Roy Hayhurst

DALLAS (BP) -- #GivingTuesday gifts to Mission:Dignity's ministry to retired Southern Baptist ministers and their widows near the poverty line will be doubled thanks to donors who have offered $250,000 in matching gifts. #GivingTuesday fosters gifts to charities on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving as a way to give back following Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days. All gifts are utilized for Mission:Dignity recipients; an established endowment covers administrative and overhead costs for the ministry.

DALLAS (BP) -- Consultations with doctors through telemedicine will be available at no out-of-pocket charge for the majority of participants in the health plans of GuideStone Financial Services in 2019. The popular Teladoc service provides a consultation with board-certified physicians via phone or computer. Participants can have a prescription sent to a local pharmacy for pickup, though co-pays still apply. Additional enhancements include a new diabetic management program, elimination of some inpatient co-pays in comprehensive plans and reduced individual maximum out-of-pocket charges.

DALLAS (BP) -- Increased market volatility, which has commanded increased headlines in the days leading up to the November mid-term elections, has caught many by surprise. However, David S. Spika, chief strategic investment officer for GuideStone Financial Resources, noted that stock market volatility is a common and normal occurrence. The stock market -- as measured by the S&P 500 Index, experiences price swings of 1 percent or more 62 times a year on average. The same broad index of the stock market averages only 71 trading days between declines of 5 percent or more. "The recent sell-off may feel unsettling to investors because they have been lulled into complacency by an historically low-volatility environment over the past couple of years," Spika said, "but it's actually quite normal and nothing to be concerned about at this time."

DALLAS (BP) -- Whether it's revitalizing a church, dealing with a broken relationship or wrestling with one's own self-confidence, most ministry workers and other Christians will spend at least some of the next year trying to restore something. Nehemiah provides a key example for how to approach a rebuilding task, says GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins. Hawkins explores the example found in the Old Testament book in the latest installment of his Code series, "The Nehemiah Code: It's Never Too Late for a New Beginning." As with all of Hawkins' books, all author's royalties and proceeds benefit the Mission:Dignity ministry, which provides financial assistance to retired pastors, Southern Baptist workers and their widows in financial need.

DALLAS (BP) -- Reflecting on the number of days GuideStone Financial Resources has served hundreds of thousands of participants, O.S. Hawkins noted that Aug. 20, 2018 -- the first day at GuideStone's new home -- was a momentous one, following the 100th anniversary of its beginnings in Dallas on July 31, 1918. "In Psalm 90:12, the prayer of Moses says, 'So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom,'" Hawkins, GuideStone's president, noted. "We're good at counting months or years. In the financial industry, we number quarters. But a heart of wisdom counts the days." GuideStone occupies the top five floors of the 24-story Pinnacle Tower at 5005 LBJ Freeway across the Dallas North Tollway from the Dallas Galleria shopping center.

DALLAS (BP) -- In early August of 1918, William Lunsford, the founding chief executive of what today is GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, received a letter from trustee Cullen F. Thomas. In it, Lunsford was advised that the state of Texas on July 31 had granted the charter for what was named the Board of Ministerial Relief and Annuities. The closing line of the letter simply said, "You are now a 'going concern.' May you continue to grow and go."

NEW YORK (BP) -- Marking the 100th anniversary of GuideStone Financial Resources, the Southern Baptist entity's trustees gathered July 30–31 in regular session to hear ministry reports from its executive leadership team and staff. Trustees gave thanks to the Lord for the entity's ministry and for the vision of founder William Lunsford. The New York meeting site allowed trustees to recognize the contributions of John D. Rockefeller and his son John D. Rockefeller Jr., who together gave nearly $1 million in total during the board's first decade of service to provide financial assistance to retired Southern Baptist pastors and their widows.

DALLAS (BP) -- Current news of tariffs and trade disputes has added volatility to the financial markets due to the uncertainty it creates but likely will have little impact on long-term investors, according to analysts with GuideStone Financial Resources. Despite initial concerns that the moves could hamper growth, global markets have generally continued to trade in a narrow range while investors evaluate other, likely more impactful, near-term economic developments.

DALLAS (BP) -- O.S. Hawkins brought the 100th report of GuideStone Financial Resources on Tuesday morning to messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention during their June 12–13 in Dallas. Hawkins noted the privilege GuideStone has had of living out its founder's vision. "A century ago, our founder, William Lunsford, stood before the Southern Baptist Convention in Hot Springs, Ark., and told pastors, 'Give yourselves wholeheartedly to the work. We will stand back of you. If you fall in the work, we will care for you. If you die, we will not allow your family to suffer. If you grow old in the work, we will comfort you in your declining years,'" Hawkins recounted.

DALLAS (BP) -- Be intentional. That's the message John Ambra, director of development for Mission:Dignity, wants Southern Baptists to hear. The ministry is searching for retired Southern Baptist ministers, workers and their widows who need financial assistance -- people who may find it hard to ask for help or may not know it's there. Kenneth and Marilene Moon, who were featured in a Mission:Dignity promotional video in 2016, were in a similar situation when they applied for help in 2008 to the ministry of GuideStone Financial Resources.