PLANO, Texas — During their winter meeting, GuideStone Financial Resources trustees and staff recognized Pastor Jamie Brock and Concord Baptist Church in Chiefland, Fla., with the second annual John & Teresa Ambra Award. The award celebrates the top giving normative size church — those with up to 100 in attendance — for its financial support of Mission:Dignity. John Ambra led Mission:Dignity for more than two decades; he and his wife Teresa were on hand to present the award along with GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck and current Mission:Dignity Director Aaron Meraz.

Dilbeck reported to trustees that the entity continues in its efforts to attain its vision that “every servant of Christ finishes well.”

“To finish well, you have to start well and stay well,” Dilbeck said. “Too many pastors and other ministry workers have difficulty starting well.”

Starting well

To that end, Tim Sturr, GuideStone vice president and chief strategy officer, introduced trustees to the Start Well Initiative, which will begin a pilot in Tennessee and Kentucky this year. The pilot will provide eligible ministers with relief for medical and education debt, guided education toward financial, physical and mental wellness and one-on-one financial education for pastors.

“Financial literacy is necessary but isn’t the driving factor,” Sturr said. “It’s true that if you don’t have literacy, it’s hard to get started well, but there is often a knowledge-action gap that we must overcome.”

Sturr said the average pastor begins saving with GuideStone in his early 40s. That age range is late and will leave pastors behind in achieving their goals. Sturr and Dilbeck emphasized that the ministry wants to encourage pastors to get started as soon as they begin their vocational careers.

GuideStone already makes many free resources available to help pastors and church leaders get on track at guidestone.org/pastor.

Bearing fruit

Dilbeck told trustees of comments written in 1918, the year of GuideStone’s founding, by J.B. Gambrell, a Baptist leader serving in Texas and as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) from 1917 to 1920. He applauded Southern Baptists for creating GuideStone — then known as the Commission on Ministerial Relief and Annuities — and said that the efforts were like a young tree that needed tending, encouragement and nutrition to grow. If it did, Gambrell noted, it would be a blessing to generations to come.

“It will bear fruit to gladden the hearts of multitudes of men and women who have put their all into the work of the Kingdom,” Gambrell wrote.

Dilbeck said Gambrell himself might be surprised to realize just how prophetic his words were. At the end of 2024, assets under management were $23.5 billion, and retirement savings for the year exceeded $1.2 billion, the second consecutive year retirement savings exceeded $1 billion.

“The numbers tell a great story — more retirement plan members are increasing contributions,” Dilbeck said. It’s encouraging to see this growth, not just in dollars but in the recognition that wise planning today supports meaningful ministry tomorrow.”

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Borchgardt told trustees that the enterprise is thankful to the Lord for the trust members and ministry partners put in GuideStone, achieving a 98% satisfaction score last year. 

“What encourages us the most is that there was a material improvement year-over-year for both members and ministry partners of those who were ‘very satisfied,’ according to surveys,” Borchgardt said. “This is thanks to the tremendous work of our team members as they serve with integrity, heart and skill.”

Borchgardt pointed to positive success in retirement savings, investment sales and Mission:Dignity, which saw a 13% increase in gifts between 2023 and 2024.

Last year, 2,919 recipients were helped with financial gifts. Mission:Dignity, the heart of GuideStone, provides financial assistance to retired Southern Baptist ministers, workers and their widows in need. To learn more about the ministry, give or refer someone in need, visit missiondignity.org.

Facing challenges

Borchgardt acknowledged challenges for medical coverage and property and casualty coverage, areas in which GuideStone continues working.

“If you’ve shopped for homeowner’s or business coverage, you already know this is one of the hardest markets in many years,” Borchgardt said. “We encourage pastors and churches to talk to their agents early if they are concerned about renewal options. And in both medical and P&C, be sure to contact GuideStone. We have found solutions for our members, even with other companies, that have provided needed coverage.”

In other action, trustees unanimously elected David Rainwater (Arkansas) as chairman and Glenn Coffee (Oklahoma) as vice chairman during their regular session March 3-4 in Plano, Texas. Rainwater succeeds David M. Cox Sr. (Michigan), whose term of service comes to an end in 2025. At the conclusion of the meeting, trustees honored those whose terms of service are ending. In addition to Cox, Lee Black (New Mexico), David Hannah (West Virginia), Brian King (Pennsylvania), Fred Lodge (Georgia) and Gerald Saffo (Ohio) concluded their service to the Board. The SBC’s Committee on Nominations will present trustee nominees for approval by messengers at the SBC annual meeting in Dallas this June.

Trustees concluded with the singing of “Doxology” and a prayer for GuideStone and those the ministry serves.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Roy Hayhurst is director of denominational and public relations services for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.)