Mission:Dignity has been a tremendous blessing for many, including Arkansas resident Emily Ruth Watson.
Watson, 93, served in the ministry alongside her late husband, Jimmy, for more than 50 years. Jimmy died in 2005 a day before their 58th wedding anniversary. Two of the couple’s children have also followed God’s calling to the ministry.
Navigating life since Jimmy’s death, Mission:Dignity has been a blessing to Watson by helping her afford insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield and providing assistance with her phone bill. Additionally, Watson received a special grant through Mission:Dignity for her hearing aids, which on average cost more than $3,000. Watson has expressed with great emotion how grateful she is for the assistance through Mission:Dignity.
Stories like Watson’s highlight the importance of Mission:Dignity, a ministry of GuideStone, that exists to honor retirement-aged Southern Baptist pastors, denominational workers and their widows through advocacy and financial assistance. Sixty percent of those served are widows; one in four is over age 85.
To celebrate and raise a special offering for Mission:Dignity, the Southern Baptist Convention has set aside the fourth Sunday in June.
Churches, Sunday school classes and other groups can order or download free Mission:Dignity Sunday materials from GuideStone, or give by visiting MDSunday.org. Though Mission:Dignity Sunday is June 23, materials are not dated and can be used at any time.
Arkansas Baptists may give through the Arkansas Baptist Foundation by designating their check for Mission:Dignity. The Foundation has established a Mission:Dignity Fund to benefit Arkansas residents who meet the requirements.
One hundred percent of all gifts go directly to Mission:Dignity recipients.