SYFF Program Spotlight
The Body of Christ Locally The image of the Body of Christ that the apostle Paul outlined in 1 Corinthians 12 is clearly reflected in the numerous ministries of each local congregation. These are made possible by the various “parts of the body,” its members. The American Baptist Foundation (ABF) offers a spectrum of beneficial, proven services that can support such ministries. One of these services is the Strengthening Your Financial Future (SYFF) Program. SYFF assists churches— as well as individuals, Regions, and ministry organizations—to develop and promote customized planned giving steps. These result in immediate impact and long-term financial sustainability.
To appreciate SYFF’s value to a congregation, consider the story of the Canaan Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2017 the congregation’s pastor, the Rev. Dr. Derick Brennan, reached out to the Foundation, based on his awareness of the benefits of endowments. Those benefits then and now include providing a steady, predictable source of funding for ministry in the present while building financial stability for the future. The Rev. Perkin Simpson, ABF’s Executive Director at that time, guided the church’s commitment in establishing the Giving Empowers Ministry (GEM) Endowment. He has observed,
“The partnership between Canaan Baptist Church and the Foundation is an excellent model of how the body of Christ can be strengthened.”
4
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator