”How you relate to money can have much bigger spiritual implications than what you do with it.” - Page 4
NBUSA Quarterly is published by Nazarene Benefits USA to inform church leaders and employees about matters of clergy finance, along with articles of encouragement, spiritual enrichment, and wellness. Noncopyrighted information may be shared in newsletters and electronic communications.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kevin P. Gilmore
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Roger Creeden
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Emily Bartlett
OFFICE MANAGER
Lavonne Rieck
TECHNOLOGY SUPERVISOR Ron Bell
COMPLIANCE AND BENEFITS MANAGER
Keith Hindman
COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST
Calata Bagunu
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BY KEVIN P. GILMORE
Act on What You Hear
Iwas recently blessed to hear a sermon based on a powerful passage from the book of James— what the New International Version (NIV) calls the “Listening and Doing” section (James 1:19–27). I especially appreciate how The Message paraphrase frames it more provocatively: “Act on What You Hear.”
James doesn’t mince words. Verse 22 has become known as the “just do it” verse—echoing Nike’s famous slogan. The NIV puts it plainly: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
The Message drives it home: “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!”
At NBUSA, we frequently talk with ministers about retirement. These conversations often fall into two camps: those with ministers and churches who acted on what they heard and those who didn’t (at least not yet). Sadly, far too many are still in the second group.
In most secular workplaces, employees benefit from a centralized Human Resources department that manages payroll and employee benefits, provides reminders, and ensures nothing falls through the cracks. Most local Nazarene churches, however, do not have the luxury of a dedicated HR professional. This is where NBUSA steps in—with tools, resources, and programs that focus on vital, often-overlooked benefits like retirement and life/disability coverage.
But our structure has limitations. We aren’t connected to a church’s payroll. As the 403(b) plan administrator, we see only what flows through Fidelity, our plan recordkeeper. Unlike an HR staffer who can insert a note in a paycheck, post reminders, or walk into the pastor’s office, we rely primarily on email—messages that are too easily lost in a sea of daily demands.
That’s why it’s essential that local pastors, treasurers, and district leaders tune in to our messages and act on what they hear.
If you’re a minister and feel behind on retirement savings, don’t delay— act now. We’re here to help, and it’s never too late to take the next step.
NBUSA’s vision is clear: we want Nazarene ministers to retire well. Consider these important facts—and take action:
• Retirement is coming, whether or not we’re ready for it.
• Saving for retirement is a matter of time and money. The more you have of one, the less you’ll need of the other. Start as early as you can.
• Delaying costs you. For example, if you’re 35 and hope to retire at 67, waiting just five more years to start saving could increase your required savings by over 50%.
• Our 403(b) match program is making a difference. Over the 15 months ending in March 2025, participation surged—up 67.5% compared to 2023.
• Still, only about 26% of eligible lead/senior and associate pastors received a match.
• Another 32% missed out entirely, simply because neither they nor their church contributed to the pastor’s retirement account.
If you’re a minister and feel behind on retirement savings, don’t delay—act now. We’re here to help, and it’s never too late to take the next step.
If you’re a church treasurer, board member, or simply someone who cares about your pastor’s future, share this article. Start a conversation. Encourage your church to act on what you hear and help your pastor retire well.
Kevin P. Gilmore serves as executive director of Nazarene Benefits USA for the Church of the Nazarene.
Scan this code to explore NBUSA’s 403(b) Ministers Match Resources.
SENSIBLE STEWARDSHIP BY AMY ARTIGA
6 Ways to Set Your Kids Up for Financial Success
It’s back-to-school time! This time of year, it seems that everyone—from parents to marketers—is focusing on kids. I figured I would follow the crowd and do the same. Today, I’m going to share six things you can do to set your kids up for financial success, and the best part is that most won’t cost you a dime.
1. Model Biblical Stewardship
Do you believe that God owns everything and you simply manage your finances on his behalf? Do you trust God as your provider and look to him for your security? Can your kids tell by the way that you act and talk? You can have accurate theology and know everything the Bible says about stewardship, but if your kids don’t see you live it out, it means nothing. The common saying, “more is caught than taught” is true. Make sure that your beliefs are reflected in your actions, or you will not pass them down to your kids.
How you relate to money can have much bigger spiritual implications than what you do with it.
2. Develop a Healthy Relationship with Money
Your relationship with money is not something that is commonly discussed in the church. Everyone talks about how you handle money, but how do you relate to it? The truth is, how you relate to money can have much bigger spiritual implications than what you do with it.
No offense to parents (I am one!), but a lot of the issues we struggle with as adults are founded in childhood. Think about how finances were regarded in your family of origin. Were they discussed openly, or was it taboo? Were finances stressful or scarce? Were they emphasized or ignored? How has that affected how you view money? Even if our finances look good from the outside, we can still have an unhealthy relationship with money. A scarcity mindset, a constant striving for more, the belief that money is evil, an attitude that finances don’t matter or shouldn’t be discussed, etc. All of those things represent an unhealthy relationship with money that can rob us of peace, divide a marriage, and interfere with our relationship with God.
Think of any unhealthy beliefs you’ve developed regarding money, and ask God to help you overcome them so that you don’t pass them on to your own children.
3. Impart Work Ethic
There is a very good chance that your children’s earning ability will be directly tied to their work ethic. Help them develop a good work ethic by having them work and teaching them about why we work and the benefits of work. Whether they’re a star employee or a successful entrepreneur, their work ethic will likely play a big part in their financial success.
