Charles Barnes — Baptist statesman

By: FRENCH HARMON

I recently introduced the chairman of Kentucky Baptist Foundation’s Board of Directors, Dr. Charles Barnes, as “Mr. Kentucky Baptist.” What an honor it is to serve alongside such a legendary denominational leader! Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “You shall know them by their fruits.” Reading his biography gives great evidence to a life of service, commitment and Christ-like humility.

Charles has a career punctuated as a distinguished banker (retired), mayor of River Bluff, chair of the Downtown Louisville District, director with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Man of Year Award from the University of Louisville School of Business.

Baptist Roots. Attending a Baptist high school and college was an integral part of Charles’ spiritual development. He is a graduate of Oneida Baptist Institute and Cumberland Junior College. Later, he would serve as chair of the Board of Trustees at Cumberland College (now University of the Cumberlands).

Church Commitment. Charles has been faithful in building meaningful Christian relationships and supporting his local church. As a member of Hurstbourne Baptist Church in Louisville, he has served as Adult Sunday School teacher, chair of deacons, moderator, chair of Business and Finance Team, Missions and Evangelism Team and interim church administrator.

Associational Leadership. As a member of Louisville Regional Baptist Association (formerly Long Run Baptist Association), Charles served as interim executive director, chair of the Administrative Committee, Business and Finance Committee, moderator, coordinator of Crossover Louisville, FIND IT HERE Campaign, treasurer for the Tony Evans Louisville Outreach event and treasurer for the Greater Louisville Billy Graham Crusade.

Denomination Service. Dr. Barnes has modeled the way a layperson can serve the Lord. President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, chair of the Administrative Committee and Business and Finance Committee and the chairman of the Financial Board of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Most notably, he is the longest serving KBF board member, interim KBF president and a consultant. Former KBF President Barry Allen stated, “Charles, your life has reflected a sense of success, but with humility, at your ability to integrate that ‘first things first principle’ into the various aspects of your personal and professional life.”

Personal reflection. I was asked to write a short article about life in Christ. I immediately thought of Charles Barnes as a living illustration of a person who represents our Lord in such a magnificent manner. Every Baptist leader should have the privilege to learn “how to manage a committee meeting” from Charles Barnes — courteous, focused and prepared. However, it is how he interacts with people that allows Charles to excel as a Baptist statesman. Through the years, I have watched Charles from a distance and up-close. He is the same authentic person that only wants the kingdom of our Lord to advance. We need more Charles Barneses in our Baptist world.

Recently, Charles and I had breakfast at one of his favorite restaurants — First Watch. We both ordered the same meals as in previous meetings. But it was his personal stories that became the real meal for me. He took me back to KBC leaders like Boswell, Owen, Marshall, Mackey, Chitwood and Eldred Taylor who can easily provide a map for our future leaders to follow. Time will tell how we learn from our history, but during this season we have been blessed by one who has given his life to unify Kentucky Baptists. Thank you, Charles, for your service and to his wife, Shelva, for sharing him with us.

French Harmon is president of the Kentucky Baptist Foundation.

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.

This article was reposted from Kentucky Today. 

Senior Celebration

By: Richard Carnes

Annually the Kentucky Baptist Convention conducts a wonderful multi-site event entitled Senior Living Celebrations for Kentucky Baptist senior adults. This year’s theme is Armored For Victory, based on the scripture passage of Ephesians 6:13-18. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate at either FBC Madisonville on April 18, Severns Valley Baptist Church on April 19 or FBC Richmond on April 21. The Kentucky Baptist Foundation is honored to again sponsor the breakfast at each celebration and provide leadership for one of the workshops that will be offered during this event.

This popular Kentucky Baptist Convention event is always well attended by enthusiastic senior adults who come to worship, learn and celebrate life together. This year, there will be over a dozen workshops at each location, covering topics such as tips on physical well-being, growth in prayer, navigating Medicare, missions and ministry opportunities for seniors, travel tips for your next senior adult trip, and more.

