Dearest Friends, 

Market volatility is not for the faint of heart. It is in these times that we must truly put our trust in God.  Although financial markets have been shaken with the uncertainty of Covid-19, the disruptions to the market are a result of the efforts to contain this devastating virus. And while it is difficult to find a silver lining, I will pray for patience with the market if it means that proper prevention and health measures are being put in place to ‘flatten the curve’ and buy us time to find a treatment. During this time, I want you to know that we are praying for you and that we are here for you.  I am also here to remind you to stay focused on the long-term. A brighter day is coming and when that day is here, we will rejoice together.

In the meantime, keep things in perspective as it relates to the market. We have all been told that the best way to know the future is to analyze the past, so consider some other disruptive times in history. The table below shows how the stock market responded during these historical times, and the following 12 months.

The global economy will recover at some point. There is historical evidence that it may even recover in a V- or U-shaped fashion. Morningstar provides us with the following information to consider: 

In other words, stay the course.  Yes this time is uncertain and yes it has brought a large amount of unwelcome adjustments and difficulty, but the Foundation remains committed to serving you and your church.  We are entering our 55th year of service. We have seen storms and we have prevailed, and we believe you will too.  We continue to pray for you and we are here for you.  

Your Partner in Ministry,