolteachers, planted the church in 2013 after being commissioned by First Baptist Church of Holdenville.

A motorcycle rider joined by several friends who also rode motorcycles, Briggs says he patterned Freedom Crossroads after a biker church in Texas, called Broken Chains Freedom

Top: SMILE AND MEAN IT – Freedom Crossroads members Allen “Speedy” Briggs (left), Robert Narcomy (center) and Roger “Crossbone” Pickett (right) are part of biker culture, which values authenticity. “It’s an attitude of what you see is what you get,” Briggs explains. Bottom: NEW LIFE IN CHRIST – “Many of the biker guys that come to Christ can really relate to Luke 7:47 and being forgiven much,” Briggs says. “One new believer even told me, ‘I haven’t pistol-whipped anybody in six months.’”

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Church, where he had led worship.

Briggs liked the congregation’s “relaxed environment, down-to-earth message and upbeat music.”

The hallmark of a biker church isn’t necessarily that everyone rides to services on a motorcycle, though Briggs and church members like Billy “Wahoo” Lumpkin and Roger "Crossbone" Pickett do just that. Rather, Briggs says biker churches are typically less

found an ideal property for a permanent church home, but the man who owned the property didn’t want to sell it to them. He agreed to allow the church to lease the property for a nominal fee, but later, instead of selling it to them, he felt the Lord wanted him to deed it to them free of charge after a year.

Briggs says through this amazing chain of events, the congregation moved into

“GOD CAME THROUGH. IT'S AMAZING THE WAY HE WORKS.” —PASTOR ALLEN “SPEEDY” BRIGGS

formal than traditional congregations and often draw people who may not want to attend the latter, for whatever reason. Freedom Crossroads’ motto explains this premise in a different way: “Worshiping the same God of the same Bible, doing church a little differently.”

a building on the property and used the building fund and many volunteer hours to fix it up for use as its current temporary worship space.

Briggs says Freedom Crossroads began with about 19 people meeting in the loft of a building at a used car dealership. They took the church outside for services in a park once a month.

ROOM TO GROW The church has drawn an average of about 40 people for Sunday services, even in the midst of the pandemic.

Many other members watch services online and Briggs expects to see more of them returning to in-person worship soon.

Freedom Crossroads moved to a local lodge building after outgrowing the car lot. Several members found it humorous that the lodge building included a pool table, which fit the church’s nontraditional nature.

The congregation eventually started a building fund while continuing to meet at the lodge. Briggs says they 18

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“God came through. It’s amazing the way He works,” Briggs says.

When they do, they'll be welcomed back by members like Elaine Jones and her husband, John. They met the Briggses at a cafe one day and took the couple up on their invitation to visit the new church. Jones says they loved Freedom Crossroads immediately.

BREEZING BY – Briggs has ridden his bike, “Pearl White,” for over 10 years. Between pastoring and teaching high school Spanish full time, Briggs doesn’t have as much opportunity to ride as he would like, so he savors every moment.

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Top Left: HUMBLE BEGINNINGS – First a floral shop, then a barbecue restaurant, Freedom Crossroads’ facilities required many hours of volunteer prep from church members before construction began. Bottom Left: PRAISE HIM – Pastor “Speedy” Briggs has led Freedom Crossroads for seven years. God led Briggs and his wife to plant the church following their experience at a biker church in Wichita Falls, Texas. Right: CRUISING – Bikers at Freedom Crossroads ride together every chance they get, sometimes as often as every weekend.

“We’ve been with them since the beginning when Speedy was just getting started. They make you feel welcome.

They don't make you feel like you don’t belong,” she says. “When people hear ‘biker church,’ a lot of things go through their mind, but it's a good church, a really loving church.”

Billy “Wahoo” Lumpkin says he became a member of Freedom Crossroads during the church’s second Sunday worship service. Lumpkin has marveled at the ways the Lord has proven His faithfulness to the congregation.

