October is Pastor Appreciation Month! I know… you’ve waited all year for this magical season. But, here at the Foundation, the Clergy & Church Financial Ministry (C2FM) really IS all about providing support, encouragement and gratitude for the work of our clergy.
There is no shortage of ways we can show our pastors and their families that they are loved and appreciated. A simple, personal note of gratitude or a classic United Methodist potluck dinner are wonderful ways of blessing pastors and their families. Another idea is to give a gift to C2FM in honor of your pastor!
When asked, C2FM donors express a soulful depth of love and gratitude for pastors:
- “For over 60 years, my wife and I have been led in our faith journeys by inspiring and caring UM pastors. When we learned of the C2FM initiative, we felt it provided an opportunity to express our gratitude to both our previous pastors, and “pay it forward” to future UM pastors.” – Rich and Diane Luze
- “We believe that the best thing we can do for the world is to encourage and foster strong, faithful families. This isn’t possible without pastors. If we want to follow Jesus’ commission to make disciples for the transformation of the world, the best place to start is by supporting churches and pastors in our communities.” – Corey and Sarah Jewel
When pastors were asked in a recent survey what they might want to share with C2FM donors about their C2FM experience, they responded:
- “That there is a holy way to look at our finances, and God [has] blessed C2FM with a clear way of teaching it.”
- “The work of C2FM has helped several clergy friends out of really tight spots and has helped to keep my wife and I on the right track toward our goals.”
- “The financial support from the C2FM lifted the financial burden from our church ministry and my personal finances to fulfill the mission, goals, and plans we felt God was leading/directing. Thank you for making that a reality.”
- “The C2FM Program was immensely helpful to our family in reducing our consumer debt and helping us overcome some financial difficulties. Our coach helped us understand how to more quickly pay off our debts and the grant from the program gave us a jumpstart in doing so.”
C2FM is inviting you to celebrate a special pastor (or pastors) with a financial gift made in honor or in memory of a pastor, mentor, or clergy colleague whose ministry has been, or is still today a blessing in your life. Your gift will be acknowledged by the Foundation to the pastor, or the pastor’s family.
To make your special gift and for more information, visit https://mumf.org/c2fm/ to give securely online. Or, mail your gift to Missouri UM Foundation, PO Box 1076, Columbia MO 65205. If you have questions or need additional information, simply contact C2FM Director Mark Struckhoff at mstruckhoff@mumf.org.
Since 2016, more than 250 Missouri pastors and pastor families have received C2FM well-being grants totaling over $1.5 million. These grants have helped reduce student loan debt, funded scholarships and continuing education goals, reduced medical, tax and consumer debt, contributed to retirement accounts, funded renewal leave for pastors and their families, and more.