VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/22/10)—Rev. Dr. David Nichols has been named the American Baptist Foundation’s planned giving representative at the American Baptist Churches of Michigan (ABC-MI).
This appointment, effective March 1, 2010, was announced by Lawrence Edw. Wilson, III, President of the Foundation. In his position Nichols will work with regional staff and the pastors and lay leaders of the more than 150 American Baptist churches statewide to encourage charitable giving from their estates and assets among people in their congregations.
Dr. Nichols’ position with the Foundation combines with his responsibilities as ABC-MI’s Consultant for Stewardship, Discipleship and Congregational Health to take full advantage of his vast knowledge of Development and its critical relationship to ministry. He will have a unique opportunity to serve ABC-MI’s constituency in a holistic way—combining his effective service in estate planning and charitable giving with other critical aspects of financial stewardship. Congregants can grow in their personal discipleship, while strengthening the health of their local churches, as well as the wider ministries of the American Baptist Churches of Michigan, the nation, and around the world.
Dr. Nichols’ dynamic experience spans ministry from a local church pastor to the staff of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), where he served in a number of capacities from a capital campaign associate, to director of Church relations, to vice-president of business and development, and finally assistant to the president for planned giving. He returned to pastoral ministry in 1996 and remained in it until last year. Today, he is pastor emeritus of Genesis—The Church in Royal Oak, Illinois.
“I am excited to represent the American Baptist Foundation in Michigan," Nichols said. "My commitment to serving God and my experience in charitable giving should help spark an enthusiasm among the American Baptist Churches of Michigan and their people, so many of whom I know. As they learn more and more about the important opportunities of end-of-life giving, I am convinced that they will respond in very meaningful ways to supporting American Baptist mission and ministry."
Dr. Nichols earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University, and both Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from NBTS. While at NBTS, Nichols availed himself of the comprehensive training of Resource Development, Inc. in Springfield, Missouri, which contributed significantly to his planned giving acumen. Dr. Nichols and his wife, Linnea Berg, have two adult children living in the Chicago area.
“What leads me to reach out to Dr. Nichols, beyond his Development expertise, is his ability to really hear and identify with a person’s desire to give while helping him- or herself financially,” Wilson noted. “Dave is able to point that individual to a charitable giving instrument, uniquely crafted for his or her situation. The American Baptist Foundation has had significant impact in many regions around this country – and certainly around the world – thanks to the generosity of so many American Baptists encouraged by our extraordinary staff. Now we bring the Foundation to Michigan, benefiting immensely by Dave’s addition to our ranks.”
The American Baptist Foundation was established in 1985 to promote estate planning among members of the more than five thousand American Baptist churches nationwide.
The mission of the Foundation is to support and strengthen the Christian witness fulfilled by American Baptist congregations and Regional, National and International Ministries in the areas of education, discipleship, evangelism, new churches, healing and justice. The Foundation encourages individuals to include these organizations in their wills and other charitable giving plans.
Nearly $100 million in trusts, endowments, and annuities is presently under the Foundation’s management. During its more than two decades of service, the Foundation has generated over one-quarter of a billion dollars in planned gifts. These have gone to support the ministries of local churches, the mission projects and activities among 33 regional organizations, “home mission” throughout all fifty United States and international mission in more than 70 countries.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.