Record-breaking fund given to retired Florida pastors, widows

Supporting nearly 300 retired Florida Baptist pastors and their spouses or widows, this year’s record-breaking amount represents the largest gift in the history of the fund—$278,285.41.
Aaron Meraz (left), director of GuideStone’s Mission:Dignity, Rick Wheeler (center), president and chief executive officer of Florida Baptist Financial Services, and Hance Dilbeck (right), president and chief executive officer of Guidestone, are all smiles as Florida Baptist Financial Services provides a record-breaking financial gift to support retired pastors and their wives or widows in Florida.
(Photo courtesy of the Florida Baptist Convention)

Record-breaking fund given to retired Florida pastors, widows

This month, Rick Wheeler, president and chief executive officer of Florida Baptist Financial Services, signed the 2025 distribution of the Florida Baptist Retired Shepherd’s Fund to Mission:Dignity.

Supporting nearly 300 retired Florida Baptist pastors and their spouses or widows, this year’s record-breaking amount represents the largest gift in the history of the fund — $278,285.41.

‘Saints in need’

“On behalf of our board of directors, I am pleased to announce that this year’s gift from the Florida Baptist Retired Shepherd’s Fund represents the single largest gift we have been delighted to forward to these saints in need,” said Wheeler. “As a cooperating ministry of the Florida Baptist Convention, ‘Stewardship. Simplified.’ is constantly looking for ways to financially resource the many Great Commission causes of Florida Baptists.”

Full story.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Jessica Pigg and originally published by the Florida Baptist Convention. 

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