NEW YORK
GuideStone Financial Resources® trustees gathered July 30–31 in regular session to hear reports from the Guidestone® executive leadership team and staff about the ministry’s key lines of business.
Trustees marked the 100th anniversary of the Southern Baptist entity during the meetings, giving thanks to the Lord for the ministry and for the vision of its founder, Dr. William Lunsford. The New York meeting site allowed trustees to recognize the contributions of John D. Rockefeller and his son John D. Rockefeller Jr., who together gave almost $1 million in total during the Board’s first decade of service to provide financial assistance to retired Southern Baptist pastors and their widows.
Lunsford, a Nashville pastor, told Southern Baptist pastors in 1918 that they could focus on their work and trust that GuideStone — then known as the Commission on Ministerial Relief and Annuities — would be there for them, their widows or families.
“Give yourselves wholeheartedly to the work,” Lunsford told Southern Baptists gathered at the annual meeting in Hot Springs, Arkansas. “We’ll stand back of you. If you fall in the work, we’ll care for you; if you die, we will not allow your family to suffer. If you grow old in the work, we’ll comfort you in your declining years.”
That charge remains close to the heart of all at GuideStone, President O.S. Hawkins said.
“On every desk at GuideStone is a small sign that reminds us daily that we exist to honor the Lord by being a lifelong partner with our participants in enhancing their financial security,” Hawkins said. “That connects us to William Lunsford’s early charge to the Southern Baptist Convention, and it carries us forward to continue to serve our participants with excellence.”
Hawkins reminded trustees of the year’s theme at GuideStone — the Year of New Beginnings — saying that while celebrating the centennial anniversary, staff and leadership were focused on entering the ministry’s second century of service, committed to the vision that had guided it through its first century.
In a final report to trustees on GuideStone 100, Hawkins noted that 2018 also marks the conclusion of GuideStone’s long-range strategic plan that has guided the ministry’s work for more than a decade. All of its key objectives, Hawkins reported, were met over the last thirteen years. He explained that an addendum — Vision 20/20 — now guides GuideStone’s long-range planning and focuses on three strategic goals: increasing market share, responding to changes in the marketplace and continuing to aggressively manage costs while keeping participant service as the No. 1 focus.
“GuideStone 100 proved to be an effective plan for us as we moved through the planning and executing of the various goals, including the Mission:Dignity® name change from Adopt An Annuitant and the launch of our Target Date Fund approach, among many others,” Hawkins said. “We believe Vision 20/20 will continue to guide us as we adapt to a changing marketplace, while always keeping our participants’ needs and expectations front and center.”
Chief Operating Officer John R. Jones echoed Hawkins’ sentiments as he provided reports over the ministry’s key lines of business.
Retirement and Investments
As of June 30, 2018, GuideStone reported assets under management of $15.3 billion, having grown $1.1 billion, or 8.0 percent, year-over-year. For the second year in a row GuideStone’s assets under management grew by more than $1 billion. This growth is primarily attributable to positive one-year returns in the GuideStone Funds® Equity Index, Growth Equity and Small Cap Equity, which each posted double-digit one-year returns.
Total retirement and investment contributions totaled $522 million, a $40 million — or 8.0 percent — increase year-over-year.
Insurance
Income into the insurance plans continues slightly ahead of the same period year-over-year, with claims running slightly behind, though Jones indicated that as the year progresses, and deductibles are met, claims expenses are likely to grow.
A new health plan — Secure Health 3000 — was launched at the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas in June. The new plan offers a unique benefit structure that allows participants to pay significantly less than a comprehensive plan, while still offering the security of true medical coverage. For more information on Secure Health, visit trust.guidestone.org/Secure-Health-3000.html.
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Risk: Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.
*As of December 31, 2017
**Best Overall Small Fund Group (U.S.) in 2012 for the entire GuideStone Funds family out of 182 eligible fund families with up to $40 billion in assets over the three-year period ending November 30, 2011. Awards honor funds for their consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers.
The Fund may experience negative performance. Lipper designates award-winning funds in most individual classifications for the three-, five and ten-year periods and fund families with high average scores for the three-year time periods.
The Lipper Fund Awards are represented annually and are not a ranking of performance-based methodology. The Lipper Fund Awards are part of the Thomson Reuters Awards for Excellence, a global family of awards that celebrate exceptional performance throughout the professional investment community. The Thomson Reuters Awards for Excellence recognize the world’s top funds, fund management firms, sell side firms, research analysts and investor relations teams. The Thomson Reuters Awards for Excellence also include the Extel Survey awards, the StarMine Analyst Awards and the StarMine Broker Rankings. For more information, please contact markets.awards@thomsonreuters.com or visit excellence.thomsonreuters.com
You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the GuideStone Funds before investing. A prospectus with this and other information about the Funds may be obtained by calling 1-844-GS-FUNDS (1-844-473-8637) or downloading one at GuideStoneFunds.com/Funds. It should be read carefully before investing.
GuideStone Funds shares are distributed by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC, not an advisor affiliate.
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Roy Hayhurst is director of denominational and public relations services for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention®.
Media Contact
Roy Hayhurst
Director of Denominational and Public Relations Services
GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
Roy.Hayhurst@GuideStone.org | (214) 720-2141
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