New Fund Established in Memory of Tim Russell

The T. Russell Seminarian Support Fund has been established in memory of Reverend Timothy Lowell Russell (1957-2020). Reverend Russell lovingly served among the congregation as pastor, preacher, teacher, mentor and friend in two separate seasons of time. Tim counseled many members of the congregation on issues of every day living.

Reverend Timothy Lowell Russell

In recognition of Tim’s adeptness at and love for reformed theological education, the purpose of the fund is to provide financial support for students who are accepted for enrollment at an approved seminary and are supported through the terms of the Second Presbyterian Church Foundation seminary student support policies.

Support under this Fund is specifically for African American or Hispanic members of our congregation or any member seeking a degree in urban ministry or any degree coupled with a clear calling for use of that degree in urban ministry.

Second Presbyterian Church has historically supported seminarians and with the creation of the Foundation in 1998, that effort has expanded significantly. This year there are 24 seminarians requiring support. The establishment of this fund continues in the tradition of this strategic mission of the Church and Foundation, while targeting support for an area that was close to Tim’s heart.

Kathe and Tim Russell

Kathe has been an energetic supporter of the establishment of this fund. She has expressed that it is reflective of both Tim’s devotion to reformed theology and his love of counseling many young members of the congregation as they sought discernment regarding seeking a seminary education. Tim served as the Church’s pastoral liaison to the Foundation regarding seminarians.

The Foundation welcomes the receipt of funds from members of Second and the community at large for the purpose of providing support for this effort. If you would like to make a contribution, simply direct your gift to the attention of Second Presbyterian Church Foundation: T. Russell Seminarian Support Fund or donate below.

If you would like to learn more about the Fund or discuss ways in which you can participate, contact Vicki Simmons at (901) 507-7898 or vicki.simmons@2pc.org.

Foundation Visionaries: Smoky Russell

Smoky and Carolyn Russell

Smoky and Carolyn Russell joined Second in 1980. Smoky graduated from Southwestern College (now Rhodes) in 1956. As a freshman, he joined the United States Marine Corp Reserve. Upon graduation he was commissioned as an officer in the USMC and served several years on active duty before returning to Memphis where he continued to serve in the Marine Corp Reserve for a number of years. His vocational calling was to the life and health insurance business, where he served for 40 years. For 30 of those years he was a general agent of the Memphis agency for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.

At Second, he served as both deacon and then elder for many years. Joining the Foundation Board in the 2003-04 year, he faithfully served the Foundation on the Board; Stewardship, Administrative, Nominations, and Executive Committees; and as Chairman of the Board.

In 2009, following the economic crisis, he skillfully established and directed an Ad Hoc Investment committee to oversee the refinement of the structure of the Investment Committee as well as the Investment Committee Policy, which remains in place today and has served the Foundation well.

On a more humorous note, in 2007 Smoky was asked as a member of the Stewardship Committee to look into the development of a website. After his acceptance, he took a blank piece of paper, wrote WEB-SITE at the top of it, and passed it around the table with the disclaimer, “This is everything I know about websites.” What an example of his humble and willing leadership.

Smoky and Carolyn parented three daughters: Sharon and Wise Jones; Sophia and Rick Bollinger; and Sally and Phil Halle. There are eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

While Carolyn has since gone on to be in the presence of the Lord, she was an enthusiastic supporter of the Foundation in many ways, including her support of Smoky as he invested many hours in the Kingdom work of the Foundation.

Hear Smoky give his observations about the Foundation.

While there is much to be said about the performance and results of the Second Presbyterian Church Foundation, with limited space available, it seems best to focus on only one of the Foundation’s outstanding strengths and characteristics: The dedicated and steadfast Foundation Board members.

The makeup of the Board includes 2PC members who are female and male, old and young, with various biases, and various life perspectives. Yet, all are Christ centered Christians. Early on in their tenure on the Board they fully understand and jointly dedicate themselves to the mission of the Foundation, “Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Memphis, our Country, and around the world.” Their decisions and recommendations are made together in harmony assuring that grants only go to individuals, ministries, and missionaries that have the potential to lead unbelievers to eternal salvation, as well as supporting God’s adopted children.

