Ministerial Excellence Fund (MEF)
The purpose of the Ministerial Excellence Fund (MEF) is to provide assistance to Professional Church Leaders (PCLs) facing financial difficulties that prevent them from focusing on the greater tasks of Kingdom ministry. By removing barriers of financial hardship and need, the path is cleared for pastors to focus on, develop and implement excellence in their personal ministry serving their local churches.
MEF Application Information
Ministerial Excellence Fund Grants–PASTORS
Download MEF Guidelines–Pastors
To see what effect the MEF can have on the lives of pastors and churches watch the video.
To apply, you will need to download the grant application, family budget details, and tax form below:
Application for MEF Grant–Pastors
MEF Tax Notice for PCLs-Pastors
Ministerial Excellence Fund Grants-CHURCHES
Churches in the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky (ABC-IN/KY) and American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis (ABC-GI) may also apply for a grant for their pastor.
Download MEF Guidelines–Churches
To apply, you will need to download the grant application, family budget details, and tax form below:
Application for MEF Grant–Churches
Family Budget Details–Churches
MEF Tax Notice for PCLs–Churches
MEF Retirement Incentive Grants
During calendar year 2010, the Ministerial Excellence Fund (MEF) will offer incentive grants to supplement retirement savings for our Professional Church Leaders (PCLs) whose churches are not currently providing any retirement savings benefits.
Click the link below for more information and an application.
Retirement Incentive Grant and App — 1-10
MEF Insurance Premium Assistance Grant
Continuation of Insurance Premium Increase Assistance Grant and App
MEF Financial Coaching Grants
The MEF now offers grants to provide financial coaching sessions to our professional church leaders (PCL’s).
Click here for more information:
Financial Coaching Grant — 1-10
MEF Reports
MEF Provides Training Materials for Churches – Financial Peace University
The MEF provides training materials for churches to use in leading Financial Peace University. Churches and individuals are reporting miraculous results.
Financial Peace University – Testimonies
From Laity:
For myself and family it was a wonderful experience. We have retired all debt except the house. We have the “mini-emergency fund” in place. We even had to use our fund already. We fixed the truck twice. We’ve got a new roof. And we did it without going into debt.
You can’t beat it!
Twenty-five families went through the program. All have seen a great turnaround. The turnaround between debt payoff and savings was around $50,000. It was a remarkable experience for all of us. We thoroughly enjoyed it and learn a lot.
From a Husband and Wife:
Ultimately, it helps our relationship.
We have children that we’re trying to teach the value of a dollar and this is also helping them understand being able to be better managers of their money, and understanding what comes first.
From a pastor:
Financial Peace University was something I had heard of from some colleagues who had done this at their church. When the Region came out with a grant program for Financial Peace, it was kind of a no- brainer. We were looking for something we could offer not only to the congregation, but also to the community in an outreach kind of way.
Crown Financial Ministries
Crown Financial Ministries offers a wide variety of books, seminars and materials designed to encourage faithful stewardship of our time, talent and treasures. You can order any of Crown’s materials online at: https://store.crown.org/?Click=2335
Beginning immediately, when you order from this site, 30% of your purchase total will be given to the Ministerial Excellence Fund (MEF) Ministry of ABC/IN-KY. As you know, the MEF provides grants aimed at alleviating financial difficulties experienced by our PCLs. So, your purchases (individual/personal or for group ministry in your church) will benefit churches and leaders in the entire Region.
To ensure proper credit and tracking, you must select my name from the drop down list on the checkout page. It is just below the section requesting billing information in a section titled “Additional Information.” The drop down list is called “Indicate Your Crown Representative.”