Christian stewardship is the motivation for our ministry.  An estate plan is an important aspect of an individual's stewardship.  Educating individuals about the basic elements of an estate plan and helping them implement one is important to us.  In like manner, churches and local associations, seeking to be wise stewards, place designated/special funds under our care.

Enabling outreach and mission efforts that share the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the end result of our ministry.  By providing perpetual financial resources, todays and future generations will learn about Jesus one person at a time.

The Foundation implements its ministry in the following ways:                     

• Leaving a Christian legacy
• A church planned giving emphasis
• Educational presentations and materials
• A church funds management service
• A building loan program
• Donor-advised funds
• A scholarship program

“Now for the rest of the story” is the phrase Paul Harvey would use to draw his feature to a close.  For John Yi and Michael Morris, Paul Harvey would share both men desired to serve their Lord, Jesus Christ through their chosen careers.  Today, they are fulfilling their passion.  John is planting a church in Maywood, Illinois.  Upon completing his residency in ophthalmology, Michael wants to use his medical training in Third World Countries treating cataracts.  Please pray for these men as they follow God’s direction.

On April 18, Baptist Foundation Trustees awarded 33 scholarships for the 2009-2010 school year.  Just like John Yi and Michael Morris, each recipient has a unique story to tell.  In a few years, we will know the rest of their story.  A complete list of 2009-2010 scholarship recipients follows:

Ben Kinsey, First Baptist Church, Albion, attending Greenville College, Greenville received the Fay Bowren Scholarship.

Sabrina Owens, Vale Community Church, Bloomington, attending Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln received the Harold and Mary Lou Cameron Scholarship.

Andrea Smith, Eastview Baptist Church, Springfield, attending Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University received the Capital City Baptist Association Scholarship.

Lauren Latta, Fairview Heights Baptist Church, attending Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO. received the Amos and Odella Doom/D.F. and Blanche Wager Scholarships.

Dennis Norton, New Horizons Baptist Church, Pawnee, attending Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA; Ashton Plumer, Third Baptist Church, Marion, attending Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO; Bradley Vyers, Westview Baptist Church, Swansea, attending Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO; Melanie Foils, Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, New Lenox, attending Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbannais received the Clinton H. and Lillian Drury Vernon Scholarships.

Jordon Rowe, First Baptist Church, Albion, attending Georgetown College, Georgetown, KY; Erica Henderson, Meadow Heights Baptist Church, Collinsville, attending Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Jessica Dawson, Chatham Baptist Church, Chatham, attending Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, OK; Elizabeth Rains, First Southern Baptist Church, Quincy, attending Williams Baptist College, Walnut Ridge, AR received the Educational Endowment Scholarship.

Stacey Tsigolaroff, Third Baptist Church, Granite City, attending University of Missouri Columbia, Columbia, MO; Jessica Bryant, Second Baptist Church, Marion, attending St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO; Jacy Hedger, First Baptist Church, Fairview Heights, attending Illinois College, Jacksonville received the Anna Voight Fosseick Scholarships.

Hillarie Kerr,FirstBaptistChurch, MachesneyPark, attending UnionUniversity, Jackson, TN. received the Eugene L. Gibson, Sr. Scholarship.

Blake Ring, First Baptist Church, Effingham, attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY; Shane Goleaner, First Baptist Church, Columbia, attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY; Tony Bianco, Grace Southern Baptist Church, Virden, attending Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX. received the Louis Frank and Sylvia Grammer Scholarships.

Kevin Singer, Sycamore Baptist Church, attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. received the Kenneth G. Hall Scholarship.

Kasi Kalb,BethelBaptistChurch, Troy, attending HannibalLaGrangeCollege, Hannibal, MO. received the Theresa E. and Norman L. Jameson Scholarship.

Michael Conley, Eastview Baptist Church, Belleville, attending Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary, Forth Worth, TX. received the Jones/Russell Scholarship.

Hannah Toler, First Baptist Church, Harrisburg, attending SoutheasternIllinoisCollege, Harrisburg received the Athel and Ethel Mathias Scholarship.

