Aged Ministers Assistance
Assemblies of God ministers have served faithfully and sacrificially to build our Fellowship. Yet many made so little during their ministries that today, in retirement, they need our help to meet their daily needs.
Your gifts to AMA make possible monthly checks, medical assistance, and other funds necessary to live.
The growth of the Assemblies of God today can be attributed directly to the commitment, dedication, and determination of these Spirit-filled pioneer preachers. They gave so much for so long for so little. Giving to these worthy pioneers through AMA is a privilege and an opportunity to "do good" to this segment of our family.
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Galatians 6:10).
Aged Ministers Appreciation Sunday is May 25
Aged Ministers Appreciation Sunday is May 25, 2008. But you can celebrate the Aged Ministers in your church any day of the year. The following are suggested ways to celebrate the senior ministers and evangelists in your church:
- Recognize all ministers and evangelists over the age of 65 in your service.
- Give the senior ministers flowers or a gift and recognize them by name with years served and places served.
- For evangelists, note the possible number of states and or countries they have traveled throughout their ministries in your recognition of “years served and places served.”
- Give them a card from the church, signed by the church leadership.
- Include a “thank you” in the church program, listing their names.
- Invite a senior minister to speak in the service.
- Invite a senior minister to give his/her testimony.
- Ask someone to testify who was influenced by a senior minister from the church.
- Make a PowerPoint presentation of pictures of churches or countries where the senior minister served.
- Sing their favorite hymns in the worship service.
- Invite them to a special luncheon.
- Ensure that their spouses are also recognized for their years of support and ministry.
- Invite the children, grandchildren, and/or great grandchildren of the senior minister to help you celebrate Aged Ministers Appreciation Day.
- Make a contribution to AMA in honor or memory of your favorite Senior Minister or Evangelist, or all Senior Ministers and Evangelists.
- Encourage any senior minister in your congregation who needs help with emergency or monthly expenses (food or housing) to contact AMA if he/she is not already receiving assistance from AMA.
For information, call the AMA office at 417-862-2781, ext 2184.
Visit the website — www.ama.ag.org
Email us — ama@ag.org.
Thank-You Notes from AMA "Pioneers of Faith"
“Dear AMA, hopefully, I can express to you my appreciation and let you know what a wonderful blessing Aged Ministers Assistance has been to me.
“I began pastoring at age 19. I am now just 3 months from turning 89. My wife and I were married in 1938 on a Saturday and began pastoring the following day. She was an evangelist and was ministering in Oregon where I was a C.A. President at the time we met.
“We were of the ‘building’ generation so every church we were called to was either meeting in a house or storefront that had been remodeled to meet the church’s need. But the Holy Spirit was always faithful to bring whole families to God and revival would break out and many were filled with the Holy Spirit and we saw the miraculous hand of God at work
“The growth would demand a larger building so I built many churches or parsonages in my active years of pastoring. Much of our finances were put back into the churches so retirement was not a part of our thoughts or ability to save for the future. Our social security was very minimal and so the gift we received from AMA every month was, to say the least, a GIFT from the Lord.
“With the help of AMA, I am able to take care of my utilities and the necessities of life.
“Thank you for helping provide while we’re just passing through this life to our most wonderful home being prepared for us. What a blessing you have been to me and my wife through the past years.”
Decades ago they labored as church planters, pioneer pastors, and travelling evangelists. They gave their time, energy, and resources, sacrificing freely for the work of God. Often they had no funds to lay aside for their retirement years. And because they had so little income during their ministry, their Social Security checks are very limited. AMA supplements that income.
"I am 81 years old and don't know what I would have done without AMA. I only receive a small check from Social Security. I have been a part of this beautiful family for over fifty years. I appreciate all the help that I receive."
"It is a real blessing and I don't know how I managed before the checks from AMA started coming. The checks make the difference between meeting my needs and having to go on welfare. Thank you so much!"
Now retired, many of these ministers are forced to live without adequate means to provide even the barest necessities. Only with financial help from Aged Ministers Assistance (AMA) can they partake of life's necessities in their sunset years. AMA also helps with insurmountable medical bills or other unusual expenses not covered by Medicare and/or supplemental medical insurance. The Aged Ministers Assistance Fund is administered by the General Treasurer.
"Were it not for AMA, elderly ministers like me would be in a terrible dilemma. You will never know this side of Eternity what AMA means to me. Your concern for me is overwhelming as my income is so limited. God bless you!"
"My wife and I praise God for your monthly support to us; we would not have food on our table, no way to get our medications, no way to pay our insurance without your check. Thank God for you and the churches for this support."
Last year, AMA supporters helped 400 retired or disabled ministers and their spouses or widows. Through the AMA fund over $750,000 was given to meet their needs through monthly support and emergency responses. Aged Ministers Assistance helps provide the daily needs of food, housing, utilities and medicine for aged or disabled ministers and their spouses who have substandard incomes, as established by the General Council. AMA is not a pension, but an emergency fund. It is underwritten solely by contributions from concerned churches and individuals.
Here are a few excerpts from grateful recipients of the AMA Ministry:
"My sick wife needed some medications and some warmer clothing. Because of your generosity, we were able to purchase exactly what she needed. We also took care of some increased utility bills that we had."
"This year I am grateful for the special offering I was able to receive. I really needed it since my income is very low. I thank God that we are not forgotten in the last days of our life. Some of us are lacking in many essential things in our life. AMA is always a help to us."
"This was heaven for me! I am 86 years old and on low income so this was a blessing for a real need. AMA makes life a little more enjoyable."
"I am always amazed at your generosity. My taxes and insurance were due and I did not have the funds to pay them. Then the Lord provided."
Each year at Christmas the churches and individuals who support the AMA ministry send a special Christmas Blessing offering for the aged ministers on assistance.
Here are a few expressions of appreciation from grateful recipients of the Christmas Blessing:
"I could never thank all of you enough for the lovely Christmas check. I was out of food and other items and thank God He made a way for me. I truly appreciate you all."
"The generous Christmas check was such a surprise and great blessing. We wept and praised God for the gift. Without it, we had no extra money to have gifts for our children or grandchildren."
"My dad received the check from AMA and he voiced how blessed he was to have someone that loved and cared for him for his life's work in God's ministry. He was so thankful that his church cared about him now that he is retired."
"Oh what a joy it was to receive the check and card from AMA for Christmas. I was concerned about being able to pay my gas bill and praise God He provided. I can never thank you enough."
