Transcribe
Translate
Publicity for the Burlington Self-Survey on Human Relations
""Missions Accomplished"" Page 28
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
Mission to Care for Our Own "WHEN THERE was no way. He had a way," wrote a pensioner who had suffered much illness and hardship, to the Ministerial Relief Division of the Board of Home Missions. The ailments which disturb and perplex aged folk everywhere are predictable. Equally predictable are the spiritual vitality and courage with which our people meet these exigencies. Although veteran ministers and their wives are heir to the common ills, their sincerity and faith before adversity are most uncommon. In Illness or in Age One of our pastors was slowly responding to long hospitalization and medical treatment when sudden illness struck his wife, necessitating immediate major surgery and lengthy tests and treatment. Then a bicycle mishap painfully and severely injured a young daughter. When the bills arrived they amounted to nearly $1,000. The minister was anxious to assume his own financial burden insofar as he could, but a series of checks from the Emergency Fund made his load bearable and greatly lifted his spirit. An octogenarian has spent more than half a century in the ministry. His early career was dogged by adversity, illness and depression. Small incomes necessitated outside work. The mother operated a boarding house near a university until their children were through college, while the husband served in home missionary churches. Incurable eye trouble stuck him at age 75, and a nervous collapse at 80 all but blinded him. Months of complete rest have somewhat restored his health and vision. His faithful and sacrificial ministry now has been taken up by other hands. Hesitantly, he asked whether he was eligible for help from Ministerial Relief. Of course, he was. Help for A Widow A minister and his wife were forced by his illness to retire after 40 years of service. Surgery slowed, but did not cure, his disease. They bought a cottage and a few acres of land, and provided much of their livelihood from their garden, fruit trees and chickens, aided by his Original Plan annuity and a pension grant from Ministerial Relief. Upon his death, a widow's share in both annuity and grant continued. They bring to his widow a sense of security and fellowship which cannot be calculated in dollars. Not Always "Yes" To an active minister past 80, who inquired about a pension grant to supplement his income from his small church, we were forced to answer, "Not Yet" A grant cannot be made while he is serving, full time as a minister. Illness or misfortune, of course, could be helped at once from the Emergency Fund. A widow faced heavy hospital and doctor bills and funeral expenses. Although ineligible for a pension because of her fortunate overall financial situation, a gift from the Emergency Fund eased the heavy expenses of her husband's fatal illness. Rarely, a request must be refused. A minister who had invested wisely retired with income from savings and annuity well above the bracket of the average pensioner. The funds entrusted to our care are not sufficient to base grants on service alone; we must consider relative needs. Most applications for Ministerial Relief are quickly approved; every one is considered with promptness, care and sympathy, and as much wisdom as Committee members can muster. For the application spell out sacrificial and devoted lives which generate humility and pride in those entrusted with out Mission to care for our own.
Saving...
prev
next
Mission to Care for Our Own "WHEN THERE was no way. He had a way," wrote a pensioner who had suffered much illness and hardship, to the Ministerial Relief Division of the Board of Home Missions. The ailments which disturb and perplex aged folk everywhere are predictable. Equally predictable are the spiritual vitality and courage with which our people meet these exigencies. Although veteran ministers and their wives are heir to the common ills, their sincerity and faith before adversity are most uncommon. In Illness or in Age One of our pastors was slowly responding to long hospitalization and medical treatment when sudden illness struck his wife, necessitating immediate major surgery and lengthy tests and treatment. Then a bicycle mishap painfully and severely injured a young daughter. When the bills arrived they amounted to nearly $1,000. The minister was anxious to assume his own financial burden insofar as he could, but a series of checks from the Emergency Fund made his load bearable and greatly lifted his spirit. An octogenarian has spent more than half a century in the ministry. His early career was dogged by adversity, illness and depression. Small incomes necessitated outside work. The mother operated a boarding house near a university until their children were through college, while the husband served in home missionary churches. Incurable eye trouble stuck him at age 75, and a nervous collapse at 80 all but blinded him. Months of complete rest have somewhat restored his health and vision. His faithful and sacrificial ministry now has been taken up by other hands. Hesitantly, he asked whether he was eligible for help from Ministerial Relief. Of course, he was. Help for A Widow A minister and his wife were forced by his illness to retire after 40 years of service. Surgery slowed, but did not cure, his disease. They bought a cottage and a few acres of land, and provided much of their livelihood from their garden, fruit trees and chickens, aided by his Original Plan annuity and a pension grant from Ministerial Relief. Upon his death, a widow's share in both annuity and grant continued. They bring to his widow a sense of security and fellowship which cannot be calculated in dollars. Not Always "Yes" To an active minister past 80, who inquired about a pension grant to supplement his income from his small church, we were forced to answer, "Not Yet" A grant cannot be made while he is serving, full time as a minister. Illness or misfortune, of course, could be helped at once from the Emergency Fund. A widow faced heavy hospital and doctor bills and funeral expenses. Although ineligible for a pension because of her fortunate overall financial situation, a gift from the Emergency Fund eased the heavy expenses of her husband's fatal illness. Rarely, a request must be refused. A minister who had invested wisely retired with income from savings and annuity well above the bracket of the average pensioner. The funds entrusted to our care are not sufficient to base grants on service alone; we must consider relative needs. Most applications for Ministerial Relief are quickly approved; every one is considered with promptness, care and sympathy, and as much wisdom as Committee members can muster. For the application spell out sacrificial and devoted lives which generate humility and pride in those entrusted with out Mission to care for our own.
Campus Culture
sidebar
