I am a Christian by the grace of God, Baptist by conviction and Southern Baptist by choice. I value cooperation and believe the kingdom of God and the gospel enterprise is strengthened when people of like faith and practice work together for the glory of God and the good of people.
One reason I love being Southern Baptist is because of Mission: Dignity.
Mission: Dignity is a ministry of GuideStone Financial Services that, according to its mission statement, “honors retirement-aged Southern Baptist ministers, workers and widows struggling to meet basic needs through advocacy and financial assistance allowing them to finish well.”
This ministry of compassionate care is based on James 1:27 and provides a monthly check to many retired SBC pastors and other ministry workers, or their widows.
Today, more than 2,800 ministers, workers and widows receive a monthly supplement to their income through Mission: Dignity. Sixty-seven percent of the recipients are widows and one in four is a pastor’s widow age 85 or older, with two recipients being at least 100 years old.
To qualify for Mission: Dignity support, the recipients must be at least 65 years of age, have a minimum of 10 years of paid service in an SBC church or organization, and have a monthly income of no more than $2,221 for an individual or $2,680 for a married couple.
This past year, GuideStone sent out monthly checks totaling $10.3 million to ministry families and an additional $3.5 million in ministry assistance. Here in Kentucky, GuideStone sends nearly $300,000 per year to 66 retired Kentucky Baptist pastors or their widows. This past year, Kentucky Baptists joined in the support of these faithful servants by sending a 13thcheck to each Kentucky Baptist Mission: Dignity recipient totaling $23,925.
The 13th check from Kentucky Baptists to the 66 Mission: Dignity recipients landed in their accounts right around Christmas time in 2025. Since that time, I have received a note or card from nearly every recipient thanking Kentucky Baptists for their Christ-like compassion and faithful generosity.
What a joy to invest in the lives of these precious God-called leaders who have spent their working years serving churches. Kentucky Baptists may have an opportunity to do even more through Mission: Dignity in the years to come.
Here are three reasons for Kentucky Baptists to celebrate the ministry of Mission: Dignity and consider being even more involved in this good work in the future.
1. Because God is using it to meet a need: These are people who need our assistance to help cover the expenses incurred during their retirement years.
2. Because God has given us this unique opportunity: These are men and women who have served Jesus faithfully, and now we have an opportunity to serve them in return.
3. Because God is using it to bring God-honoring results: Jesus is recorded in John 13:35 as saying, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” When we support our brothers and sisters in Christ who have spent their lives serving Jesus by serving His churches, we are not only honoring them, but we are also honoring our Savior.
Mission: Dignity is just one more way that we are together for the mission and one more reason that it is good to be Kentucky Baptist.
Dr. Todd Gray 