4. Teach Financial Literacy
Your kids can be good workers who earn a lot of money, but if they don’t know what to do with it, they will be in trouble. A lot of parents get tripped up here because they are not confident in their own financial literacy. If that’s your case, this is a great opportunity for you to learn alongside your
kids. There is a lot of material available designed to help your kids learn to manage money, from Ramsey Solutions resources to Khan Academy’s free online course to the Build Your Stax game available online.
5. Help with Education Costs
College education is the leading cause of debt among young people and is having devastating impacts on an entire generation. You can help your kids avoid student debt by saving for their education. A 529 account is a great place for that. Even if you can’t afford to give them any money, helping your kids find scholarships, participate in AP classes, or take dual enrollment courses can cut the cost of college significantly.
6. Save for Your Retirement
As a financial planner, it is not uncommon for parents to be the greatest threat to a client’s finances. If there comes a time when you cannot work any longer and you don’t have money set aside to live on, what will you do? Most people turn to family for help, usually their kids. Just like the flight attendants remind us to put on our own masks first before helping others, it’s important to prepare for your own future if you ever want to be able to help anyone else. You can take out loans for college, but there are no loans available for retirement. Preparing for your own retirement will be a huge blessing to your children and may even turn into the inheritance recommended in Proverbs 13:22.
Amy Artiga is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a Certified Kingdom Advisor™, and author of the clergy personal finance blog PastorsWallet.com. Send questions for Amy to benefits@nazarene.org.
PRESSING ON BY DARON BROWN
Co-Laboring Churches
Iam in my 25th year of ministry. The cultural and religious landscape has changed dramatically during my time. Numbers do not tell the whole story, but they do say something. After years of statistical decline in multiple areas, we welcome good news from recent denominational reports and evangelical surveys. We celebrate trends upward in membership, attendance, and spiritual hunger. At the same time, we continue to grapple with the strangeness of our current reality. One of the ways local churches are different is they are simply smaller. According to Lifeway Research polls, in 2000, the median size of a local church was 137. Today, the median size is 65. Churches are generally half the size they were a generation ago.
Other realities that accompany this size difference include growing numbers of bivocational and covocational ministers and the decline of regular attendance among churchgoers. Fewer people attend worship weekly. More people attend monthly. Therefore, it is possible for a church not to lose anyone and show statistical decline.
The typical local church is small. This is not necessarily worse or unhealthy or defeated—just different. With fewer resources, a smaller workforce, and momentum loss, it would be easy for local church people to feel frustration or even despair. But what if God has something new for these different days? The Spirit who hovered over the waters in creation, hovered over Mary’s womb, and
hovered over Jesus’ tomb, is the same Spirit who hovers over local churches today, seeking to bring abundant life.
A new thing the Spirit is doing involves the collaboration of local churches for Kingdom work. One instance involves a couple of Nazarene churches in the same town. One has plenty of square footage, including a gymnasium, but they have fewer people. The other church has an ample workforce of servants, but they deal with space limitations. These two churches collaborated for an Upward Sports ministry. On their own, neither church was able to make it work. Together, the Spirit used them to significantly impact their community. Other instances involve local churches partnering for Vacation Bible School and special seasonal services. Some churches collaborate for mission trips, and more churches are working together to plant churches. By themselves, many churches lack. But churches working together offers a different story.
By themselves, many churches lack. But churches working together offers a different story.
The Greek word is synergia, where we get our word synergy. Paul used a form of this word several times in his epistles, describing the collaborative effort of churches and people for the mission of God.
The better part of 2 Corinthians is an appeal for fundraising. More importantly, it is an appeal for synergy. Paul, through this fundraising effort, is drawing local churches together toward the common cause of assisting the church in Jerusalem. Together, empowered by the Spirit, these churches can produce a greater result than the sum of their separate efforts. One plus one does not always equal two. When the Spirit is involved, one plus one equals “immeasurably more.”
The Church of the Nazarene began with collaboration. We are organized (globally, in regions, by fields, by districts, even in district mission zones) for collaboration. Some leaders note that our denomination has a fourth unstated core value which is threaded through our three core values: connection. We are a connected people. Being connected helps us become more Christian, more holy, and more missional!
Local churches can lean into our DNA by seeking creative partnerships with other local churches for Kingdom work. Doing so requires us not to view other churches as competition. It requires us to care less about who receives credit, glory, or accolades. It requires a spirit of humility, a desire to collaborate, and the conviction that the mission of God takes precedence over our own plans or efforts.
When churches find themselves smaller than they once were, church leaders may spend energy trying to get bigger. Maybe we should focus less on getting bigger and focus more on getting together. We are co-laborers (collaborators!) for the mission of God in our communities and across our world. Churches working together may be the Spirit’s way of breathing new life and fresh energy into local churches for the days ahead.
Rev. Daron Brown lives and pastors in Waverly, Tennessee, with his wife, Katie, and children, Kendall, Parker, and Macy.
DWELLING WITH GOD
BY MARY REARICK PAUL
Ortho Cardia
How would you respond if Sunday’s sermon began with these words from Isaiah 58: “Shout loudly; don’t hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their crime, to the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1 CEB)? You might sit back and cross your arms to protect yourself. You may sigh, shifting in your seat or lean forward, ready to have some folks called out.
The proclamation gets a little confusing for the original audience as the passage continues with a list of their practices that seem right—very right. This community is noted for seeking God every day, desiring knowledge of God’s way; as a nation they acted righteously and didn’t abandon their God. They asked God for righteous judgements, wanting to be close to God. Isn’t this the deal? We offer acts of piety, and God blesses us. This section of Isaiah is believed to be written to the residents of Jerusalem around Israel’s return. They have seen God’s provision, and they are rebuilding their communities. The people believe they are doing all the right things, and it is God who has not been keeping faith.