Not only are the Board members good stewards of the Foundation funds, they provide intelligent and careful leadership along with the Foundation Investment Committee that has managed an average annual rate of return of 8.2% on Foundation assets over the past 22 years. Phenomenal, indeed!

Equally as phenomenal is the Board’s superb management of the Foundation’s gifts and grants over the past 22 years. Starting with approximately $3,000,000, the Foundation’s assets have grown to a total of $26,936,647 as of 6/30/20. This has been accomplished while making grants of $29,815,000 over the same period of time. Amazing!

Then finally there is the heart and accountability of the Board members. They invest themselves in learning about the people and purpose of the ministries supported by the Foundation. They learn and evaluate the mind, heart, and love of God of the ministries supported. They hold each ministry or individual supported accountable to guarantee assurance of the Foundation’s mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The results and achievements of the Foundation Board members is a visible testimony to the glorious way our great God has prospered the 2PC Foundation. To God be the glory!

For those who love Jesus, His redemptive plan and abundant grace, the Foundation offers numerous methods for your faithful and generous giving. Whatever method you choose, you can be assured your gift will spread the Gospel of Jesus now, and for many years into the future.

2019-20 Grant Total

Seth Harkins, Executive Director of Alcy Ball Development Corporation, distributing food boxes with resident volunteers

The following grants were made during this last fiscal year. They include grants from the undesignated fund and many designated funds. Additionally, grants were made to eligible ministries from donor advised funds.

Home Missions

NCC College Scholarships $ 86,780

Memphis City Seminary $ 55,000

Esperanza $ 50,000

Downtown Church $ 45,000

Covenant Family Church $ 40,000

All Souls Church $ 29,640

Christian Psychological Center $ 16,000

Alcy Ball Development Corporation $ 1,000
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$323,420

World Missions

2PC World Missions $135,385

Campus Outreach Serve – Greece $ 50,000

The Grace Institute – Ecuador $ 50,000

Intercultural Church Planting Network – Netherlands $ 35,000

Westminster Theological Conference $ 15,000
________________
$285,385

Christian Leadership Development

Seminarian Scholarships $172,097

Youth Internships $ 59,000

Pastoral Internships $ 61,000

Presbyterian Day School Scholarships $ 11,900

PDS Young Scholars Program $ 11,235

Evangelical Christian School Scholarships $ 13,950

Children’s Music Ministry $ 10,000

Fellows Program and Scholarships $ 10,375

Music Ministry Internships $ 9,986

Music Scholarships $ 4,500

Conservatory Scholarships $ 2,020

Library $ 1,554

French Camp Academy Scholarships $ 5,040

Visible Music College Scholarships $ 3,460

Family Camp Scholarships $ 375
_________________
$376,492

Subtotal $ 985,297

Donor Advised Grants $ 538,800

TOTAL $1,524,097

FUNDation Strong: Internal Mission

Over the last eighteen months this monthly space has been dedicated to answering the question of “What exactly does the Foundation do?”

The short answer is that it advances the gospel in partnership with our church and its mission and does so through its almost 40 funds that have varying degrees of governance and resources from which grants are made.

In order to more easily understand them, they are put in smaller groups of common mission. Those areas are intensive mission, internal mission, external mission, and missional generosity.

We have been looking deeply at the first group – intensive mission. Funds in this category support seminarians; pastoral residencies; youth residencies; music internships; leadership development for post college residents (Fellows); and eight scholarship programs. For the first twenty-one years of the Foundation, $3,023,000 was invested in this group. Each of those stories can be revisited at www.2pcfoundation.org within the News section.

Over the next several months we will turn to the funds that complement the internal mission of Second. While the church does not rely on the Foundation to support its ongoing operational budget, several funds in years past were established through the gifts of donors who had a passion to support specific internal ministries of the church. They include the church library; children’s ministry; family camp; recreation; children’s music program; and Second’s Conservatory. Since the inception of the Foundation twenty-two years ago, $330,641 has been granted from these funds.

