ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is providing a one-time deposit of $1,200 into the retirement accounts of Southern Baptist church planters who have joined its Send North America Support Network.
NAMB will provide a one-time contribution to planters who are five years or less into the process and who have joined its network by Oct. 31.
“Because of the faithfulness of Southern Baptists, we are able to bless our missionaries in this way,” Kevin Ezell, NAMB’s president, said. “It is a small amount, but we hope this will help get many of them started toward setting aside money for retirement – even though for many that is a distant thought.”
Micah Millican, director of church planter relations for NAMB, hopes the contribution will send a clear message to church planters.
“We want planters to develop the discipline of investing in their financial future,” Millican said. “We’re not just interested in their success over the next five years but over the next five decades of ministry.”
Church planter Ellis Prince, who started Gallery Church in Baltimore, said, “NAMB is coming alongside and saying, ‘We’re going to encourage you to really think through these long-term things.’”
To qualify for the benefit, church planters need to join NAMB’s network by Oct. 31 at http://www.namb.net/cpprofile/. After successfully enrolling in the network, staff from NAMB’s department of church planter relations will contact planters with further instructions for how to receive the one-time deposit.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Adam Miller is a writer for the North American Mission Board.)