We too might have our list of questions: Why don’t we sense God’s presence and blessings when we are tithing, praying, fasting, seeking, and volunteering for church ministries? It is interesting that, in Isaiah, these commitments are referred to as “afflictions.” This indicates a transactional approach to their relationship with God. Our assumptions can be similar. Living a faithful Christian life is lived in exchange for more good things coming our way via God.
What we hear in Isaiah and other scriptures is our lives and words can fulfill a checklist of rightness and still be very wrong. An emphasis on rightness is not the same as righteousness. One can produce a rigid view of faith filled with dutiful “afflictions” while the other results in a responsive life to grace upon grace.
An emphasis on rightness is not the same as righteousness. One can produce a rigid view of faith filled with dutiful “afflictions” while the other results in a responsive life to grace upon grace.
This tension is played out beautifully in Les Misérables, written by Victor Hugo. The conflict between Jean Valjean and Javert is one of rightness versus righteousness. Unmerited grace of forgiveness is poured out in Jean Valjean’s life by the bishop which begins a transformational journey of being called “a new man.” His life no longer belongs to evil; he is called “brother” rather than “prisoner,” and the bishop claims Valjean’s life is now given over to God. (I can’t do it justice, so I highly recommend you read the novel or at least watch the movie.)
The post-exilic community in Isaiah 58 is not accused of orthodoxy issues (right teaching) or orthopraxy (right practice). The deeper diagnosis is an ortho cardia (right heart) concern. The first indication their hearts are not guided by God’s grace and transforming power is that, in the midst of fasting, they “quarrel and brawl,” even to the point of hitting each other with fists. The word from the prophet goes on: Isn’t this the fast I choose...
“to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6 NIV)
The fast God chooses is not practices added to our unchanged lives but a whole new way of life. We are called to continually be a people who are transformed by God in ways which bring change in us and the lives of others. Together we are like a light that breaks out at dawn (Isaiah 58:8). Having our hearts transformed means we will know healing in our faith communities, there will be an end to quarreling and brawling, and the “finger-pointing” will be removed. We are to be marked by generosity in spirit, in resources, in our assumptions—caring for all who are afflicted. We will have hearts that break with God’s heart, love with God’s heart, and respond to each situation with an ortho cardia. And then we have this promise:
“The LORD will guide you continually and provide for you, even in parched places.
He will rescue your bones.
You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water that won’t run dry. They will rebuild ancient ruins on your account;
the foundations of generations past you will restore.
You will be called Mender of Broken Walls, Restorer of Livable Streets.” (Isaiah 58:1112, CEB)
God’s desire is for a people who are living fully into the good news of the resurrection and whose ways of living bring the first fruits of the resurrection into the lives of others. This is what God wants to do in us, between us, and through us.
Dr. Mary Rearick Paul, D.Min, is a minister and Vice President of Student Life and Formation at Point Loma Nazarene University.
TO PRESENT BY STAN INGERSOL
The Trust Clause in Methodism and the Church of the Nazarene
Like many other Protestant denominations, the Church of the Nazarene has a “trust clause” embedded in its book of order. This feature is absent in denominations with a congregational polity, but it is generally present in those that are connectional in nature.
The trust clause means that local trustees hold church property in trust for the denomination and the exclusive use of its congregations and ministers. When a congregation leaves a denomination, either voluntarily or by expulsion, they may want to take local property with them, but in connectional churches, the “trust clause” prevents that in most cases.
Denominations with trust clauses include the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the Presbyterian Church in America, the Reformed Church in America, the Orthodox Church in America, the United Methodist Church, and many others.
For nearly 250 years, the trust clause has been a basic feature in Methodism and its various offspring: the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the AME Zion Church, the Free Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Church, and the Church of the Nazarene, among others. Where did it originate, and what purpose does it serve?
The trust clause in Methodism originated with John Wesley. The first Methodist building was erected in Bristol in 1739. Originally, it was vested in Wesley’s name, but he understood that this was tenuous, and in 1763, the Methodist Conference adopted a Model Deed. Later still, Wesley appointed one hundred Methodist preachers, known as the Legal Hundred, to supervise Methodist property in the United Kingdom and to
appoint preachers of sound Methodist doctrine to the pulpits of these chapels and churches.
Methodists in America utilized Wesley’s Model Deed at the outset. The General Conference of 1796 adopted the Deed of Settlement, which asserts that local trustees hold title to property for the exclusive benefit of the denomination and cannot divert that property to other uses.
This principle was a non-negotiable for Phineas Bresee, who brought 35 years of experience as a pastor and presiding elder (district superintendent) in the Methodist Episcopal Church with him into the Church of the Nazarene.
Bresee often relied on familiar patterns at the beginning of the Nazarene movement along the Pacific coast. His first Manual, dated 1898, declared that “no church or congregation shall withdraw from the Church of the Nazarene, nor in any way sever its relation therefrom.”1
His second Manual, dated 1903, repeats this statement but makes a more explicit statement about church property, requiring written approval by a general superintendent before any church property is sold.2
Bresee’s 1905 Manual was more explicit still: “In case an individual church becomes disorganized or ceases its functions, any church property which shall exist shall in no way be diverted to other purposes, but shall pass to the control of the General Assembly for the use of the church at large, as the General Assembly shall direct.”3
In 1907, he agreed to explore a merger with the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America, a group largely centered along the Atlantic coast. The APCA had a congregational form of government in which churches could readily join or leave the denomination.
