TOMORROW

Celebrating Clergy Appreciation Month Through Stories of Service at MMBB

Clergy Appreciation Month is a joyful opportunity to live out the principle of 1 Timothy 5:17 by celebrating and honoring clergy for their faithful service. Also known as Pastor Appreciation Month, it began in 1992 and has continued as an important tribute to the clergy who serve congregations and communities across the country.

"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” (NIV) This scripture from 1 Timothy 5:17, teaches that elders and pastors who faithfully lead the church and devote themselves to ministry deserve respect and practical support. Paul emphasizes the value of spiritual leadership and encourages believers to recognize, appreciate, and care for those who shepherd God's people.

In observance of Clergy Appreciation Month, MMBB interviewed several staff members who are clergy, including Rev. Augie H. Bau, MBA, CFP®; Rev. James R. Cook, CFP®, RICP®; Rev. Earl Thorpe, Ph.D.; and Rev. Yvette Vanterpool, M.Div. We asked each of them what they find most rewarding about being a member of the clergy and how being a clergyperson has influenced their role at MMBB. Click on the video links below to hear what they had to say.

Rev. James R. Cook, CFP^®, RICP^®, is a Financial Planning Specialist and has been with MMBB since 1999. Click on the image below to see his video.

Rev. Yvette Vanterpool, M.Div., is Chief Communications Officer for MMBB and has been with MMBB since 2015. Rev. Vanterpool declares: “What I like about being a member of the clergy is knowing and helping people explore the dimensions of their faith and understand their faith journey better. That includes their connection to God and the many diverse ways to live that out through music, nature, prayer, and working with children.”

“There are so many ways in which we as believers can live out our faith and help people to expand their spiritual lives,” Rev. Vanterpool explains. “We can encourage people to grow in their sense of leadership in the church and explore other ways of serving that they may never have considered. Just because they're an accountant at work doesn't mean that being a trustee is the only thing that they can do in the church. They may also be a wonderful Bible study teacher, or they may be wonderful with youth ministry. Helping people discover the unique gifts that they can bring to the church to build up God's kingdom is one of the things that I most enjoy about being able to serve the Lord in God's vineyard.”

When asked what her clergy experience brings to her role at MMBB, she continues: "It informs and shapes every aspect of the work I do at MMBB. Because I have a deep personal and first-hand understanding of the challenges that clergy face. It has allowed me to bring that perspective to all aspects of promoting MMBB’s mission and ministry. Whether it involves promoting the benefit of our retirement plans for building a strong financial future, deciding on the articles and information we feature on our website that can help clergy build financial confidence, or running a digital or print ad where we can increase MMBB’s visibility and demonstrate our value to clergy and churches, I always have my clergy lens on."

Rev. Earl Thorpe, Ph.D., serves as the Financial Wellness Program Director at MMBB and the pastor of the Church-in-the-Garden, First Baptist, in Garden City, NY. Before joining MMBB, Earl spent nearly 20 years on Wall Street, where he provided equity sales, research coverage, market-making, and execution trading to top hedge, mutual, and pension funds. Click on the image below to see his video.

Rev. Augie H. Bau, MBA, CFP®, is an MMBB Retirement Benefits Consultant for Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Listen to Augie's reflections on being a pastor (audio only).

MMBB wishes our members and all clergy a happy and blessed Pastor Appreciation Month. We thank pastors and ministers for every sermon preached, prayer offered, and words of encouragement shared with their congregants. Your countless sacrifices, steadfast faith, and compassionate care for God's people have touched lives, strengthened communities, and reflected Christ's love in meaningful ways.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. While MMBB made every attempt to ensure that the information is accurate, MMBB is not responsible for any errors or omissions or the results obtained from the use of this information. MMBB is not liable for any success or failure that is directly or indirectly related to the use of the information contained herein. The information contained herein does not constitute any financial, insurance, investment, legal, or tax advice. The inclusion of any third party links does not constitute an endorsement. In no event shall, MMBB and/or its fiduciaries, directors, officers, employees, or agents thereof be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in action of contract, negligence or tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the information contained herein.

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