“It’s amazing the things that happened — it was just like dominoes,” he says. “Us getting the loan to be able to do this. And then it would have taken us two years to be able to do what the Volunteer Christian Builders Association did in two weeks.”

“IT'S NOT ABOUT A BUILDING. IT'S ABOUT TURNING IT INTO SOMETHING HUGE FOR HIS GLORY.” —PASTOR ALLEN “SPEEDY” BRIGGS

‘FOR HIS GLORY’ When the entire building project is complete, the church will have its new sanctuary and a nearby bike repair shop. The sanctuary will seat about 50 people with tables and chairs and about 100 people if rows of chairs are set up instead. The bike repair shop is intended to be a point of outreach where riders in

the community can work on their bikes while being ministered to by members of the congregation.

“God took what appeared to be a small thing and turned it into something huge,” Briggs says. “It’s not about a building. It’s about turning it into something huge for His glory.”

Meet the Needs of Your Church, Big or Small WatersEdge partners with churches of all shapes and sizes to provide financing that facilitates ministry. But unlike traditional lenders, the interest from a WatersEdge loan is poured back into Southern Baptist churches that change lives with the Gospel. Contact a lending expert today to ask questions or apply. loans@WatersEdgeServices.org | 800-949-9988 | WatersEdgeServices.org/loans

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MINISTRY FINANCE

5 Financial Lessons Churches Learned During the Pandemic

By Sue Sprenkle

W

hile 2020 felt like a neverending March with stay-athome orders and social distancing, 2021 has come with its own set of challenges. Churches were forced to see ministry with new eyes and simultaneously figure out how to fund it.

This wasn’t an easy task as attendance and giving went down in the midst of a global pandemic. Churches and

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pastors, however, proved to be resilient, finding ways to make things work and even improve. Three veteran pastors offer some financial lessons they learned during the past year to help others find sturdy footing:

1

PRAY. Yes, that’s a standard all believers should know, but as experienced pastors emphasize, “it’s the most

important step.” They urge churches to trust God with finances and follow His leading.

2

SEEK WISE COUNSEL. Another biblical truth often forgotten in times of crisis is seeking wise counsel. Jim Gann, pastor of Faith Pointe Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma, says using the wise and godly people on your finance

committee is a must; but also, don’t be afraid to go outside of your circle to get professional help. His church reached out to WatersEdge when their giving went down 40-50 percent at the beginning of the pandemic. They suggested the church take advantage of a limited-time COVID relief interest-only loan payment.

“We have two loans with WatersEdge,” Gann says. “Paying only the interest cut our payments in half and we were able to use that money to help balance the budget until attendance and giving was back.”

Seeking out experts can also help congregations see that it is not just the pastor saying “we need to do this.”

3

BE AUTHENTIC AND TRANSPARENT. Let the congregation know exactly what’s going on — even if it’s bad news. Pastor Gary Moritz and his wife, Janna, with City United Church in Boston, Massachusetts, know from experience that being transparent allows for tough decisions to be made.

As they led the church through a revitalization financed by WatersEdge, the thing that helped them most was painting the true financial picture.

“We explained what the ramifications would be if we didn’t make certain decisions,” Janna, who serves as the church’s operations officer, says. “It came down to remembering what the true mission of the church was and fulfilling that vision.”

This meant programs that did not advance this vision were canceled or postponed. The Moritzes say seeing

it all laid out made it easier for the congregation to handle the tough decisions on how to finance programs.

“We can't continue

4

1950s. ... The challenge

OFFER MULTIPLE WAYS OF GIVING. Look beyond the traditional offering plate and establish different avenues for people to tithe. This can mean anything from estate planning to online giving. Zack Potts, senior pastor in Marlow, Oklahoma, says Eastside Baptist Church introduced online giving when WatersEdge offered to help churches set it up for free. The online option made it easy for those watching the streamed services to continue tithing without missing a beat.

