What is Aged Ministers Assistance?

What is AMA?

Questions about Aged Ministers Assistance?

1. What is AMA all about?

Aged Ministers Assistance helps provide the daily needs of food, housing, 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.

2. Why are these ministers in need?

Decades ago they labored as foreign missionaries, 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 check is small.

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 can they partake of life’s necessities in their sunset years.

Consider the great contribution these pioneers of the faith have made to the Assemblies of God… and to you personally. AMA is a tangible way to let them know they’re remembered and appreciated.

3. How great is the need?

Aged Ministers Assistance (AMA) is an emergency fund designed to help provide the daily needs of food, medicine, and housing for aged ministers with substandard incomes.

It also helps with insurmountable medical bills or other unusual expenses not covered by Medicare and/or supplemental medical insurance.
Last year, AMA supporters helped almost 400 retired or disabled ministers and their spouses or widows. Through the AMA fund over $750 thousand dollars were given to meet their needs through monthly support and emergency responses.

The number of ministers and their widows needing assistance continues to grow. As compassionate individuals and churches continue to give, these “pioneers of the faith” will receive the assistance they need and deserve.

4. Where do AMA funds come from?

AMA is not a pension. It is underwritten solely by contributions from concerned churches and individuals.

The Scriptures admonish us to care for our aged ministers: "The elders who direct the affairs of the church are well worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" (1 Timothy 5:17, NIV). Shouldn’t that support continue after they have finished their years of ministry?

Funds disbursed through Aged Ministers Assistance are designated contributions to the AMA fund from individuals and churches. The amount of assistance given is regulated by the amount of contributions received and by policy adopted by the Executive Presbytery.

5. Who is eligible to receive AMA?

(Policy Guidelines as of 2007)

General Requirements:

Minister: 10 years of active ministry prior to retirement or disability; in good standing; ordained (licensed ministers considered on individual ministry record).
Age: 65 for ministers; 60 for widows.
Income:
- A single individual may receive assistance if monthly income from all sources is less than $838. A couple may receive assistance if their income from all sources is less than $1,257.
- Ministers who declined Social Security: In fairness to those ministers who did pay into Social Security, AMA will consider assistance to those who opted out of Social Security equal to half of the approved maximum for all other ministers on AMA (currently $419 for a single, and $628.50 for a couple).

Disability: The age requirement can be waived in the event of total disability at a younger age. A physician's letter of verification is required.
Emergency: In the event a minister is confronted with insurmountable medical bills or other unusual expenses not covered by Medicare and/or supplement medical insurance, he may apply for an emergency grant. If funds are available, he may be eligible for a limited grant restricted for payment toward these expenses.

6. How does someone apply for Aged Ministers Assistance?

Click here to learn how to apply and download the appropriate forms.