Back to Basics

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

September is the beginning of the fiscal year of the KBF. It’s also the beginning of the church year for many churches and the beginning of the school year for many schools. So, it’s a normal time to get back to the basics and start a new process with a new focus and with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

The first basics upon which the KBF board and staff has focused in this new fiscal year are the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 and the Acts 1:8 challenge. A few days after our Lord gave His disciples the Great Commission, and as He was about to depart from them and to return to the Father, He left to His disciples then, and to us His disciples today, the challenge to be His witnesses not only at home but also to the ends of the earth.

I like how GuideStone Financial Resources president O.S. Hawkins summed up the Lord’s explicit commission to us His disciples. We are “to make” new disciples by leading people to Jesus Christ; we are “to mark” these new disciples through baptism; and we are “to mature” them by “teaching them to observe” all those things Christ commanded.

Inherent in the mission of the KBF is discipleship, and specifically, “to mature” Jesus’ disciples. And, at the heart of discipleship is financial stewardship. And, that aspect of financial stewardship to which the KBF is committed to facilitate the maturation process is estate stewardship. Since we believe for most Christians estate planning is the single most important act of stewardship one will ever perform, our mission is “to mature” Kentucky Baptists, who are disciples of Jesus Christ, in the Christian discipline of estate stewardship.

The most effective way to mature Kentucky Baptists is to equip Kentucky Baptist churches in how to encourage, educate, enable and engage their adult members in estate stewardship. So, as we enter this new year together, let’s get back to the basics of discipleship, which includes stewarding from one’s estate a portion of that which the Lord has entrusted to us. And, please give your KBF the privilege of assisting you and your church.

For more information, please call us at (502) 489-3533 or toll free in KY at 1(866) 489-3533

The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.

Discipleship Deficiency

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

Spiritual discipline or development, that is – discipleship, is crucial to a growing faith, a maturing relationship with the living Lord and a lifestyle of being the salt of the earth and a light to the world. Christian parents and the church have the primary responsibilities of teaching and modeling discipleship. I had the benefit of both during my formative years and sought to bequeath the same to our children.

In the book, Transformational Discipleship, the authors describe a “discipleship deficiency” that is plaguing the church today. I agree with their assessment. The results of a recent survey by LifeWay Research of Protestant churchgoers also confirmed this descriptor. Among the results were: (1) 19 percent read the Bible daily compared to 68 percent of pet owners who exercised their pets daily; (2) 48 percent pray daily compared to 49 percent of Americans who floss daily; and (3) 55 percent had not memorized a Bible verse in the past 6 months.

Included in his new book, A Legacy of Faith, Dr. Eugene Enlow, Pastor Emeritus of Louisville’s Beechmont Baptist Church, is a chapter on “Why the Church Still Matters.” He characterized this discipleship deficiency as an imbalance that stems from a dearth of sound teaching as well as church members’ lack of acknowledgment of the need for spiritual instruction. Enlow reminds us of the old six-point accountability system by which we checked whether or not we were on time and had studied the Sunday School lesson, had brought our bible and an offering, and were attending the worship service. When that system was abandoned, nothing replaced it to instill a sense of obligation, responsibility and commitment, thus, discipleship deficiency.

Henry Blackaby stated his assessment of the discipleship deficiency this way: “The heart of the Great Commission and discipleship is to teach them to practice everything I have commanded you … and if we want to have a resurgence in the Great Commission, there’s got to be a refocusing on the priorities of Christ for discipleship.”

At the heart of discipleship is financial stewardship about which Jesus had more to say than any other discipline. The mission of the KBF is to teach disciples of Jesus Christ how to obey the biblical mandates of financial stewardship, particularly estate stewardship. Please give us the privilege of assisting you in discipleship sufficiency through your estate plan.

For more information, please call us at (502) 489-3533 or toll free in KY at 1-(866) 489-3533

The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.