The Kentucky Baptist Foundation’s trust counsel, Laurie Valentine, will lead an excellent workshop session titled “Who Will Be in Charge If”, which explores what happens without planning for possible future incapacity. The session will detail the essential aspects of key incapacity planning tools including Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Advance Directives, and Living Trusts. Why is this topic so important? We should anticipate and plan for the possible event of an accident or an illness that leaves us incapable of making decisions for ourselves and incapable of managing our finances. Laurie’s seminar on this topic will equip you with the understanding of key documents you can put in place to ensure that should an incapacity occur, you and your loved ones will be properly cared for and the individuals you’ve selected to act on your behalf have the necessary authorization.

Laurie and I hope to see you at one of the upcoming Senior Living Celebration events so you too can be armored for victory. Come join us for breakfast and be sure to attend one of Laurie’s workshop sessions during the day. If you are not able to attend, you may always contact us directly to discuss how best to organize your estate planning goals to achieve your personal and charitable objectives to support your church and other Baptist causes. To learn more, you may contact Laurie Valentine, or me at our toll-free number (866) 489-3533.

Richard Carnes is the president of the Kentucky Baptist Foundation, PO Box 436389, Louisville, KY 40253; toll-free (866) 489-3533; KYBaptistFoundation.org

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.

A Super Saturday

By: Richard Carnes 

Recently, I had the privilege to participate in the first of four Super Saturday training conferences for all the local church ministry segments, including: discipleship, preschool & children, Sunday small groups, Woman’s Missionary Union, worship and music, youth ministry, and the list goes on. This tremendous conference is coordinated by the Kentucky Baptist Convention Mission Board staff.

I enjoyed the great opportunity to meet with the church treasurers that attended the session on Conducting the Financial Business of the Church. This session was facilitated by Don Spencer, the KBC’s Director of the Church Financial Benefits department and Tom Adkisson, the principal partner of a local CPA firm. The informative session provided valuable subject matter for the local church treasurers on the topics of Charitable Contributions, Handling Money in the Church, Basics of Financial Support for Ministers, and Federal Reporting Issues.

It was also my pleasure, as a part of the session, to speak with the treasurers on how the Kentucky Baptist Foundation can assist local churches to bridge the gap to secure the financial future of their ministries. Many people are surprised to learn that churches are the most overlooked charities in estate stewardship and legacy giving support. Actually, this reality should not be a surprise when we recognize the average person’s net worth consists of 9% in cash and 91% in non-cash assets (home equity, life insurance, retirement assets, business assets, and savings.) Most churches’ appeals and education on financial support focus on the 9% cash of the person’s net worth and ignore the remaining 91% of the person’s assets.

The Kentucky Baptist Foundation helps bridge this gap for churches by educating church members on the value of having an up-to-date Christian estate plan to address the 91% of a person’s assets. We provide this educational support to church members through a variety of estate stewardship seminars on how to accomplish their Christian estate planning objectives.

The Kentucky Baptist Foundation staff is also available to assist you by providing private estate stewardship consultation. You may contact the Foundation’s trust counsel, Laurie Valentine, or me at our toll-free number (866) 489-3533.

Richard Carnes is president of the Kentucky Baptist Foundation, P O Box 436389, Louisville, KY 40253; toll-free (866) 489-3533; KYBaptistFoundation.org.

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.

Legacy Giving Through the CP

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

Since the inception of the Kentucky Baptist Foundation in 1945 there have been those who chose the Cooperative Program as an object of their legacy gifts. For them it was the simplest and most efficient way to express their love for Christ and his mission in this world through the various missionary, educational and benevolent ministries of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Today, the earnings from the combined endowments for which the CP is a beneficiary represents the second largest source of CP giving through the KBC. Only one church gives more. The difference is CP endowment giving is perpetual.

Traditionally, the CP is supported primarily by the collective giving of the churches. However, there are ways individuals, not just churches, can support the CP directly through the Kentucky Baptist Foundation. Let me encourage you to consider prayerfully one or more of those ways. Cooperative Program Sunday is April 13, which provides a timely occasion for you to begin your consideration.