“When the pandemic first started, people dropped their checks off at the door or mailed it in. When we worked with WatersEdge to implement online giving, the process became streamlined,” Potts says.

He added that it is best to roll out any new way of giving with a program or outreach. Eastside paired online giving with streaming services and the two went hand-in-hand. As those tuning in at home saw the offering

doing church like the now is to keep moving ahead ...” plate, they could go to the website to give at the same time.

5

ALWAYS LOOK TO THE FUTURE. Some churches were thrust from the 1990s to 2024 when the pandemic burst on the scene. Gary Moritz stressed the importance of being forward thinking and staying up with the times and technology.

“COVID revealed what we concealed and broke down the facades.

We had to realign quickly,” he says.

“We can’t continue doing church like the 1950s. What will we need in 2024? The challenge now is to keep moving ahead and hear what God wants to do through your ministry.”

Where Financial Expertise Meets Gospel Advancement At WatersEdge, our experts help you manage ministry resources to further God’s Kingdom. Our services include loans, investments, accounting and online giving.

Contact a ministry financial expert today to learn more.

800-949-9988 WatersEdgeServices.org/ministryfinance

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FAITHFULNESS MULTIPLIED WHEN IT CAME TO TITHING, RUSSELL GRAETER WAS A MISER.

BUT THROUGH THE DECADES, GOD USED THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE TO TRANSFORM HIS HEART AND RADICALLY IMPACT MINISTRY. Story and photos by Anna Dellinger WatersEdgeServices.org

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T

hirteen is an unlucky number for some, but not 95-year-old Russell Graeter. To the Texas-born engineer, 13 represents the number of salvations celebrated by a Pittsburgh church plant that Graeter supported through a gift he made to the North American Mission Board in memory of his late wife, MaryAnn. “That’s 13 more people that are going to heaven,” Graeter says through tears of joy. “It was worth it.”

Graeter hasn’t always felt so strongly about reaching the lost. For years, he avoided a relationship with God. Every time the doors to the couple’s church were open, MaryAnn attended but Graeter stayed home. MaryAnn's

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passion for evangelism inspired her to hand out tracts and share the Gospel with anyone that would listen. She never gave up on winning her husband to Christ and prayed for him every day for decades.

and instead rationalized them away,” he recalls. “It took me until 1985 to finally turn from that sin and walk the other way. I think God helped me, because I never looked back from that moment on.”

“Every night she’d read me the Bible,” Graeter says. “She was a dear person and spent so much time trying to get me to become a Christian — time I wasted.”

GIVING FOR GOOD Graeter says biblical generosity had always been part of the couple’s marriage, even before he followed the Lord. During those early days, he admits his intentions for giving were misplaced.

Eventually, the day came when Graeter was ready to surrender his life to Jesus, but he struggled to leave his former self behind.

“When I told the pastor I wanted to be a Christian, I didn’t give up some of the bad things that I did

“At first, I tithed for an evil purpose,” Graeter says. “MaryAnn told me, ‘If you give 10 percent, God will give you back more than you can imagine.’ And I said to myself, ‘Boy, this’ll be a way to

Left: BIRTHDAY SURPRISE – WatersEdge Director of Donor Relations, Holly Blakey, shows Graeter a custom birthday video made

by Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board, thanking him for his generosity. Right: ALMOST A CENTURY – Not many people live as long as Russell Graeter.

Throughout his lifetime, Graeter served in the Navy, worked as an engineer for Boeing and attended medical school to practice optometry.

end this. I’ll do it and it won’t happen and we can forget this whole thing.’”

The couple started tithing in 1947 when they were married, before Graeter had finished school. He landed a job after graduation, earned a raise, and the couple tithed even more.

Then, God provided MaryAnn with a job as a teacher despite her lack of experience. She simply told her interviewer, “I taught Sunday School,” and he hired her.

“That doubled our salary,” Graeter says.