Chain Reaction

By: Barry G. Allen-President & CEO 

How fortunate we Kentucky Baptists are to be engaged in connecting women, men, girls and boys to Jesus Christ 24/7 in local communities, throughout the state, the United States and around the world through our larger family of Great Commission service ministries. Our Baptist family includes our churches, associations, mission boards, educational institutions, children’s ministries, youth camps, stewardship services, news journals, human need ministries, collegiate ministries, healing ministries and missions support services. Cooperation is still Kentucky Baptists’ way to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ at home and beyond.

At different times throughout the year, we give special focus prayerfully and financially to specific aspects of our cooperative missionary, educational and benevolent ministries. Our methodology includes a “week of prayer” and the “collection of a special offering” over and above our on-going giving. We have weeks of prayer and offerings for international missions, North American missions, state missions, associational missions and other selective ministries.

It’s time now to focus on state missions and the collection of the Eliza Broadus Offering. The suggested dates for the “week of prayer and offering” are September 11 – 18. This year’s theme for our focus is “chain reaction,” based upon John 4, Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, and especially John 4:39a, which records her testimony that resulted in “a chain reaction” among her fellow Samaritans.

I’m praying every pastor and mission leader of every Kentucky Baptist church will contact the Kentucky WMU office now to request the planning guide for use by their churches. Call today toll free 866.489.3534. State missions has taken on a new international dynamic as the whole world has come to Kentucky. As a result, we must adjust accordingly our thinking, planning, praying, going and giving.

Like the Samaritan woman, many Kentuckians are waiting to receive the living water only Jesus can provide. Let’s start a chain reaction where we live by encountering those who are without Christ and telling them where to find the Living Water.

Disaster Relief: Offering Hope

By: Barry Allen, President & CEO

A hot meal prepared for a disaster victim, debris clearing for an elderly widow after a tornado, a hot shower for an emergency responder and a Christian witness shared with a disaster survivor – these are just a few of the many ways the Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief ministry is offering the hope of Jesus Christ across Kentucky, throughout our nation and around the globe.

This important Great Commission ministry traditionally has relied upon (a) the selfless and self-sacrificing efforts of Kentucky Baptist volunteers, who love the Lord and desire to bring hope to those who find themselves in hopeless circumstances, and (b) the collective giving of churches through the Cooperative Program. However, in looking to the future, it is clear this traditional source of funding will not be sufficient to enhance and secure financially this critical ministry even as the need for it increases. As a result, the KBC Mission Board has authorized the establishment with the Kentucky Baptist Foundation of the KBC Disaster Relief Endowment Fund to receive contributions for the direct benefit of this ministry.

This endowment is a perpetual, irrevocable fund from which only the earnings will be used for disaster relief ministry. The principal will be preserved to provide the ministry with long-term financial strength and stability, until Jesus comes again.

Advancing the Kingdom in the future cannot be funded solely by us Christians placing our cash and checks in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. In the future it will require us to steward not only out of our income but also out of our assets. We call that legacy giving, which includes giving in light of one’s overall estate and financial plans and perhaps using tax-advantaged methods.

I like what Mr. Rogers (TV) once said: “The world tomorrow will belong to those who give it hope.” And, Jesus commissioned us “to go and make disciples.” I urge you prayerfully to consider a legacy gift for the benefit of Kingdom advancement through disaster relief. Call me to discover some giving options.

Are We There Yet?

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO    

        Christmas means different things to different people, but to us Kentucky Baptists it means the Lottie Moon Offering for international missions. It’s a special opportunity during a special season of the year to demonstrate in a special way our desire to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the nations, those beyond where we can go and what we see.

            How fortunate we are to have more than 5,000 self sacrificing international missionaries scattered to the ends of the earth telling the good news of Jesus 24/7.  To undergird and facilitate their boldly going, we at home must boldly pray and boldly give.  Did you know contributions through the Lottie Moon Offering provide more than half the support for international missions through the International Mission Board, SBC?  As a result, it is critical we as individuals continue to enhance our giving through this Great Commission giving channel even as our churches enhance their giving through the Cooperative Program, which is the other major Great Commission giving channel of support for international missions.