Foundation Newsletter, February 2020

We continue the new series that lets us hear directly from individuals present and past who have volunteered their time and talents to promote gospel advancing efforts through the Foundation. 

Susan Warner is highlighted this month. She is a current member of the Foundation Board of Directors and serves on its Administrative Committee. Over her years on the Board, she has served as Secretary and as a member of the Executive and Nominating Committees.

“I remember driving to my first board meeting and saying, “Lord, you tell us that you will equip us to do the good works to which we are called, so I’m counting on you to be with me in this meeting.” Seventeen years later, the Lord is still equipping her to accomplish this good work.

Holistic ministries meet needs and transform lives in India’s poorest regions.  

Thousands have come into the Kingdom since these ministry partners began by reopening the Kachhwa Christian Hospital in 2002. Spanning 10 districts with a total population of 10 million in South-Eastern Uttar Pradesh, 85% of the area is rural.

Needs of the people – including the poor and the outcaste – that are being addressed include spiritual transformation, equipping of church leadership, health issues, community development, education and vocational training.

A life insurance policy is a tool that can be used strategically to make an impactful gift for the advancement of the gospel. 

It is an effective way to give by leveraging a small amount of money to reap a large amount of payoff. The strategy invests pennies to gain dollars, and is a way to easily support the Foundation. Gifts of life insurance have a wide range of commitment levels for the donor and are easily designed to fit financial capability. See ideas on how to structure a gift that is best for you.

Gifting Life Insurance to Give Gospel Life

A life insurance policy is a tool that can be used strategically to make an impactful gift for the advancement of the gospel. Here are a few basic facts.

• The Foundation can be the or a designated beneficiary of the proceeds on a life insurance policy on the life of a donor who owns the policy.

• The Foundation can be the applicant/owner/beneficiary of a life insurance policy on an individual who expresses interest in partnering with the Foundation to accomplish this goal. Donors often will make tax-deductible contributions to the Foundation to offset the annual premium costs.

• Utilizing life insurance is a simple strategy that does not involve investment risk.

• Utilizing life insurance leverages the use of a smaller amount of dollars invested over time that yields a significant payout.

• Any age individual may consider this type of gift.

• Donors can designate the use of the realized gift. 

The following are three examples of philanthropic minded donors that worked with an agent to maximize their gifts to the charities of their choice. 

Case Study #1

• 71 year old female, non-smoker

• Owned $50,000 CD that was ear-marked for gifts to grandchildren

• She had a desire to make a gift to her church’s building fund

• At maturity of her CD, she used approximately $36,000 to purchase a $50,000 single premium whole life policy

• At her death, her grandchildren will receive a minimum of $50,000 death benefit

• She was able to immediately donate the $14,000 difference to her church

RESULTS: The grandchildren still have $50,000 in tact at her death, and the donor gets the joy of the immediate gift to her church, while she is still living. 

Case Study #2

• 56 year old male, non-smoker, high income earner

• After daughter graduated from high school and received a full scholarship to college, he allocated $18,000 per year for philanthropic efforts for several causes in which he was interested

• He calculated the death benefit of a fully paid up 10 year, whole life policy with an annual premium of $18,000 (total of $180,000 in premium paid out over 10 years)

RESULTS: Three separate non-profit entities will each receive a $100,000 gift upon his death, for a total gift exceeding $300,000, and he received a charitable deduction of $18,000 over ten years (charitable trust is owner of the policy).

Case Study #3

• 37 year old male, non smoker

• He wanted to participate in the work of the Second Presbyterian Church Foundation

• He invested in a $25,000 whole life policy for a $329.16 annual premium, or $27.43 a month

RESULTS: The Foundation will one day receive a gift of $25,000. The donor has the joy of knowing that his sacrifice each year will strategically benefit the ministries of his church.

Gifts of life insurance have a wide range of commitment levels for the donor and are easily designed to fit financial capability. If you would like to discuss a gift to the Foundation using life insurance, contact Vicki Simmons at 454-0034, ext. 193 or vsimmons@2pc.org in the Foundation office.