PAST
In April 1907, the two groups adopted a Basis of Union that guaranteed general and district superintendents and allowed churches to call their own pastors (though subject to approval by the district superintendent).
The Basis of Union also stipulated that the fifty or so APCA churches in the East were exempt from the trust clause should they so desire, but that no church organized afterwards in the East or elsewhere could be exempt.4
For Wesley and Bresee alike, the trust clause was a vital aspect of honoring the intentions of donors, who give money to erect churches and buy parsonages in order to support and facilitate a particular understanding of the gospel. The trust clause guarantees that when a local group
For Wesley and Bresee alike, the trust clause was a vital aspect of honoring the intentions of donors, who give money to erect churches and buy parsonages in order to support and facilitate a particular understanding of the gospel.
John Wesley insisted on a trust to ensure that pure Methodist doctrine would be preached in Methodist chapels and churches. Phineas Bresee, a seasoned pastor and presiding elder, insisted on the trust clause in the Church of the Nazarene.
no longer honors that commitment, the property reverts to an entity which can continue to honor donor intentions by reinvesting the assets in ways that align with donor purposes and intent. The trust clause is part of the connectional thread that weaves a denomination together across space and time.
Dr. Stan Ingersol, Ph.D., is a church historian and former manager of the Nazarene Archives.
1. Manual, Church of the Nazarene (Los Angeles: 1898): 27.
2. Manual, Church of the Nazarene (Los Angeles: 1903): 39-42.
3. Manual, Church of the Nazarene (Los Angeles: 1905): 64-65.
4. Manual, Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene (Los Angeles: 1907): 17.
FREE Virtual Nazarene Benefits Fair
Hold the Date (November 20, 2025)
Nazarene Benefits is offering a FREE, virtual Benefits Fair this coming November 20. Learn how you can retire well and be sure you are receiving the Nazarene benefits you deserve. Hear from Fidelity about maximizing your Social Security and Medicare benefits. Also, a CPA professional will be answering your questions about ministers’ taxes.
Whether you are just getting started in local church ministry or have been a minister for many years, this training will help you understand your Nazarene benefits while building skills to increase your overall knowledge of personal finances. Church Treasurers are also encouraged to attend, and Spanish interpretation will be available. Even if you are unable to attend, please register so that you will receive the post-event recording link. Stay tuned for further information, coming soon!
TO YOUR HEALTH BY STEPHEN A. WILSON
Autumn is Coming—Have a Healthy Fall
Hopefully, you avoided the more prevalent health issues of summertime:
Autumn is upon us, with its more moderate temperatures, drier air, increased allergens in the air, less sunlight, and circumstances that promote the spread of viruses. Here’s some information to help you plan to limit health issues associated with the season.
• Seasonal Allergies: Itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, and runny nose can be triggered by increased allergens like pollen and mold spores. Nasal steroids (e.g., fluticasone, mometasone, and triamcinolone) tend to be more effective than oral antihistamines. Not all oral anti-histamines are the same. A rough rule of thumb is the sleepier it might make you, the more histamine it blocks. Non-drowsy loratidine is a good first-line drug for milder allergies. Cetirizine is more likely to cause tiredness (usually mild and tolerable if present) and can be more effective if loratidine fails.
• Norovirus (Stomach Infection): This highly contagious virus that causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain for 1-3 days spreads easily in cooler months. Wash your hands…and don’t forget your thumbs.
• Common Cold or Bronchitis: Weather changes can weaken the immune system, making people more susceptible to viruses that cause colds. Cooler weather and close indoor contact contribute to cold outbreaks. Use good hygiene–wash your hands, cough into the inside fold of your elbow, and be polite and wear a mask to protect others if you are sick for a few days.
• Flu: Viruses that cause flu (fever, cough, severe body aches, fatigue) are more prevalent in the fall and peak during the winter months. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Get your annual flu shot. Nothing is as good at preventing the flu. Most people who die do not die from influenza, they die from the pneumonia that follows or the stress on the heart infections can cause. People with heart disease who get the flu shot are less likely to die than those who do not.
• Asthma Attacks: Cold air and increased respiratory infections can trigger asthma symptoms. Get your flu shot. Travel with your inhaler. If you have moderate to severe asthma not well-controlled by a low- or medium-dose daily inhaled corticosteroid alone, discuss SMART (Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) with your family doctor. It is a newer approach to asthma therapy.
• Seasonal Depression: Shorter days and decreased sunlight can lead to general mood change or even seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Regular exercise, healthy eating, and social connections can help. These things often decrease in the fall. Being active can boost mood and energy; aim for 150 minutes of exercise weekly. Keep your diet full of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Light therapy can also help prevent SAD. The studies on vitamin D to prevent SAD are
mixed; however, 1,000 to 2,000 IU of Vitamin D should not hurt most healthy people. The USP labeled generic vitamins from big box stores are fine.
• Dry Skin: Cooler, drier weather can cause dry and cracked skin. Moisturize from the inside out. Hydrate with lots of fluids–mainly water–and use emollients. Add an air humidifier to your home or office.
• Increased Fall Risk: Older adults may face a higher risk of falls due to environmental changes–snow, ice, increased clutter in the house, and less light. Be aware of these hazards.
Stay proactive with good hygiene, vaccinations, and a healthy lifestyle. In summary:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Cough into the inside of your elbow.