If your goal is to make a gift at death, then consider a bequest in your will or a beneficiary designation of life insurance or retirement assets. If your goal is to avoid capital gains on the transfer of real estate, then consider a real estate gift. If your goal is to avoid the potential double taxation at death of your retirement assets, then consider gifting those assets at death. If you goal is to make a simple gift now, then consider an outright gift of cash or appreciated securities. If your goal is to make a gift larger than you ever dreamed possible, consider a life insurance gift. If you desire flexibility in timing the decision as to what charities will benefit from your gifts versus the tax advantaged timing of your gifts, consider a donor advised fund. If your goal is to make a gift now, but receive in return a fixed income for life, consider a charitable gift annuity. If your goal is to make a gift now and create a hedge against inflation over the long term, then consider a charitable remainder unitrust. If your goal is to reduce the cost of passing assets to your heirs, then consider a charitable lead trust.

A legacy gift to the KBF for the perpetual benefit of the CP is an investment with eternal implications that will be working literally 24/7 to connect people all over the world to Jesus Christ. Please call us toll free to assist you.

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.

Preserving Access to Baptist News and Views

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

Where do you get your Baptist news and views? I read weekly the Western Recorder, our official Kentucky Baptist news journal since 1919, because I believe it is the most complete, reliable and readily available source of staying informed about key issues in Kentucky Baptist life and beyond.

I know I can depend upon the Western Recorder because I have confidence in its leadership and governance. Like the Foundation, the Western Recorder is an agency of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and therefore, is accountable to the primary constituency it serves through established reporting procedures. In keeping with the historic, time-honored Baptist principle of a free press, I appreciate how well editor Todd Deaton fulfills the paper’s purposes with integrity and insight, and without fear or favor. I am also proud of the professional way in which the news is presented. It’s an award-winning paper year-after-year.

Baptist news and views from the Western Recorder are available to you today in a variety of formats. The website, www.westernrecorder.org, has become a primary portal for current news with a video segment. There is a digital edition with email alerts. An online subscription option will be available soon.

Although the specific mission of the Western Recorder may not generate as much emotion and passion as the mission of a Christian education institution, a children’s ministry, a human needs ministry or a missions and evangelism ministry, it is nonetheless an essential component in our cooperative missions efforts to connect all people to Jesus Christ, and therefore, worthy of enhancing and preserving.

Let me encourage you prayerfully to consider supporting this ministry now and/or in the future by contributing to an existing endowment or establishing your own endowment. Perhaps you have appreciated securities or real estate to give, or the cash value of a life insurance policy you no longer need. Perhaps a bequest in your will or revocable living trust, or a retirement plan beneficiary designation would work for you. Please call us toll-free to assist you.

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.

His Heart…Hands…Voice

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

As Christ followers we are called individually to be part of the solution to fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Our churches, as the gathered people of God, also have the missions mandate to extend their witness and ministry beyond their own fellowships.

Acts 1:8 sets forth the scope of our mission task. Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This assignment was not intended to be sequential except for the first-century New Testament church and apostles. Today, this Acts 1:8 assignment of our Lord is intended to be carried out constantly and simultaneously. And that’s exactly what we Kentucky Baptists collectively are doing through our local churches and associations, our Kentucky Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. Cooperation is still the most effective means to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord and to carry out His mission assignment.

Throughout the year we are called upon to focus prayerfully and financially on the different aspects of the Acts 1:8 missions task. The annual Christmas season focus is on international missions (to the ends of the earth) and the Lottie Moon Offering. The Apostle Paul reminded us in Romans 1:14 that we are debtors; because we know the Gospel we “owe” it to those who do not know. Even though sharing the Gospel with the whole world seems at first an intimidating thought, we have been commissioned by our Lord to do it.

How fortunate we Southern Baptists are to have 4,887 persons under appointment with the International Mission Board engaged to the ends of the earth with 763 people groups. How staggering it is to realize there are 3,629 unreached people groups not yet engaged. These are people beyond where most of us can ever go or see, but they are God’s children in need of what we have to offer.

So, extend His heart, hands and voice through your prayers and unprecedented current and deferred giving through the Lottie Moon Offering.

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)