Elizabeth Shrader, First Baptist Church, Litchfield, attending Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, AR. received the Nellie M. Millick Scholarship.

Kyle Hill, First Baptist Church, Morton, attending Illinois Central College, East Peoria received the Robert L. Peterson, Sr. Family Scholarship.

Nate Wheeler, New Hope Baptist Church, Tower Hill, attending TaylorUniversity, Upland, IN. received the Rehoboth Baptist Association Scholarship.

Rosemary Jackson, Bethel Baptist Church, Troy, attending Southwestern Illinois College, Edwardsville received the Everett C. Smith Scholarship.

Scott Bridger, Crossroads Church, Grayslake, attending Southeast Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC. received the Charlotte and Maurice Swinford Scholarship.

Courtney Lee, Beaucoup Baptist, Pinckneyville, attending Southern Illinois University, Carbondale received the Inez Taylor Scholarship.

Brooke Henderson, Meadow Heights Baptist Church, Collinsville, attending Ranken Technical College, St. Louis, MO. received the J. Glenn and Melba Thurman Scholarship.

Barbara Jones, Westside Missionary BaptistChurch, Mt.Vernon, attending GreenvilleCollege, Greenville received the Gilbert Waud Scholarship.

Jonathan Gwaltney, First Baptist Church, Carmi, attending Union University, Jackson, TN; Jessica Guastadisegni, Brainard Avenue Baptist Church, Countryside, attending Union University, Jackson, TN. received the Union University Scholarship.

For information about giving to the Baptist Foundation’s scholarship assistance program or applying for a scholarship, contact the Foundation at P.O. Box 19247, Springfield, IL62794-9247or call (217) 391-3102.

These seeds were not haphazardly planted.  For forty-nine years, he methodically selected suitable sites for nurseries to grow saplings which were sold to settlers.  Johnny Appleseed’s dream was for a land where blossoming apple trees were everywhere and no one went hungry.

His intentional acts bore fruit.  Today if you travel to Beaver County, Ohio, you can enjoy an apple harvested from a tree “Johnny Appleseed” planted.  These trees stand as a living legacy to his life.

In a different way, you too, can be intentional and create a living legacy - a spiritual legacy.  Through carefully giving today, you can help satisfy the spiritual hunger of multiple generations.

How a Permanent Charitable Fund can help

A permanent charitable fund is an easy way to leave a living legacy and sow Gospel seeds among today’s generation and future ones.  When you give a donation to a permanent fund during your life or through your estate, it is permanently set aside for the long-term benefit of Kingdom ministry.  For instance, the annual distribution from a fund’s investment return could help start new churches in Illinois, strengthen existing churches, come to the aid of a distressed minister, support disaster relief efforts or provide academic scholarships, year after year.

As the years pass, these annual distributions touch multiple generations and will total more than the original donation.  Just like Jonathan Chapman, your generosity today will have a lasting effect.

Do permanent funds help?  Consider the following testimonies from church planters:

“I want to thank you for the funds to new work.  We were able to purchase chairs and do some building renovations with the funds.  We are moving this Sunday from the school we meet in to our new location.”

“We want to express our appreciation for the thoughtful gift of the projector.  It met a tremendous need and we thank God for the His provision through you.  Thank you for your heart to support new works such as ours.”

How you can give

Donations to a permanent charitable fund can be given in various ways.  The following are examples:

Memorial or Tribute Gift -- There is no easier way to make a donation than by simply writing a check to the Baptist Foundation of Illinois in memory of or in tribute to a loved one.

Bequest -- A common method of giving a donation is making a bequest in your will or revocable living trust.  For example, you might leave 10% of your estate to the Foundation with the stipulation that the bequest be placed in a particular permanent fund.

Stocks, Mutual Fund Shares or Bonds -- Giving long-term appreciated securities provides a tax deduction for the full market value of the gift and avoids the capital gains tax due if you sold the securities.