3. Get your shots.
4. Sleep at least 7 hours daily.
5. Exercise 150 minutes weekly.
6. Stay hydrated.
7. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains.
8. Get a periodic health evaluation, also called annual check-up or physical.
9. Stay socially connected.
10. Part of overall health is spiritual health— read your Bible, pray, and attend church regularly; the latter doubles as good for your social connection.
Lastly, enjoy the present. Prepare your heart for the Incarnation, but leave Christmas alone until after Halloween, and better yet, after Thanksgiving. These practices can help nurture your physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being.
Dr. Stephen A. Wilson, MD, MPH, FAAFP, is Chair of Family Medicine at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine and Chief of Family Medicine for Boston Medical Center.
Church Triumphant
Church Triumphant lists credentialed Nazarene ministers or spouses who were receiving benefits provided by NBUSA at the time of death.
Mrs. Kathy Ah Sing
Pahoa, Hawaii
Mrs. Norma J. Atkinson
Kansas City, Missouri
Rev. Howard Baker
Indianapolis, Indiana
Mrs. Frances L. Ballard
June 11, 2025
age 62
February 17, 2025
age 89
May 11, 2025
age 95
July 10, 2025
Tahlequah, Oklahoma age 83
Mrs. Pamyla Barker
July 6, 2025
Pekin, Illinois age 78
Rev. William J. Belgie May 27, 2025
El Paso, Texas age 67
Rev. James P. Blue April 28, 2025
Georgetown, Illinois
Rev. William E. Britton
Cadillac, Michigan
Mrs. Barbara Brock
Mishawaka, Indiana
Rev. Charles D. Brooks
Georgetown, Ohio
Rev. Donald L. Brown
Irvine, Kentucky
age 80
April 16, 2025
age 90
June 23, 2025
age 78
May 4, 2025
age 85
July 17, 2025
age 79
Rev. Robert I. Brown June 21, 2025
Bolingbrook, Illinois age 74
Rev. Richard M. Brunner May 25, 2025
Weyauwega, Wisconsin age 94
Mrs. Rosa Burdette
Elkview, West Virginia
Rev. Mark A. Capehart Sr.
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Rev. Jack L. Carpenter
Gallatin, Tennessee
Mr. Richard L. Chaplin
Vandalia, Illinois
Mrs. Sharon Cheesebrew
Thurman, Ohio
April 29, 2025
age 72
June 20, 2025
age 71
May 6, 2025
age 79
June 18, 2025
age 87
June 7, 2025
age 81
Rev. Clifford Church June 24, 2025
Newark, Ohio age 89
Rev. Jack E. Clinkingbeard May 2, 2025
Blackwell, Oklahoma age 96
Rev. Gerald R. Cole March 28, 2025
Spokane Valley, Washington age 91
Rev. Warberton L. Cole
Wellington, Kansas
Rev. J. Kenneth Copenhaver
Wilmington, Ohio
Rev. Michael A. Davidson
Poteau, Oklahoma
Rev. Xavier DeHoyos
San Antonio, Texas
Rev. Mark L. Deneen
Niles, Ohio
Rev. Carl V. Dennis
June 9, 2025
age 88
July 17, 2025
age 100
July 19, 2025
age 52
July 16, 2025
age 63
June 21, 2025
age 75
June 14, 2025
Lenoir City, Tennessee age 92
Mrs. Mary Ann Dunn June 10, 2025
Nashville, Tennessee age 78
Rev. Gregory A. Freed April 28, 2025
Vicksburg, Michigan age 72
Rev. Gregory A. Garman July 25, 2025
Valencia, California
Mrs. Nyoka George
Vinton, Ohio
Rev. Lucas R. Graves
Coos Bay, Oregon
Mrs. Elizabeth Guy
Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Rev. Daniel W. Hayes
Fitzgerald, Georgia
age 64
May 24, 2025
age 82
July 10, 2025
age 42
.July 2, 2025
age 76
May 22, 2025
age 79
Rev. Thomas L. Heim May 13, 2025
Lakeville, Massachusetts age 79
Rev. Roger R. Holden
July 12, 2025
Baker City, Oregon age 83
Rev. William R. Hunter Jr.
Callahan, Florida
Mrs. Naomi R. Johnson
Longview, Texas
Rev. Steven D. Johnson
Saint Louis, Missouri
Rev. Stephen M. Joiner
Vinemont, Alabama
Dr. Alfred L. Jones
Valley Center, California
Mrs. Doloris F. Jones
July 11, 2025
age 78
June 19, 2025
age 89
June 28, 2025
age 62
July 13, 2025
age 66
May 29, 2025
age 87
June 22, 2025
Mason, Ohio age 93
Mrs. Mary Jones
Rev. L. Jackson Pierre June 13, 2025
Fall River, Massachusetts age 74
Mrs. Theola Ritter .
Franklin, Tennessee
Rev. Joaquin Rodriguez
San Diego, California
Mrs. Betty E. Rogers .