Pioneers in India: Catherine & Raju

Catherine and Raju

One of the Foundation’s earlier grant recipients was Kachhwa Transformational Ministries and UP Mission, led by our missionary partners, Raju and Catherine. The initial grant was in the 2006-07 year and the last grant was in 2011-12. Over $293,000 was granted during that time period. Raju and Catherine continue to receive support from Second’s World Missions budget.

This ministry offers a model for effective, holistic gospel ministry in India. Located in the most populous state of the country, Uttar Pradesh, they provide healthcare and education to the poorest in Kachhwa and the surrounding districts.

The clinic is active in seeking healthcare improvement for the community. They train lay people in basic community health, including counseling people regarding basic hygiene and sanitation practices as well as the recognition of common illnesses that may require evaluation by medical personnel before the illnesses become too advanced.

Alongside a health clinic, theological training is offered at The School of Biblical Teaching, and more than one hundred house church pastors have completed a community health training to serve both physical and spiritual needs in their communities. The curriculum is cumulative and many pastors return regularly to build their knowledge of theology as well as increase their skill at preaching and teaching.

Vocational training is another focus of the ministry. Classes are offered in sewing, electronic repair and other areas in which people can establish small businesses and become more self-sufficient.

This holistic ministry has been developed since 2002 and is part of the overall goal of strengthening the church which leads to a spontaneous expansion of the gospel in the region, which has the most lasting impact.

Through the vision and faithfulness of Raju and Catherine, the gospel is transforming the lives of the poorest in India. As the poor come to faith in Jesus, they are given hope and graced with dignity in a country steeped in Hinduism and Islam.  

SNAPSHOT OF KTM MINISTRY FRUIT

• 200 churches have been planted with 4500 believers as a result of the hospital ministries.

• 12 partners are engaged within a radius of 10 districts with a population of 10 million resulting in the planting of 1000 house churches with 25,000 believers and 10,000 baptisms.

• 1000 local village men and women are trained in spiritual and other matters every month on campus.

• 35,000 patients are seen every year in a completely refurbished hospital. Over 10,000 cataract operations have been performed.

• 100 hand pumps and numerous toilets have been installed as part of the community health initiative.

• 3000 young people have been trained in AC, electrical, and sewing among other trades.

Foundation Visionaries: Susan Warner

Just shy of being twelve years old, Susan Fleming Warner joined Second on December 25, 1966 and to this day remembers what she was wearing! The daughter of Joanne and Bob Fleming, she is married to Mike Warner and they have two sons, Paul and Evan. Paul and his wife Meghean have three children, Gracie, Lilly and James. Mike and Susan are active members of the Growing in Grace congregational community.

Following law school, Susan worked at National Bank of Commerce as associate legal counsel for the bank and its affiliates. Then after a stint as a stay-at-home mom, she joined the church staff at Second for several years, serving as Pastoral Coordinator, and retired in 2018.

Joining the Board in the 2002-03 year, she has faithfully served the Foundation on the Board; Administrative, Nominations, and Executive Committees; and as Secretary. She additionally has served as Secretary of the Second Presbyterian Realty Foundation.

While she is no longer Secretary for those two entities, she invested many years in those capacities. This officer level position is crucial to maintaining an accurate and historical record of formal actions of the two Boards. The Lord used Susan’s legal skills to establish a precedent for a minute taking style that the Foundation still employs today. Susan has navigated bylaw revisions when needed and performed other corporate responsibilities. She currently serves as a Board member and on the Administrative Committee.

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Hear Susan tell her history with the Foundation.

“After I left my job at NBC, I got a call from Jim Boren, then Chairman of the Foundation, to see if I would be interested in serving on the Board and also as Secretary. I knew Jim from church and the legal world, and I guess he and the other board members thought my corporate legal experience would be a good fit, especially in the area of taking minutes! Although my knowledge of the Foundation at that time was limited, I was intrigued and honored to be asked to use my educational and work experiences to serve the Foundation and, ultimately, God’s Kingdom.

“We want to leave that gift to the Foundation as a spiritual legacy to our children and grandchildren."

