The Foundation Names a New Board Member

Dianne-Riley Gray Joins the Foundation Board of Directors

Mount Olive, NC - The North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries announces the recent addition of Mrs. Dianne B. Riley-Gray to its board of directors. Mrs. Riley-Gray brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a valued perspective to the Foundation. 

She is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, where she earned the degree of Master of Religious Education in 1984. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in 1969, and an Associate of Science degree from Mount Olive College (now the University of Mount Olive) in 1967.

Mrs. Riley-Gray began her career in elementary education before joining the admissions office at Mount Olive College, where she eventually became the Admissions Director. She also served the college as an Assistant Professor of Christian Education and then as the Director of Alumni Relations. Currently, Mrs. Riley-Gray is the Director of Church Ministry at The Free Will Baptist Children’s Home in Middlesex.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Riley-Gray has received many honors and recognitions. She was appointed by Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. to serve on the N.C. Internship Council in 1995 and then reappointed by Governor Michael F. Easley in 2002. At Mount Olive College, she was selected to teach incoming freshmen students as Freshman Faculty and taught the Introduction to Christian Education for the Department of Religion for many years. Beyond her work at Mount Olive College, Mrs. Riley-Gray presented Planning for College workshops in public and private high schools for the Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. She also served on the Scheduling Committee for that organization and was selected as one of forty-four Educational Consultants in North and South Carolina.

A very active Original Free Will Baptist, Mrs. Riley-Brown is said to “know everybody” in the denomination, though she would say that is not entirely true. For many years she has played a vital role in the OFWB Woman’s Auxiliary. She was honored by the group as their Woman of the Year with a Life Membership Award during their annual meeting in May 2000. Currently, she serves the as Auxiliary’s Vice President. Beyond her work with the Auxiliary, Mrs. Riley-Brown has served the denomination as the On-site Coordinator for the OFWB Youth Convention at Mount Olive College, a role she performed for over twenty years. She has served on the denomination’s Task Force for Youth Ministries and on the Family and Youth Ministries Council. She has been a frequent speaker at denominational events and her gift of connecting with people has often been called upon to fill pulpits for churches when pastors were away.

When she takes time for herself, Mrs. Riley-Brown enjoys traveling with her husband, Cliff, and spending time with his four children, their spouses, and the nine grandchildren. She enjoys holding her rescue cat, Fred, planning activities and worship services for the Children’s Home, watching UMO and Duke basketball, having lunch with friends, spending time at Lake Gaston, watching HGTV, and binging on Hallmark Channel movies.

The North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries is honored to have Mrs. Dianne B. Riley-Gray as its newest board member. She will be a valued asset in helping the Foundation fulfill its mission to serve Christian and educational purposes. For more information, contact the Foundation at P.O. Box 210, Mount Olive, visit their office at 201 West James St., or call 919-299-4616.

Ways of Saying “Thank You”

Creative Ways of Saying “Thank You”

By Ricky Warren, NCFCM

Originally published in the November 2014 issue of the Free Will Baptist magazine.

"And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

--From Edward Winslow of the Plymouth Colony

As a group, modern Free Will Baptists have a lot to be thankful for. Our heritage has been preserved by vigilant ministers, laypeople, and educators. Our homes, churches, and communities have advanced well beyond the poor rural context of their origin. Free Will Baptist ministries are continuing, despite economic adversity, through the generosity of our people. Free Will Baptists have a lot to be thankful for and many are seeking creative ways to express that gratitude. However, like the Pilgrims, many Free Will Baptists today find resources are limited, so a gift from their “abundance” requires some creativity. The North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries has assisted many good people in finding creative ways to say thank you from their own unrecognized “abundance.”

Creative Ways of Saying “Thank You”

One resource that is generally in abundance is time. For each person, there are twenty-four hours in a day. If used creatively, time can be used to say thank you in meaningful ways. Benjamin Franklin said, “Remember that time is money . . . waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both.” The Foundation can provide the method to turn time into monetary resources that can be used to express gratitude through a permanent legacy. Here are a few creative ways the Foundation can assist you in expressing gratitude in a significant and lasting way even if cash resources are limited.

Endowments

Through the Foundation, individuals, organizations, churches, etc. may establish an endowment – a pool of money that is never spent while its earnings are used to permanently support the causes that are important to the donor. With a small initial contribution now along with regular contributions over time, anyone can establish an endowment as a means of saying thank you.

Direct Funding of a Scholarship

Each year the Foundation awards thousands of dollars in the form of scholarships to assist students preparing for service as Free Will Baptist ministers. Cash gifts to scholarship funds of any size are welcomed and give donors the satisfaction expressing gratitude by touch lives for successive lifetimes through the work of effective Free Will Baptist ministers.

Non-Cash Donations

If cash is not available, other types of gifts may be accepted by the Foundation. These may include but are not necessarily limited to automobiles, equipment, real estate, stocks, bonds, life insurance, etc. Within IRS guidelines, such non-cash assets can be considered tax-exempt donations just like cash donations.

Bequests

Another creative way to express gratitude in a significant and lasting way is through bequests – gifts by will or trust. The Foundation can assist a person now with such planned giving for the future so that one can rest assured that even in death their charitable wishes will be carried out.

Charitable Gift Annuities

A charitable gift annuity with the Foundation provides a guaranteed income for the lifetime of one or two people in exchange for an initial cash donation. The initial gift is tax deductible and a portion of the annual distribution payments to the original donor are considered tax-free income. A charitable gift annuity is ideal for someone with cash on hand who needs to protect their assets, secure a guaranteed income, reduce their tax burden, and leave a lasting legacy.

Direct Funding of the Foundation

Supporting the Foundation itself is an ongoing way of saying thank you. Through a one-time direct gift to the Foundation or through an annual pledge, gifts of any amount can be used to ensure that good people are helped to do good things well into the future.

Conclusion

There are many creative ways to express gratitude and doing so in a lasting and significant way through the Foundation need not be out of reach of anyone. The ideas listed here are only examples; there are countless other ways that can be tailored to each person’s wishes and needs. For more information on saying “thank you” in a lasting and significant way, even if cash is limited, please contact the North Carolina Foundation for Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 210, Mount Olive, NC 28365-0210. Because the Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit Christian charitable organization, all contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible.