Mexico, Missouri is a county seat town set in the beautiful rolling hills of the middle of the state, where the spire of the United Methodist Church is a handsome landmark downtown. “Our church is fortunate to serve a truly multi-generational community of worshipers,” states pastor Karen Taylor, “and our Next Generations Ministry made a […]
Author Archives: ls-team
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“Across the country ministers are grappling with financial issues that adversely affect their personal lives and divert attention from their work,” states a report published by the Lilly Endowment. The Indiana-based charitable foundation is now focusing efforts nationally to identify and better address the economic pressures on pastoral leaders and their congregations. “We were delighted […]
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“Saint Paul School of Theology gave me new life. It is my seminary,” explains Reverend Cleo Kottwitz when asked why he set up a Charitable Gift Annuity benefiting the school that nurtured his professional development. That sense of gratitude is combined with a life-long devotion to the ministry of Missouri’s rural churches. “We need trained, […]
If you have made a gift to any charitable organization in the last fifteen years – a university, a hospital foundation, charities that seek cures for disease – then you have probably received information and solicitations to consider a Charitable Gift Annuity. This popular gift arrangement requires an up-front gift to the organization in return […]
Costs for higher education continue to rise. National average tuition, fees, and room & board expenses for four-year undergraduate education exceeds $23,000 annually. Some top institutions and graduate programs can double or triple that amount. To help minimize debt, students and parents are well-advised to seek out scholarship assistance from a variety of sources. United […]
“We try to meet the needs of our churches and related agencies,” says Tom Hilton, the chair of the Investment Committee of the Missouri United Methodist Foundation. “Endowments and other long-term funds need continuity of administration year-in and year-out. That is what the Foundation investment program is built for.” A retired CFO of a Fortune […]
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“We never say ‘no’ to a child without a church home,” says Pastor Amanda Ross, “even though we keep telling ourselves we cannot handle any more children.” That is the spirit that has kept the Immanuel UMC in Canton, Missouri, and its Wednesday after-school program Cool Kids for Christ thriving over the years. This year […]
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“Marvin and Bettyrae Fluke have been the kind of church members that pastors pray for; always actively participating in worship and anything else that was happening here,” shared Rev. Dr. David Maggi, Senior Pastor of Clinton United Methodist Church. “I think they have served on about every committee we have, and served with enthusiasm and […]
