North Georgia United Methodist - Multiplying Financial Resources for Mission and Ministry

Faithful stewardship has been a top priority throughout Richard and Barbara Hickman’s 56-year marriage. Even as young newlyweds, they pledged to tithe and trust God to show them how to best use their financial resources. Today, blessed with a loving family and an active church life at Chamblee First, they invested in the Georgia United Methodist Foundation’s Development Fund in response to God’s grace in their lives.

“The Bible says, ‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.’ We have been given a lot and are very thankful,” Richard said. “We want to give back in return to our church and to the foundations that do good work.”

Although Richard, a Foundation board of trustee, was well acquainted with the Development Fund, it was a recent Faith & Money newsletter article that “brought it home.” “I read how Herchel Sheets bought four certificates because the investments made good financial and spiritual sense,” he said. “After I thought about it, I realized he was right. The rates are the same, if not better, than banks, so why not have the church use that vehicle to grow ministry?”

The Hickmans purchased three interest-bearing certificates on 1-, 2- and 3-year terms. Their investment helps to provide a readily available source of funds that allow churches, agencies and entities to borrow money at competitive loan rates for the refinancing of debt, or the building, renovation or expansion of facilities.

“There is something given to me by the Almighty that tells me when things are right or wrong,” Richard said. “This investment makes me feel like I’ve done the right thing because it is growing the church and building the Kingdom.”

In July 2009, the State of Georgia approved an additional $8 million offering of development certificates to fund the Foundation’s loan program. If you would like to learn more about investing in the Development Fund, please call 770-449-6726 or 877.220.5664.