“I remember driving to my first board meeting and saying, “Lord, you tell us that you will equip us to do the good works to which we are called, so I’m counting on you to be with me in this meeting with Jim Boren, Monte Weaver, John Dobbs, Bruce Campbell, and others.” What an all-star lineup of strong Christians and brilliant minds! So that was my first challenge...feeling up to the job. Thankfully, I received lots of encouragement and grace from them.

“My involvement with the Foundation has increased my familiarity with the wonderful ministries Second and the Foundation support and has given me an up-close view of the fruit produced through donations from the Foundation. At each of our board meetings, we hear a firsthand account from a representative of one of our ministry partners, either local or foreign, and that is when better understanding of God’s work through the Foundation leads to excitement about the endless possibilities we have to be part of God’s plan of redeeming the world by faithful and generous giving.

“From a more personal standpoint, Mike and I have named the Foundation as a beneficiary in our wills, first of all, because we desire to be good stewards of God’s provisions, and also because we want to leave that gift to the Foundation as a spiritual legacy to our children and grandchildren.”

FUNDation Strong: Neighborhood Christian Center Scholarship Fund

This year, 34 freshmen students who previously participated in the Neighborhood Christian Center’s College and Career Program (CAPS) are enrolled in college. These students participated in CAPS’s College Scholarship Incentive Program.

The Foundation supports this effort through its Neighborhood Christian Center Scholarship Fund, which was established through the generous gifts of donors who had the passion to see that these students received financial support to assist in attaining this important step in their lives.

Over the past six academic years, the fund has supported 330 student enrollments and $483,420 in college scholarships.

NCC provides the College Scholarship Incentive Program in order to meet their organizational goal to provide opportunities for connecting under-resourced high school youth to college preparatory activities, college tours, peer mentoring, and more.  These opportunities promote increased rates of high school graduation and college enrollment.

How It Works

This program is offered to students in grades 10-12. In order to qualify for tuition points, which are then translated into monetary support, every student must attend an array of empowerment and educational programs. These funds are truly vital in not only incentivizing young people to participate in NCC’s programs in order to build strong, hard-working, productive Christian leaders, but also to ensure that these students have every opportunity to attend college despite their financial circumstances.

The goal of NCC is to educate and empower young people in the underprivileged communities of Memphis to break the cycle of generational poverty that includes truancy, high school drop outs, drinking and drug use, teenage pregnancy, violence, and arrests. They do this by engaging high school-aged students in various programs and events that promote educational attainment; empowering them to develop and reach their educational and life goals; and affecting long-term change in the lives of the students.

As part of the CAPS program, NCC works with Arkansas State University Mid-South to provide the opportunity for high school students to gain college credit during the summer. Presently, there are 40 students that qualify for this program. In addition to the tuition, NCC supports them with their homework; helps them develop study skills; and mentors them throughout the process. Upon completion of the summer program, each student receives three hours of college credit. NCC provides transportation to and from the daily classes in West Memphis, AR.

The Personal Perspective
as told by Carlos Webster, College and Operations Coordinator for NCC

The Scholarship Fund is instrumental in assisting students who seek to further their education. It impacts the lives of students and their families beyond the amount of the scholarship. Not only does the scholarship help them financially but the aid also motivates them to get good grades, maintain good character, and stay focused on finishing school. A snapshot of the effect of the fund is highlighted by four recipients - Jasmine Brewer and Rosiland Miller, who both graduated from college in May of 2019, and Denzel Fields and Carrie Conner, who graduated from college in May 2014.

Jasmine Brewer

Jasmine and Rosiland both participated in our afterschool programs from sixth through twelfth grade. One of the motivating factors used as an incentive was the college scholarship. Although they are not related they both grew up in households led by their grandmothers in the under resourced areas of North Memphis.

Jasmine and her siblings had lived with their grandmother since she was six years old, due to her mother passing away. Jasmine graduated from Manassas High School in 2014. After graduation, she became the first person in her family to attend a four-year university. Jasmine attended the University of Memphis and is now living and working in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Rosalind Miller

Rosiland lived with her grandmother and assisted her with the homecare of her uncle who is mentally disabled. Rosiland graduated from Northside High School in 2014. After graduation she became the first person in her family to go to college. Rosiland attended Tennessee State University in Nashville and is now currently working in the healthcare industry.

