Hawkins reminds messengers of founder’s pledge

GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins, in his report to messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention, cited GuideStone founder William Lunsford and his first report to messengers. “In 1918,” Hawkins said, “our founder William Lunsford stood before this group and made this pledge to the pastors, ‘Give yourself wholeheartedly to the work. We’ll stand back of you. If you fall in the work we’ll care for you; if you die, we will not allow your family to suffer. If you grow old in the work, we’ll comfort you in your declining years.’ And we’ve never gotten away from our founder’s vision.”