Pass the hat

"It’s the Lord taking care of us through His people. Thank you for remembering old retired preachers!" – J. P. Skinner

The first time J. P. Skinner preached at Rock Creek Baptist Church in 1949, they didn’t have an offering plate. They took up the collection in a hat and he got five dollars plus some loose change. He told them he’d be back the following week. Eventually, they called him as their pastor and paid him $20 each week.

This was the first of ten small, rural churches J. P. and his wife, Wanzell, would serve during more than 42 years of ministry. He never made more than $300 a week and very few of the churches were able to contribute toward his retirement. With only a modest retirement check and small Social Security benefit, the future was uncertain.

"I never pastored big churches. When I retired, our total income was only $600 a month," J. P. said recently.  

Today, GuideStone’s Mission:Dignity program helps the Skinners — and thousands of other faithful servants — pay their bills and live with dignity and security in their retirement years.

When asked how Mission:Dignity has changed his living situation, J. P. shared, "We can think about buying a few little items that we used to not buy as far as food is concerned."

"Mission:Dignity means so much to me. The scripture says, 'God will supply all your needs.' And He is supplying our needs through the Mission:Dignity program. And we're so thankful for everyone — each and everyone that gives to this program," Wanzell added.

"It’s such a blessing now to be able to pay your bills at the first of the month and have enough to live the rest of the month. We can’t say thank you enough to the people who make this possible," J. P. quietly said.