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[Thompson, cont'd. from Page 1]
Thompson receives a plaque of recognition
from Hank Bode, outgoing chairman of the FM Board of Administration. |
Today, we honor Stanley B. Thompson, a layman who has served our
Lord and the Free Methodist Church for 33 years, and who is retiring
at the end of this year as the founding president and CEO of The
Free Methodist Foundation.
In 1968 Dr. Thompson joined the leadership team of the Free Methodist
Publishing House as the youngest executive ever hired by the Free
Methodist Church. He was also the first executive to be a layman.
After a two-year absence to obtain his doctorate at Indiana University,
he returned to the publishing house until he was encouraged by denominational
leadership in 1975 to launch a planned giving program for the church.
This was a major initiative that began a long and effective career
of helping thousands of individuals arrange planned gifts to benefit
the kingdom of God and, in particular, the Free Methodist Church.
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Thompson was the youngest executive
ever hired by the FMC.
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As a planned-giving pioneer, Dr. Thompson established and coordinated
planned-giving regions across the United States. He worked closely
with Free Methodist colleges, benevolent institutions, conferences
and local churches to grow a significant pool of deferred gifts
to support future ministry efforts. He also provided leadership
among the larger evangelical community, including board chair of
the Christian Stewardship Association.
Born of Free Methodist missionary parents in the Dominican Republic,
Dr. Thompson always had a heart for ministry, and he poured that
commitment into building the financial resources of the church.
Because of the nature of his work, he was often in a pastoral role
with elderly Free Methodists, providing prayer and scriptural encouragement
for families facing financial and health difficulties. Many times
he was the only one there to help settle estates and comfort the
bereaved.
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As vice president for Institutional
Advancement at Spring Arbor University (1981-87), he successfully
completed a campaign to raise $10 million.
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In 1981, Dr. Thompson went to Spring Arbor University to help build
a stronger financial base. During the six years he served as vice
president of Institutional Advancement, he led a successful campaign
that generated more than $10 million for college purposes.
Because of his extraordinary administrative skills, his rich background
in planned giving and his uncanny ability to locate and engage talented
young leadership, Dr. Thompson was selected by his denomination
in 1987 to establish and manage The Free Methodist Foundation. This
new fiduciary ministry represented a bold and innovative commitment
by the Free Methodist Church, one that has thus far generated $17.5
million through estate maturities for ministry and that has provided
many more millions for ministry in estate expectancies.
In addition to building a strong Foundation that will positively
impact the present and future ministries of the Free Methodist Church,
pioneer Thompson applied his innovative leadership to the creation
of King Trust Co. and the King Trust Charitable Gift Fund. Today,
few denominations of any size provide the Christian financial services
that are currently available to Free Methodists.
Thompson was named President of the
Free Methodist Foundation in 1987, and the Foundation's Spring
Arbor headquarters was dedicated in 1989. |
During his 16 years with the Foundation, Dr. Thompson has provided
strong and consistent leadership. In his quiet and methodical manner,
and motivated by his personal love for Christ and the church, he
has projected stability and integrity so important to those who
look to the Foundation as a trusted fiduciary.
Dr. Thompson, we honor you today and thank God for your distinguished
service to the Free Methodist Church. You are an example of lay
leadership at its best, and we appreciate you for all you have done
for Christ and the church.
Thank you, and God bless you in the days and years ahead.
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