Mount Juliet, Tennessee
Rev. Doug Romine
Watertown, Tennessee
Mrs. A. Louise Runyan
Wood River, Illinois
Mrs. Vera Rushford-Biddle
June 10, 2025
Goodlettsville, Tennessee age 81
Rev. Terry L. Jones
April 16, 2025
Mustang, Oklahoma age 80
Rev. Howard K. Kelly
Richmond, Kentucky
Mrs. Joyce M. Kidder
Land O Lakes, Florida
Mrs. Beth LaDue
Sedro Woolley, Washington
Rev. Ted J. Lovelace
Atchison, Kansas
Rev. John Melkonian
Pasadena, California
Rev. Robert A. Mann
.May 21, 2025
age 99
.May 21, 2025
age 98
April 24, 2025
age 78
May 22, 2025
age 81
May 24, 2025
age 89
June 15, 2025
San Bernardino, California age 101
Rev. Richard G. Sales July 8, 2025
Camas, Washington age 88
Mrs. Dorothy Salser
June 20, 2025
age 88
May 27, 2025
age 82
July 13, 2025
age 81
May 26, 2025
age 82
May 24, 2025
age 93
May 6, 2025
Oneonta, New York age 90
Mrs. Lois A. Medders
June 17, 2025
Charleston, West Virginia age 96
Mrs. Karon A. Schalau
Hemlock, Michigan
Mrs. Evelyn M. Schwob
Surprise, Arizona
Rev. Jerry W. Searcy
Turlock, California
Mrs. Norma L. Spear
Cane Ridge, Tennessee
Rev. John T. Stanley
Vienna, Illinois
June 15, 2025
Birmingham, Alabama age 84
Mrs. Sheri L. Miller
July 20, 2025
Muncie, Indiana age 62
Rev. Ronald G. Miller
Nashport, Ohio
Rev. Stephen M. Monington
Cumberland, Maryland
Mrs. Lois Neuschwanger
Denver, Colorado
Rev. James E. Oakley
Yuma, Arizona
Mrs. Margaret Jean Patton
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Mrs. Deborah J. Persell
July 17, 2025
age 90
May 22, 2025
age 72
June 22, 2025
age 87
April 22, 2025
age 76
May 17, 2025
age 95
April 17, 2025
Milton, Florida age 71
.May 21, 2025
age 78
April 19, 2025
age 87
.July 5, 2025
age 86
June 28, 2025
age 92
June 11, 2025
age 62
Mrs. Laura G. Steele July 3, 2025
Lake City, Florida age 88
Rev. Richard A. Steinmayr May 8, 2025
Atlanta, Georgia age 80
Mrs. Mary A. Steveley July 9, 2025
Springfield, Ohio age 92
Rev. Kenneth J. Stirratt May 21, 2025
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Rev. Blaine L. Strauser
Himrod, New York
Mrs. Carol Stueckle
Wenatchee, Washington
Mrs. Faye Summers
Pineville, Louisiana
Rev. Gracie Taylor
Westland, Michigan
age 79
June 12, 2025
age 98
May 15, 2025
age 89
May 5, 2025
age 87
June 22, 2025
age 96
Mrs. V. Muzette Thaxton-Byars July 6, 2025
Smyrna, Tennessee age 104
Rev. Robert W. Thompson
Grand Prairie, Texas
Mrs. Marjorie Todd
Evansville, Indiana
Rev. Paul N. Vail
Lynn, Massachusetts
Rev. Dale J. Van Meter
Thayer, Kansas
Rev. Felix D.J. Vigil
Madera, California
Rev. Bradley W. Warkentine
May 15, 2025
age 87
June 1, 2025
age 89
May 24, 2025
age 80
June 27, 2025
age 96
July 13, 2025
age 71
April 26, 2025
La Follette, Tennessee age 74
Rev. Harold J. Westlund
May 1, 2025
Nampa, Idaho age 96
Rev. C. Steven Wheeler
July 17, 2025
Bethel, Ohio age 75
Rev. Frederick F. Wheeler
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Rev. Robert B. Williams
Duncanville, Texas
Rev. Roger M. Williams
Sun City, Arizona.
Rev. Danny L. Wing
Luther, Oklahoma
June 3, 2025
age 88
June 29, 2025
age 94
April 29, 2025
age 97
May 4, 2025
age 78
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
— James 1:17 ESV
Special Anniversaries
Dates for this column come from pension applications. Records are not updated unless NBUSA is notified of changes in marital status, such as the death of a spouse.
75th Anniversaries
Rev. Harold L. and Mrs. Martha N. Cartwright . . Dec. 10 11180 W Silver River Loop, Nampa, ID 83686-5472
Rev. James F. and Mrs. Alice J. Rupert Oct. 7 6937 W Villa Lindo Dr, Peoria, AZ 85383-3273
70th Anniversaries
Rev. Norlyn E. and Mrs. Barbara M. Brough . . . . . Oct. 1 353 Woodhill Dr, Carol Stream, IL 60188-4313
Rev. William D. and Mrs. Rhetta M. Duke Oct. 29 8308 NW 76th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73132-3945
Rev. Roy E. and Mrs. Martha Foster Dec. 25 710 Westwood Dr, Catlin, IL 61817-9630
Rev. Donovan W. and Mrs. Barbara J. Newport Oct. 25 1801 Mitten Rd, Bowling Green, IN 47833-8259
Rev. Duane W. and Mrs. Joan Royston . . . . . . . . Nov. 19 345 E North St, Hastings, MI 49058-1069
65th Anniversaries
Rev. Daniel and Mrs. Lidia Aguilera . . . . . . . . . . Dec. 10 1414 Alhambra Rd, South Pasadena, CA 91030-4618
Rev. George E. and Mrs. Phyllis L. Gardner . . . . . Nov. 19 PO Box 21, Due West, SC 29639-0021
Dr. James E. and Dr. Carolyn J. Johnson . . . . . . . Dec. 19
704 Gage Dr, San Diego, CA 92106-2902
Rev. Robert W. and Mrs. Judith R. Lockwood . . . . Oct. 3 442 Bethany Village Cir, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936-7622
Rev. April A. and Mr. John McNeiece Dec. 12 12244 S Hunters Point Dr, Nampa, ID 83686-5939
Dr. Garrett and Mrs. Cora L. Mills . . . .