Donations that Generate Income for You:

A gift annuity is a contract between a donor and the Foundation.  In return for a donation of cash or other assets, the Foundation agrees to pay the donor (or a friend or family member), a fixed payment for life.  The rate of return is based upon the age of the donor or donors.  The older the individual - the higher the rate.  For example, a 70 year old individual would receive a 6.5% rate.  At the end of the annuity, a designated permanent fund receives the remaining value of the annuity.

A Remainder Trust makes payments, either in a fixed amount or a percentage of trust principal, to whomever the donor chooses to receive the income.  At the end of the trust term, a designated endowment receives whatever remains in the trust.

To learn more about legacy giving and permanent charitable funds, contact the Baptist Foundation at P. O. Box 19247, Springfield, IL62794-9247; (217) 391-3102; rickheironimus@ibsa.org.

A unique aspect of the Foundation's loan program is that all interest received from loans supports Southern Baptist causes.  A variety of payment plans with competitive interest rates are offered.  The only closing costs associated with a church building loan are an origination fee, mortgage title insurance and a mortgage filing fee.  No appraisals or surveys are required and there are no prepayment penalties.  Loans are made for up to 20 years.

There are three eligibility requirements:

1. The church, association or institution must be in fellowship and cooperation with the Illinois Baptist State Association.

2.  The church, association or institution must be incorporated.

3.  The church, association or institution must have a written budget plan.

Here is what one pastor says about the loan program:

"Our primary consideration in choosing to borrow through the Baptist Foundation was not only due to their competitive rates and terms but because all interest paid serves other Baptist causes.  Thus, we consider our loan to be more than just a loan for our building project; it is also an investment in Southern Baptist work and the Kingdom of God."  Clark Killingsworth, Pastor, College Avenue Baptist Church, Normal, IL.

All inquires concerning a loan should be directed to Rick Heironimus at (217) 391-3102 or rickheironimus@ibsa.org.

Church Loan Rates

Church Loan Application

Loan Policies and Regulations

Designed specifically for special/designated funds, like building, cemetery, reserve, scholarship and endowment funds, this management service is known for:

• Its competitive rates of return with no withdrawal penalties
• A fiscally conservative management style
• Christian based, socially screened investment options

See how your church or association can receive and give at the same time:  Promoting positive stewardship is a goal of the Church Funds Management Service.  When a church or association opens an account, they will not only receive a competitive return on their deposit but they will also be investing in Illinois Southern Baptist ministries.  An account's service fee can be designated to support one of six ministries:  church planting, strengthening existing churches, disaster relief efforts, distressed ministers, provide academic scholarships or Foundation operations.

Hear what a Director of Missions says about the Church Funds Management Service:                                                                                                   "Utilizing the Church Management Funds Services of the Baptist Foundation of Illinois has not only provided Capital City Baptist Association with a sense of wise financial stewardship with its investments, it has also given us confidence that the money our churches have given is honoring Christ.  As a Director of Missions, it gives me a sense of peace that we can say we are being responsible with the things entrusted to us."                                            

Milton Bost, Director of Missions                                                                    Capital City Baptist Association

Here is how to open an account:                                             

It is easy for a church or association to open an account.  Just complete a memorandum agreement and mail it to the Foundation along with your initial deposit.  Checks should be payable to the Baptist Foundation of Illinois.  The initial deposit must be at least $2,000.  For additional deposits, mail check to the Foundation with the name of account to receive the deposit.  Additional deposits can be in any amount.

For additional information about the Church Funds Management Service, contact the Foundation at P O Box 19247, Springfield, IL 62794-9247; (217)391-3102 or rickheironimus@ibsa.org.

Church Funds Management Service Policy

Investment Funds

Church Memorandum

Association Memorandum

In addition, the Foundation wishes to partner with churches in educating members about the importance of estate planning.  PowerPoint presentations on Estate Planning, Wills, Charitable Giving and related topics have been prepared.  These presentations are suitable for Sunday or Wednesday evening services, senior adult events and other appropriate occasions.

Brochures and worksheets can be ordered or presentations scheduled by calling the Baptist Foundation at (217)391-3123 or by emailing rickheironimus@ibsa.org.