            The question, “are we there yet?” is the theme for this year’s week of prayer for international missions.  The answer to the question is “no,” we are not there yet in reaching the world for Christ.  However, the IMB has identified the 6,426 people groups that still need to be reached.  So, let’s get busy and start reaching more and more of them before it’s too late.

            This year I want to encourage you to consider moving from a transactional to a more comprehensive approach to giving. This will result in you more boldly giving to reach all peoples with the gospel.  This would be consistent with the KBC’s More for Christ emphasis.  What I mean by a more comprehensive approach is this: in addition to your annual contribution through the Lottie Moon Offering, you consider including in your estate plan a provision(s) to perpetuate your contribution beyond your lifetime. 

            Call Laurie Valentine or me for assistance in accomplishing such a life-changing legacy. (502) 489-3533 or toll free-1-866-489-3533 (KY only)

Fulfilling A Vital Mission

By: Barry G. Allen- President and CEO

When you consider your involvement in accomplishing the Great Commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you likely do not consider involvement through the Kentucky Baptist Foundation to be a part of that effort. And yet, at the heart of the Foundation’s mission is teaching disciples of Jesus Christ to obey the biblical mandates of financial stewardship to the end more financial resources will be available for accomplishing the Great Commission.

Reaching the world for Christ takes money. And, it will take more in the future than it has in the past and present. Every component of our cooperative missionary, educational and benevolent enterprise will require more money to fulfill its part of the Great Commission effort. Churches and associations will need more money; Baptist colleges, academies, schools and seminaries will need more money; Baptist children’s and other benevolent ministries will need more money; mission boards and missions support organizations will need more money.

Providing the financial resources to accomplish the Great Commission by putting checks and cash in the offering plates on Sunday mornings will not be sufficient. Only when Christians in mass begin to practice what we proclaim we believe will significant progress be made in accomplishing the Great Commission. We proclaim we believe God is the owner of all things, and He has entrusted us to be His managers (stewards) for His purposes. However, there a huge disconnect between what we proclaim and what we do.
We believe the single most important act of financial stewardship a Christian likely will ever make is how we plan our estate. Furthermore, we believe through faithful estate stewardship more resources will be available to accomplish the Great Commission.

So, I invite you to get involved in the Foundation’s vital mission by becoming a friend. Since our traditional sources of support will no longer provide the financial resources necessary to fulfill the mission, we need friends who believe in what we do to begin to provide financial support. Call us to learn how to become a friend.

More For Christ

By: Barry G. Allen- President and CEO

Messengers to the recent annual meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention approved the 4 recommendations of the Great Commission Task Force one of which was for a 3 year emphasis called “More for Christ.”  This is intended to be an intentional time of personal repentance, renewal and redirection for the future as well as a personal and corporate commitment to Christ and to the Great Commission.

More for Christ is intended to mean for each of us Kentucky Baptists: (a) more of myself in personal surrender, personal witness and personal sacrifice; (b) more of my family; (c) more for the lost; (d) more for the needs; and (e) more for the nations.
 

Alongside the approval of the 4 recommendations, the messengers also approved a resolution on “Giving More for Christ.”  This resolution calls upon each of us to examine closely our hearts and lives to determine how we can give more sacrificially of our time, talents and the financial resources the Lord has entrusted to us to further His kingdom through service in our local churches and church-related ministries. 

 The resolution also calls upon each of us to consider making legacy gifts for the support of our churches and the Cooperative Program, which is a recognition that advancing the Kingdom in the future cannot be funded solely by us Christians writing checks and placing them in the offering plates on Sunday morning.  Advancing the Kingdom in the future will require us Christians to steward out of our income as well as out of our assets, which includes estate stewardship.  The characteristics of a legacy gift are: it can’t be put in the offering plate; it’s a gift of a cash or non-cash asset; it’s a gift normally made in light of one’s overall estate and financial plans; it uses tax-advantaged methods to achieve the giver’s objectives; and it may require the assistance of a professional adviser to complete the gift.

As the Lord leads you “to give more for Christ” via a legacy gift, please give us the privilege of assisting you.  Laurie Valentine and I are just a toll-free call away. 1-866-489-3533. (Kentucky only)