327 Mudlick Branch Rd, Louisa, KY 41230-7016
Rev. John L. and Mrs. Connie R. Bauswell . . . . . . Nov. 26 5517 Buckhorne Cres, Suffolk, VA 23435-2211
Rev. Virgel D. and Mrs. Annice Crisp .
Dec. 20 1822 Nethery Rd, Hartselle, AL 35640-5222
Rev. Maxell L. and Mrs. Leona L. Downs Nov. 25 120 Branigin Rd, Franklin, IN 46131-9731
Rev. Gary E. and Mrs. Wanda K. Farris Dec. 12 116 E 9th St, Georgetown, IL 61846-1523
Rev. James E. and Mrs. Judith R. Goodykoontz . . . Oct. 22 415 Ottawa Ave, Westerville, OH 43081-2331
Rev. Thomas W. and Mrs. Mary L. Grose
. Oct. 6 108 Linden Ln, East Peoria, IL 61611-2950
Dr. Bruce L. and Mrs. Jacquelyn R. Petersen . . . . Dec. 18 818 Fairway Dr, Howard, OH 43028-9533
Rev. Philip E. and Mrs. Sharon L. Reynolds Nov. 27 5310 Killdeer Ct, Orient, OH 43146-9607
Rev. William M. and Mrs. Sheryl Smith Oct. 2 510 N Graham St, Cambridge City, IN 47327-1554
Rev. Leslie R. and Mrs. Patricia Snodgrass Oct. 30 115 Rosewood Dr, Prattville, AL 36066-5158
Rev. Peter O. and Mrs. Sun Song
Unit 15281 Box 208, APO, AP 96271-5281
Rev. Rogelio and Mrs. Francisca Valdovinos
Nov. 18
Dec. 17 2987 Joshua Tree Ln, Gainesville, GA 30507-9616
Rev. Teresa W. and Mr. Peter S. Waldeck
Oct. 9 196 Tuscany Bend St, Daytona Beach, FL 32117-5545
55th Anniversaries
Rev. Richard A. and Mrs. Bonnie R. Devendorf . . Nov. 28 8429 Kingston Rd, Shreveport, LA 71108-5918
Rev. Arturo and Rev. Angelica Dominguez Nov. 21 1908 Midvale Ct, Bakersfield, CA 93309-3620
Rev. James R. and Mrs. Emma Gilmore .
4740 Old Poplar Road, Jackson, MS 39212-5854
Oct. 29
Rev. William B. and Mrs. Carol M. Hardesty . . . . . Nov. 7 835 Cothran Rd, Columbia, TN 38401-6756
Rev. James E. and Mrs. Louise Harvey Nov. 20
405 Greenland Rd, Ontonagon, MI 49953-1417
Rev. Marjorie A. and Mr. David W. Hein . . . . . . . . Oct. 3
3405 Lookout Cir, Jackson, MI 49201-9733
Rev. C. David and Mrs. Nellinda A. Hintz Nov. 27 4451 Wickfield Cir, Flint, MI 48507-3758
. Oct. 17
Rev. Janet M. and Mr. Warren G. Neal Dec. 25 413 Sage Brush Rd, Yukon, OK 73009-6893
Dr. John R. and Rev. Juanita Nells . . . .
. . Nov. 13 PO Box 520, Winslow, AZ 86047-0520
Rev. Barbara J. and Mr. Thomas Nichols . .
Nov. 17 216 Fieldstone Way, Newnan, GA 30265-1976
Rev. Ronald L. and Mrs. Diana J. Perry Dec. 19 1012 Gallatin St, Ravenswood, WV 26164-1122
Rev. C. Enrique and Mrs. Gloria A. Polanco . . . . . . Dec. 5 219 Parker Ave Apt 201, West Chicago, IL 60185-3163
Rev. Leroy B. and Mrs. Beverly R. Richards Dec. 26 24 Poplar St, Elmsford, NY 10523-3726
Rev. Moises F. and Mrs. Esther Salazar . . .
. Nov. 29 36743 33rd St E, Palmdale, CA 93550-8312
Rev. Robert J. and Mrs. Patricia Schnecker . .
. Dec. 19 4510 Blue Rock Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45247-3713
Rev. Richard L. and Mrs. Paula Settles Oct. 5 1214 1/2 N 19th St, Clarksburg, WV 26301-1640
Rev. Rickey D. and Mrs. Linda J. Short . . . .
