In 2016, after 25 years of being bi-vocational—in roles including a teacher, principal, and superintendent of a public school district as well as an associate pastor, evangelist, and lead pastor—my wife, Linda, and I felt God prompting us into a transition from the known to the unknown…
It all started at 1031 Dolores Street in Bakersfield, California. The year was 1965, and five young families crowded together in the kitchen of a two-bedroom home to learn about topics such as grammar, spelling, and Scripture. “Now you can imagine in a two-bedroom house just how big the kitchen is,” says the home-owner Ben Herrera, chuckling. “If you turn around, you’d better be careful or you’ll knock the dishes over!”…
The church board stared at stacks of paper, heralding 135 qualified candidates. Their senior pastor announced his resignation in the early summer of 2014, and as soon as the word was out, resumes were in. As the board members rifled through documents detailing experience and education, they discovered an application from their youth pastor, Shane Hawkins…
Do you worry every so often about your financial future? Do you occasionally wonder how best to ensure financial freedom in your life? A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) may be the best answer to this question. With a CGA from Church Extension Plan (CEP), you can receive fixed payments throughout your lifetime…
By the time Sherry Jefferson joined CEP’s staff, she had a wealth of work experience. But in her own words, “Not one of them had the quality of really caring for people the way CEP does. You not only talk to the customer, but you can pray with them. You’re fulfilling ministry.”…
Every parent and grandparent wants to see their child have the best possible start in life and hopes for a bright future. Fortunately, there are actions we can take now to help make that bright future a reality. One such action is to create a financial plan which begins when a child is young and can help them make major decisions later in life…
You may be asking the question, “How do I determine the difference between an okay and a foolish investment risk?” While there is no established set of steps for the perfect investment strategy, there are many ways to ensure you assume an adequate degree of risk. Here are five strategies you can apply to help […]
Pastor Dave and Patty Baker spent nearly 17 years with their church in Marysville, California. They’d married and begun their ministry together at this church. For each of their three children, this church home was their first. And up until the close of 1999, they’d planned to never leave. “The Lord put it in our hearts to come to Vacaville,” says Pastor Dave…
Every Friday night in Vacaville, California, dozens of teens pile into a large indoor skatepark.They whiz across plywood platforms. They glide, jump, and fly. As the music booms and laughter trails behind boards, someone calls out to gather the skaters together. One by one, they hop off their skateboards and flock to the middle of the room. Then, together, they sit and listen…
The majority of modern Americans possess a limited understanding of the purpose for and process of estate planning. In fact, many people hear the term “estate planning” and can’t help but yawn. When they attempt to read about the topic, the struggle to focus and avoid quickly skimming the section is challenging. However, it would be unfortunate to work so hard to gain financial freedom only to lose it later in life simply for lack of planning…
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