Gerald McNeal, finance chairman for the board of trustees of South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging, is thankful this year’s Mother’s Day Offering will benefit the long-term healthcare of retired pastors, missionaries and their spouses.
“A few years ago, South Carolina Baptists responded from all across our state to support the annual Mother’s Day Offering,” McNeal said. “Our Baptist retirement facilities were suffering financially, we asked Baptists to help through the offering, and Baptists responded to the need.
“Since that time, we’ve not been required to use the Mother’s Day Offering for operating expenses at Bethea or Martha Franks,” he said. “We’ve been able to use the funds to begin addressing special capital needs at both facilities. Last year, the board’s attention was drawn to retirees who have served the Lord for decades and now need financial assistance to be able to live at either Bethea or Martha Franks. The Mother’s Day Offering can provide a great help for them.”
McNeal, a retired entrepreneur, is a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Belvedere First Baptist Church, North Augusta. This year, he concludes his term as an SCBMA trustee. “This experience has helped me see the financial need that many have.” He pointed to one retired pastor, who served churches more than 50 years, and now needs help as he and his wife face declining health in their senior years.
“We need our fellow Baptists to realize that, for years, many churches couldn’t provide retirement packages for pastors. Pastors had to put in their own money, and many just didn’t have the salary to do that and meet their family’s expenses,” McNeal said.
McNeal said SCBMA will administer the Mother’s Day funds through guidelines that the board will approve later this year. “The generosity of South Carolina Baptists will determine how many of God’s faithful servants we will be able to help in their senior years through this new program.”
Kirby Winstead, chairman of the board of trustees, agreed with McNeal. “This has been a long-time burden on the hearts of many. We are praying that South Carolina Baptists will be generous in showing how much they care for our Baptist family on Mother’s Day.”