Dec. 28 4105 Quail Dr, Norman, OK 73072-4518
Rev. Samuel and Mrs. Evelyn Sierra Oct. 17 1557 Bennington Woods Ct, Reston, VA 20194-1614
Rev. Artis O. and Mrs. Charline Simmons . . . . . . . Oct. 1 PO Box 1207, Gladewater, TX 75647-1207
Rev. Steven L. and Mrs. Brenda Stalker Oct. 24 885 S County Road 350 W, Connersville, IN 47331-8791
Rev. Terry L. and Mrs. Francis Sweeney . . . . . . . Dec. 26 1367 Crown Point Ct., New Freedom, PA 17349-8987
Rev. Richard D. and Mrs. Deborah C. Thompson . . Oct. 17 731 Bucksport Ln, Westfield, IN 46074-8133
Rev. Dale E. and Mrs. Barbara Ward Nov. 28 512 Forest Glen Cir, Murfreesboro, TN 37128-2807
Dr. Sam and Mrs. Marthanan P. Wood . . . . . . . . Dec. 19 1095 Poplar Cove Rd, Jamestown, TN 38556-6321
Rev. Arnold C. and Mrs. Debra L. Yost Nov. 28 1721 Broad Ave NW, Canton, OH 44708-2955
50th Anniversaries
Rev. Lester L. and Mrs. Lydia R. Anderson. . . . . . Dec. 26 2216 Watson St, Fort Worth, TX 76103-2040
Rev. Karl W. and Mrs. Paula Bender . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 7 43 Winesap Ct, Howard, OH 43028-9363
Rev. Richard A. and Mrs. Deborah A. Blodgett . . Dec. 27 106 Arbor Ridge Ln, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-5066
Rev. DeWayne L. and Mrs. Sherilyn Brewer
7802 Greta Ave, Louisville, KY 40258
Rev. Harold K. and Mrs. Penney H. Carden
357 Windhaven Bay, Mount Juliet, TN 37122-6912
Rev. Jose and Mrs. Maria Cervantes
3551 Brandon St, Pasadena, CA 91107-4542
Dec. 20
Dec. 19
Dec. 19
Rev. Samuel L. and Mrs. Winna L. Chung Oct. 25
3700 S Ferntower Ave, West Covina, CA 91792-3213
Rev. Molaire and Mrs. Anne Marie Cordon Nov. 29 24A Clemens Blvd, Eastampton, NJ 08060-3914
Rev. Catheryn K. and Mr. Gregory Dozier
Dec. 19 549 Macy Way, Greenwood, IN 46142-7488
Rev. Anthony B. and Mrs. Cynthia Freeburg
1310 15th St SW, Willmar, MN 56201-3905
Rev. Gerald E. and Mrs. Mary J. Harris
Dec. 27
Oct. 11 61 East St, Ilion, NY 13357-1327
Rev. Clifford B. and Mrs. Sue Hersey
Dec. 27 15 Coleman Rd, Byfield, MA 01922-2802
Rev. Robin K. and Mrs. Sonja L. Hyde Nov. 29 19816 30th St SW, Lakebay, WA 98349-9110
Rev. Melvin D. and Mrs. Donna S. Justice Oct. 4 1314 Magnolia Ct, Harlingen, TX 78550-4432
Rev. Calvin T. and Mrs. Robin G. LaVigne
Nov. 28 1087 W Cook Rd, Mansfield, OH 44906-3554
Rev. Charles and Mrs. Li-Ly Lin .
3118 La Plata Ave, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745-6214
Dr. Alan D. and Mrs. Marilyn L. Lyke .
Dec. 6
. Dec. 5 11017 S Whitetail Ln, Olathe, KS 66061-8409
Rev. Gary L. and Mrs. Pamela Miller . . . . . . . . . . . Oct. 18 557 N McKenzie St, Adrian, MI 49221-1418
Rev. William G. and Mrs. Rosemary Miller . . . . . . Oct. 11 9702 Cutleaf Dr, Ladson, SC 29456-8524
Rev. R. Harlan and Dr. Barbara L. Moore . . . . . . . Dec. 30 8316 NW 69th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73132-3917
Rev. James G. and Mrs. Evie G. Perkins . . . . . . . . . Oct. 27 417 Fayette Cir, Fayetteville, WV 25840-1364
Rev. Gary D. and Mrs. Donna K. Peugh Nov. 14 187 E Polk St PMB 33, Coalinga, CA 93210-2311
Rev. Steven L. and Mrs. Cindy Ripp Oct. 3 7601 Myers Rd E, Bonney Lake, WA 98391-8546
Rev. Arnulfo M. and Mrs. Magaly Rodas . . . .
407 SE 4th St, Knox City, TX 79529-2051
. . Nov. 22
Rev. Carlos and Mrs. Ruth N. Rodriguez . . . . . . . Dec. 20 1316 6th St, Wasco, CA 93280-1702
Rev. Alan W. and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Scott . . . . . . Dec. 20 7124 Red Cardinal Loop, Colorado Springs, CO 80908-5633
Rev. George S. and Mrs. Deborah A. Stadler . . . . . Dec. 9 609 Howard St, Mount Vernon, OH 43050-3709
Rev. Chris E. and Mrs. Donna Sutherland Dec. 12
107 Jasmine Ln, Nash, TX 75569-2912
Rev. Ricky C. and Mrs. Sandra Swiger Oct. 24 2861 Dartmoor Dr NE, Warren, OH 44483-4309
Rev. H. Wayne and Mrs. Beth Wilson . . . . . . . . . Nov. 30 17280 Ashley Hills Cir, Abingdon, VA 24211-7358
Nazarene Benefits USA
17001 Prairie Star Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66220-7900
888.888.4656 | benefits@nazarene.org | nbusa.org
Nazarene Benefits USA strives to support ministers from their first assignment through retirement.
One way we support ministers is through Nazarene events. Our events are attended in person or virtually with a live representative.
We strive to educate participants on our benefit plans, financial markets, the importance of retirement planning, and a variety of other financial issues that may be impactful.
Participant registration is required, but all events are free of charge.
Web Workshops & Events This Quarter: September 2025 Tackle Debt and Understand Your Credit Score October 2025 Take the First Step to Investing November 2025 Make the Most of Your Retirement Savings NBUSA Benefits Fair
Please reference nbusa.org/education for more information and to register!
