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![]() One of my favorite stories of history relates to the famous Duke of Wellington. Born Arthur Wellesley, Wellington was a British soldier and statesman who was nicknamed “The Iron Duke.” He became famous when, as a general, he led his troops in overcoming the armies of the French Emperor Napoleon I in Spain and Portugal. He later helped defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. In his final years, Wellington became a leader of the Tory Party and served as prime minister. It continues to be our great joy and privilege to serve our Lord and Savior and His Church through the ministry of the Michigan Association of Regular Baptist Churches. Hardly a day goes by without recognizing in some practical way the importance and benefits of this ministry to the churches and servants in our network. My report shares a few of the reasons why this has been true in the past year.
Housing Allowance reminder.
Churches must designate a portion of each minister’s compensation as a housing allowance by December 31, 2018, in order for ministers who own or rent their homes to receive the full benefit of a housing allowance exclusion for calendar year 2018. The designation should be adopted during a regular or special meeting of the church board, and should be contained in the written minutes of the meeting. Churches should designate a parsonage allowance for any minister who lives in a parsonage and who is expected to pay some of the expenses of maintaining the parsonage (e.g., utilities, furnishings, repairs, improvements, yard care). For sample housing and parsonage allowance resolutions, see chapter 6 in Richard Hammar’s 2017 Church and Clergy Tax Guide. Source: Richard Hammar’s Essential Reminders. IF I WERE GOD…
Would I have come to earth as a babe To be born in a run down manger, Surrounded by malodorous animals Who to a baby could mean danger? We thank God for His abundant blessings as we minister together for God’s glory and on behalf of the MARBC fellowship. What a joy it is to meet so many wonderful servants of God in our frequent travels. We are encouraged by your expressions of appreciation and prayer support.
One of our ministry road trips in Michigan recently afforded us a luxury that people over 60 years ago could not enjoy. We will journey into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and back via the Mackinac Bridge. No matter how many times you cross its magnificent five-mile span, you are amazed by this amazing structure and its impact upon the region.
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