Without the scholarship they may not have had the desire to attend college, the motivation to stay in school, or the resources needed to complete school. The scholarship fund allows students to set goals that are achievable as well as the resources to achieve them.

Denzel Fields

Denzel Fields participated in our after-school programs from sixth to twelfth grade. Upon graduation, he had a desire to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta. After being accepted he found the cost of tuition was greater than his available resources. His scholarship from the NCC assisted him in attending Morehouse for the next four years. Denzel didn't stop there. He went on to graduate school at PennState. After graduating from PennState, he moved to New York City to pursue his dream of being on Broadway. Without the NCC scholarship, Denzel may have never made it to Morehouse.

Carrie Conner

Carrie Conner participated in our after-school programs from ninth to twelfth grade. After graduation, she attended the University of Memphis. Carrie is very community focused and has volunteered at the NCC every possible opportunity. She received the NCC scholarship for four years. She graduated from the University of Memphis and received job offers from several Fortune 500 companies. She accepted a job with Kimberly-Clarke and moved to Atlanta. She always had a passion for acting and she landed a role in the blockbuster hit movie The Black Panther. Carrie continues to pursue her passion and now lives in Los Angeles. She continues to volunteer at NCC whenever she is in town and always says that she wants to give like the NCC gave to her.

FUNDation Strong: Scholarships Strike a Chord for Visible Music College Students

Established in 2017-18, the Foundation’s Visible Music College Scholarship Fund provides financial scholarships for need based and deserving students who are accepted for enrollment at Visible Music College. The fund was seeded with $50,000 from the Foundation’s Undesignated Fund and contributions from donors exceed $18,000. The first grant for scholarships was made in 2019-20 for just under $3,500.

The Visible Music College is a global Christian college designed to train and equip musical artists, producers and professional managers in skill and character for effective service in the music industry and the Church, and to stand out as Christians in their profession. This is achieved through a rigorous accredited program in association with an internal record label. Students are launched into their field as musicians, producers, church worship leaders, and community volunteers. 

VMC Founder and President, Dr. Ken Steorts

Visible Music College was established in 2000 by Founder and President, Dr. Ken Steorts. Ken's vision was shaped while touring worldwide as a performer with the Dove Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Christian band Skillet. During this time, he observed young musicians with great promise but little instruction or guidance. Drawing from both traditional and vocational educational models, he pioneered an educational center where a mix of academic music study, technical skill development and character-building mentorship produces qualified, creative and passionate world-changers for the Church and the entertainment industry.

Visible Music College attracts students from all 50 states and over 25 foreign countries. Within a Christian discipleship model, students get hands-on professional experience while earning an accredited bachelor degree. Visible graduates work in ministry as well as the broader music industry. In ministry jobs, they're employed at churches as worship leaders, music directors and audio technicians. In the music industry, they're affecting popular culture managing record labels, marketing music venues and becoming pop artists. They have recently had students as finalists on NBC's The Voice and American Idol.

 Geordy Wells is Vice President of Advancement and a member of Second Presbyterian Church. He stated, “Students from around the world would not be able to attend Visible Music College without support from the school's institutional scholarship fund. In fact, about 80% of Visible students typically need assistance. Through the Second Presbyterian Church Foundation, Christian leaders and gifted musicians pursuing ministry will benefit from this initiative now and into the future. We are so thankful for the Foundation's support for our students, programs and mission.”

The grants made from the Fund are to be used for the purpose of providing scholarships for tuition, books, or room and/or board at Visible Music College. Priority is to be given to the application of these scholarships for need based and deserving students from the Memphis area or need based and deserving international students.  Additional priority is to be given to students pursuing a degree in modern music with a major in worship leadership, vocals, or instruments, whose aim upon graduation is to serve within the Christian community or express their talent as a Christian artist.

While the Fund is an endowment for scholarships, it also has an expendable component, which allows donors to contribute resources that can be immediately deployed to support current student scholarships.

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