Donor Stories

Have you ever looked back on your life and been filled with amazement when you recalled the opportunities God provided for you and the decisions you were led to make? That feeling of wonder describes the perspective of the Rev. John Wilson. When John was born on what would later become “income tax day” in 1918, Christians knew from Acts 18:3 that the Apostle Paul earned his living as a tent maker. But as John grew up and sought to answer God’s call, he had no idea that he would become what is known today as a “bi-vocational minister,” employed by the chur.. » read more

No doubt, you have heard the saying, “It fits like a glove.” That reference to something being a perfect match could well describe what numerous American Baptists feel about their experiences with charitable gift annuities (CGAs). Many stories from across the nation could be told about the “perfect fit” of a CGA, but two of those stories happen to come from the Lower Peninsula of Michigan—that part that is in the shape of a mitten. The beliefs of a person naturally create a pattern for living that leads to certain decisions and actions. That clearly is th.. » read more

Most American Baptists come from humble beginnings. Mr. Gordon Palmer, Jr. was the son of a pastor in California, and Mrs. Virginia Palmer grew up in what she describes as "a very poor family" in Queens. They met on the ski slopes of the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania when they were in their late 20's. Gordon's father had become the president of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary(Recently renamed Palmer Seminary in honor of this longest-serving president.) Gordon Jr was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, in electrical engineering. He joine.. » read more

Many American Baptists know the Rev. Dr. Douglas W. Hill, former Executive Minister of the West Virginia Baptist Convention. He and his wife, Helen, are now retired in Ohio and spend part of their summers in Michigan.Many years ago, before they were married, Helen obtained some stock. She tells the story with a chuckle, “In 1951, I was driving my father’s car to church and had to get some gas at a service station that had just been remodeled. They were having a grand opening, and I won a prize – either $75 or 5 shares of some Mobil Oil stock. My father suggested that I take t.. » read more

During autumn in Michigan, you look for cold weather clothes like mittens because you know you will need them soon. There is a type of CGA like that. It is called a Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity. The story of Carole Flaton, who is also a resident of the Detroit suburbs, illustrates the future value of this CGA. Carole learned of CGAs at a statewide retreat conducted by American Baptist Women’s Ministries of Michigan. There she met her region’s Foundation representative, who later made a presentation at Carole’s church. In 2002, Carole chose to fund a Def.. » read more

A DREAM FULFILLED Harry and Dorothy Shaffer had an interest in ministry to young people since 1953. That’s one of the reasons they purchased some real estate in Colorado in the 1970s. They thought that it might be used someday for youth work. But as the years passed, the distance from their home in Lincoln, Nebraska made that dream more and more impossible. They had also surmised that the property could at least be a family meeting place for years to come, but as Dorothy explains, “We discovered that we weren’t going there often, particularly as our children grew up.. » read more

For generations, the Page family dedicated themselves to the work of First Baptist Church of Olean, New York. Kingman Page's father,Wilson, was the chairman of the Trustee Board for many years. Following in his father's footsteps, Kingman became a devoted Trustee and served for more than 50 years. In the 1970's,when the church decided to demolish the building that stood on their property for 90 years and build a new church, Kingman was an integral part of the planning, the volunteer work, and the completion of the building. As Pastor Dan McDowell remembered the life of Ki.. » read more

When Norman and Carolyn Taylor were growing up, they were close enough to the Great Depression to remember the economic difficulties their parents faced. As a result, they became financially conservative. Norm describes their approach this way, “We don’t buy something unless we can afford it or unless we really need it.” Throughout his career of more than four decades with the U.S. Navy and in civil service jobs, Norm always put some savings aside and was able to make some stock purchases. He and Carolyn, who is a nurse and whose parents (D.O. and Muriel Smith) were A.. » read more