“Pretty soon I figured out that what I had planned for evil, God was using for good. I did it because MaryAnn wanted me to and I wanted to. So, we kept giving for the next 72 years.”

A wide range of Christian causes have benefitted from the Graeters’ generosity. From supporting their church to partnering with ministries that spread the Gospel and protect the vulnerable, the couple wanted their resources to advance God’s Kingdom.

her honor through his donor advised fund* with WatersEdge.

Today, three-quarters of a century after his tithing experiment began, Graeter is still giving, now with the right motives, and God is multiplying his gifts. Since MaryAnn’s death in 2019, Graeter has focused on making larger contributions in

“He traditionally gives large gifts, mostly directed to the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) churchplanting efforts,” Blakey says. Graeter asked Blakey to work with NAMB to research the cities where the Gospel was most needed, which is where

Holly Blakey, WatersEdge director of donor relations, loves working with Graeter and seeing God change lives through his generosity.

“PRETTY SOON I FIGURED OUT THAT WHAT I HAD PLANNED FOR EVIL, GOD WAS USING FOR GOOD.”

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Clockwise From Top Left: REFUGEE REFUGE – Funds given to IMB empower missionaries and national partners to offer healing to internally displaced people. FAMILY PRAYER – Mongolian native, Mojic Baldandorj (center), left his home country to plant churches among the Mongolian immigrant community in Denver, Colorado. BAPTISM BLESSING – Church-planting missionary, Rob Wilton, baptizes his daughter, McCall, outside Vintage Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Vintage is experiencing significant growth, celebrating 13 salvations and seven baptisms in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. SPEAK THE WORD – Victor Moura preaches at Grace Church, the plant he leads in Somerville, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. Moura left Brazil after visiting the United States and seeing the lack of evangelical churches for the more than 50,000 Brazilian immigrants in the Boston area. FEEDING THE NEED – The Send Relief Ministry Center in Pittsburgh distributed over 20,000 meals in 2020.

he directs his giving. So far, Graeter has given to city funds in Pittsburgh, Denver, Boston and Salt Lake City.

The funds are distributed widely to church-planting missionaries and their ministries and have resulted in hundreds of salvations and baptisms.

Graeter’s most recent gift was used to support the work of an International Mission Board (IMB) refugee trauma

period,” Blakey explains. “When I received the budget numbers from IMB, the figures matched, which means his gift will completely fund the refugee center. That’s God at work!”

YEARNING FOR HOME Even without his beloved MaryAnn, Graeter intends to keep giving as long as he’s able to, and even after he’s gone. He intends for his estate to be

“I FEEL GUILTY TAKING ANY PRAISE BECAUSE I'M JUST GIVING BACK WHAT WAS GIVEN TO ME.” services center in Northern Africa and the Middle East.

passed on to ministries that further the Gospel when he dies.

“When Mr. Graeter asked me to research the budget IMB needed for the project, he shared that he had a large gift to distribute over a three-year

“I don’t plan to be on this earth much longer,” he says. After 95 years, he’s ready to meet Jesus face to face and be with his wife.

“I appreciate the time God gave me with MaryAnn,” he says. “I never had a doubt at all that she loved me, no matter how far apart we were, no matter how many arguments we had … I can’t wait to see her again.”

The thing that keeps him here?

Graeter thinks that God isn’t done with him quite yet, so he continues to give. He hopes that his story will inspire others to be generous, too.

“I feel guilty taking any praise because I'm just giving back what was given to me. I haven't really done anything except just use our money the way MaryAnn would have wanted it to be used. She was a wonderful Christian,” he says.

“It’s sort of like giving away what you never owned. It all belongs to God.” *A donor advised fund, or DAF, is a popular tool for charitable giving that maximizes tax benefits, multiplies a gift’s impact and simplifies the giving process.

Instead of writing multiple checks to individual ministries, donors contribute to their DAF and receive an immediate tax deduction. Those contributions are invested and grow tax free. When a donor is ready to make a gift, WatersEdge sends the funds to the ministry on their behalf.

