Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
Unfortunately, for many retired clergy, spouses, and surviving spouses, this is a very real scenario. But, PASBF is their safety net and is there to help pay for any “high- cost” prescription medications. As one spouse told me when PASBF purchased her medications, “Preachers’ Aid saved my live.” This is only one of the situations where PASBF financially helps our retirees and families. In 2024, PASBF payout over $700,000 in aid for medical type of bills ranging from medications to premiums to out-of-pocket expenses. In total, PASBF paid close to $2 million in direct benefits to retired pastors, spouses, and surviving spouses. Yet, financial assistance is not the only way PASBF is there for our retirees. Countless of phone calls, cards, letters, and visits occur to make sure our retirees, spouses, and surviving spouses know they are not forgotten. It is our goal to contact every retiree, spouse, and surviving spouse at least once a year, including those who live out of state. Our Regional Assistants work hard to accomplish this goal. PASBF organizes fellowship gatherings, day trips, and ball games to provide opportunities to gather as a group. Fall banquets are held where we assist retirees, spouses, and surviving spouses to choose a Medicare Part D Plan. PASBF attempts to be at every funeral and to present the grave marker when clergy die, representing the entire conference in expressing our thanks for their service. We provide spiritual support and pastoral care. PASBF helps with the cost of a moving manager for those who need to downsize. Preachers’ Aid continues to look for ways we can help our retirees, spouses, and surviving spouses to have a retirement they have earned. A full list of our different ministries and services can be found at the bottom of this report. New Things Are Coming PASBF is able to repurpose a part of our funds to enhance and start new services and ministries. The Board of Directors will meet in April of 2025 to dream of new possibilities and plan for the future of PASBF. More updates will be coming, but we have already strengthened one ministry. Beginning January 1, 2025, PASBF launched a new hearing aid program. If a retiree, spouse, or surviving spouse uses Amplifon to purchase their hearing aids, PASBF will pay 75% of the cost. Most details are on our webpage as well as an application form. So far, we have helped over 10 people in the first couple of months and look forward to serving many others. It is an exciting time for PASBF as we dream to improve current services and expand into new services to support our clergy family. How Can PASBF Do All of This We give thanks to those who came before with the foresight to establish this fund. And we give thanks to all the churches, individuals, and estate gifts that have grown the fund
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