Pennies for Pastors assists retired ministers and widows in need
It did not take long for God to shoot directly to Frances Yon’s heart. Attending a Baptist Foundation of South Carolina luncheon in October, Yon heard the stories of retired pastors and minister’s widows who, despite their years of service in South Carolina, may be in financial need.
“It just got on my heart that these preachers should not be in that situation,” Yon said.
In her best attempts to dismiss the notion due to the busyness of the Christmas season and all the other seasonal offerings and service projects, Yon says the burden of the financially strapped retired pastors would not leave her thoughts.
“I wanted to let it go for another time, but God just wouldn’t let me not!” she said.
So Yon, a ten year veteran Royal Ambassador worker at Wagener First Baptist , challenged her class of boys to a project. On one Sunday in December the R.A. class would stand at the door of the church with jars. As attendees exited, they would fill the jars with pennies. Yon contacted Johnny Mueller, Director of Missions for the Edisto Association and encouraged other churches to do the same. Pennies for Pastors became an association wide initiative.
In just a few short weeks, Edisto Association churches collected over $2,500.
Yon, who leads RA’s with the help of another volunteer Doug Busbee, said teaching the boys through experience is important. Busbee takes the boys camping, changes their bicycle chains and teaches them boating safety among other skills while Yon teaches Bible stories to the group. Pennies for Pastors gave the boys an opportunity to tangibly serve someone in need.
“We try to teach out little boys to be mission minded…they loved it; it was something they could do.”
Gary Horton, director of the SC Baptist Convention Retirement and Insurance Services office, said the money has been placed in a fund with the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina and as the Convention is made aware of needs, the Foundation will cut a check to the pastor or widow. Horton says the criteria used for the fund is similar to the qualifications of the need-based Adopt an Annuitant program. Examples of people assisted in the past range from widows struggling to pay funeral expenses to others who could not afford to fix a broken air condition.
“Most [retired] preachers can’t afford big things. They can buy grits and eggs on their Social Security check but they cannot put new tires on their cars,” said Yon, whose father was a pastor.
“You often hear stories of older people who have to choose between eating and taking their medications. Unfortunately, often times, this is a reality,” said Horton.
Yon hopes to do Pennies for Pastors again this year at her church and around the Edisto Association, but is also asking God to spread the initiative throughout South Carolina churches.
“Just think of what all the pennies in South Carolina Baptist churches could do,” she said.
For more information on assisting retired ministers and widows in need, please contact the SC Baptist Convention Retirement and Insurance Services office at (800) 723-7242 ext. 2400.