Give Joyfully WatersEdge can multiply your gifts to the ministries you love, from your local church to the North American and International Mission Boards. Start a conversation with our giving solutions professionals today. give@WatersEdgeServices.org | 800-949-9988 | WatersEdgeServices.org

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MUSIC MINISTRY – Chaplain Chris Finley (center) leads an ensemble of Baptist Village Communities' "Singing Saints" choir in a hymn from the courtyard of one of the Oklahoma City campuses' Residential Living apartments. Music is one of the ways BVC's chaplains have been able to minister to residents during the pandemic despite strict social distancing requirements.

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Pandemic Presence TAKING THE GOSPEL TO COVID’S MOST VULNERABLE REQUIRES CREATIVITY AND PASSION. CHAPLAINS AT BAPTIST VILLAGE COMMUNITIES ARE FINDING WAYS TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS WHILE KEEPING SENIORS SAFE.

By Katie Hurst • Photos by Mike Schueler

T

he ministry of a chaplain is all about presence — being with those who are hurting, holding hands, giving hugs, serving alongside and gathering together with others. For 22 years, Chris Finley has thrived in this ministry, serving as the director of chaplain services at Baptist Village Communities. He’s used to going full speed, leading conferences, hosting Bible studies and training volunteers. Then COVID19 hit and all those activities came to a screeching halt. Not only could he no longer host large group gatherings, he often couldn’t meet one on one with those who were suffering and needed a chaplain the most.

“There were days that the chaplains were cut off from everyone,” Finley says. “We couldn't go to the nursing home, couldn’t go to assisted living, couldn’t go to residential living. We had to stay in the office. So, we all prayed, ‘Lord God, what do we do?

You know our limitations. Please bring the opportunities to us.’ And He began to do that.”

As he relied on God for guidance, Finley saw the methods of chaplaincy changing as the pandemic developed. Where the ministry used to be based on events and gatherings, 2020 forced a shift in mindset, back to concentrating on the individual and reaching each one however possible.

It started with phone calls, he says.

Every single resident across 12 campuses would get a weekly phone call. Chaplains would pray and sing hymns with residents over the phone, who were often in tears, grateful that someone called them. When residents could no longer eat in the dining halls, chaplains John and Ruth King at the Lake Texoma campus helped deliver meals to every resident.

“Each day we would wear different funny or old hats and some of the residents even gave us their hats to wear,” Ruth King says. “Since we could not meet together for weekly Bible study, John began writing a daily devotional that we gave to each resident at their door.”

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FACE TIME – Chris Finley chats with BVC resident Larry Adams in a special outdoor tent set up to facilitate face-to-face visits with family and friends. Feelings of isolation and loneliness are common among seniors living through COVID, a truth which Finley and other BVC chaplains work hard to combat.

distance, and they still have to be screened before they can visit with the resident. But the families are just so elated that they can actually see grandma and talk to her and not have to just look at her through a window.”

Chaplains did porch or window visits when possible, led courtyard singalongs, delivered gifts and ran errands for residents. They also utilized video technology to broadcast worship services and sermons through the in-house, campus-wide TV station.

“The Word of God never changes,” Finley says. “It always comforts.

Back in August, there was a resident that called me up. He got a funeral brochure in the mail, all about how to plan his funeral. It scared him.

So, I went over with my mask and led him to the Lord. We baptized him here on our campus. That day I had prayed ‘Lord, I’ve got to do

something.’ And the Lord sent that opportunity.”

Another way the chaplains have been able to serve residents is by helping families stay connected, whether by texting pictures, helping with video calls or even coordinating safe visits. Chaplain Steve Williams from the Baptist Village of Owasso campus stays busy overseeing socially distanced visits in the campus’ outdoor, heated tent.

“The separation from their families has been very difficult and they long to be able to see them in person,” Williams says. “It isn’t perfect — they still have to wear masks, they still have to

If the pandemic has taught him anything, Finley says it’s a greater dependence on the Lord. He’s not sure they’ll ever go back to the old way of doing things, but he is certain God will continue using chaplains to reach and serve those around them.

“The Lord knew all about this. It’s not a limitation to Him,” he says.

“A verse that keeps coming to mind is Isaiah 43:18-19. My paraphrase is ‘Do not remember the former things before COVID nor consider the old ways, the old things. But I will do a new thing amongst you. It will spring up. Do you not perceive it?’ In other words, ‘chaplain, don't you get it?’

He’s doing something new here and we are finding new ways to serve.”

Creating a Place to Serve Baptist Village Communities (BVC) is Oklahoma’s largest notfor-profit provider of senior housing services with a mission of “Serving God, Serving You, Serving Together.” BVC partners with faithful donors like you to enhance the lives of more than 2,300 people every day. Contact a WatersEdge giving expert today to maximize your gift’s impact. give@WatersEdgeServices.org | 800-949-9988 | WatersEdgeServices.org

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WATERSEDGE NEWS

NEW STAFF

Bobby Hart Vice President, Ministry Services

bhart@WatersEdgeServices.org

Bobby Hart never expected to be in ministry, but God had other plans.

After 13 years in telecommunications, Hart spent 12 years as chief operations officer at First Baptist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma, before joining WatersEdge in March. As vice president of Ministry Services, Hart serves churches through loans, investments and accounting. His experience on a church staff combined with a six-year tenure on the WatersEdge Board of Directors made him an ideal fit for the leadership role. “Understanding the needs of the local church equips me to share our services with churches throughout the state and across the country,” Hart says. “I can have intelligent conversations with pastors and step into their shoes to help them.” Hart, his wife, Heather, and their four children are members of FBC Tulsa.

NEW STAFF

PROMOTION

Aaron Lokey

Megan McCoy

alokey@WatersEdgeServices.org

mmccoy@WatersEdgeServices.org

Director of Ministry Relations

After two decades of service on church staffs across Oklahoma, Aaron Lokey has transitioned from helping one church at a time to multiple churches all at once in his new role as director of ministry relations for WatersEdge. Lokey’s main responsibility is understanding the needs of pastors, ministry leaders and individual church members and connecting them to services WatersEdge offers. His previous roles as a youth pastor and young adult leader give Lokey a head start on understanding the unique needs and struggles of ministry leaders. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about church work, it’s that it can’t be over-resourced,” Lokey says. “Ministry leaders simply can’t get enough help in their corner. It excites me to be one of the people working to advance their mission.” Lokey, his wife, Nikki, and their four children attend Cherokee Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

Estate Planning Specialist

Megan McCoy is one of the rare people who actually reads the fine print. Her attention to detail and quick thinking aid her in making sure nothing slips through the cracks as she navigates the many moving parts of an estate plan. McCoy first joined WatersEdge as an assistant in 2018 and has since been promoted to estate planning specialist. Today, she meets regularly with individuals and families to help them create a plan to protect and promote the people and causes they are most passionate about. “Estate planning can be understandably intimidating for many, because it means thinking about what happens when you’re gone,” she says. “I’ve always been skilled in navigating conversations that others find uncomfortable, so I hope to put people at ease as we walk through the estate planning process together.” McCoy is a member of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

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PROTECT YOUR FAMILY.

Leave a legacy.

Create or update your estate plan with WatersEdge.

Everything we have is a gift from God. Kingdom-minded estate planning acknowledges Christians’ role as stewards of these gifts.

We’re commanded to use them for His glory during our lifetime and beyond. WatersEdge can help you pass on God’s provision through biblically grounded estate planning that provides for your family and advances ministry.

Let our certified estate planning professionals guide you.

Make an appointment today.

WatersEdgeServices.org/plan 800-949-9988