November 29, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) Benefit Board is pleased to announce that the Fellowship Fund will be fully funded by the end of 2012. Contributions paid into the Fund by Alliance churches and entities will enable more than 400 participants to receive allowances throughout their lives.
The Fellowship Fund was established at the 1937 C&MA General Council to provide retirement and disability benefits for C&MA pastors and international workers. Eventually, Fellowship Fund assets no longer were able to meet the needs of the growing number of retirees, and Alliance churches were required to pay into the Fund. When the C&MA created the 403(b) Retirement Plan in 2000, the fund was frozen, with no new eligible workers and no contributions required of each worker.
In 2011 the C&MA General Council approved the termination of contributions to the Fellowship Fund on condition that the Fund is determined to be financially sound by the end of 2012. Beginning in 2013, there will be no required contributions from Alliance churches or entities. The board is grateful to all churches and entities that have faithfully supported the Fellowship Fund over the years.
Grace Nelson, retired C&MA missionary to Gabon, said, “Deciding to be a missionary, I pretty much committed everything I was and everything I had to the Lord. I really did not give much thought to what might happen to me when my times of service were completed.” Because of Alliance churches and entities that gave to the Fellowship Fund, faithful servants such as Grace will be able to enjoy a secure retirement.
The Christian and Missionary Alliance is a worldwide family of Christians mobilized to fulfill the Great Commission by living out the fullness of Jesus Christ in personal experience and building His Church worldwide. Alliance people are united by an unquenchable passion to reach their communities for Christ and provide access to the gospel where no access yet exists.
CONTACT:
Larry Keeports
Director for Alliance Benefits
The Christian and Missionary Alliance
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (719) 265-2095
legacy.cmalliance.org
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