The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma

Have you ever contemplated whether your life makes an impact?

Columnist Jim Priest stirred my thoughts in a recent article where he asked that question. He then went on to compare and contrast the lives of two men: Max Juke and Johnathan Edwards.

Juke was an avowed atheist who had no formal education. He was adverse to work, a hard drinker and fathered many illegitimate children. In contrast, Edwards was God-fearing and a Bible-believing evangelist credited with igniting the Great Awakening. He was briefly president of Princeton University and authored books on physical fitness and kindness.

Undoubtedly, their lives affected their families, but what about the influence on the generations that followed? What was their legacy?

Juke had 1,026 descendents: 300 convicts (27 murderers); 190 prostitutes; 509 alcoholics/drug addicts.

Edwards had 929 descendents: 13 college presidents, 86 college professors, 430 ministers, 314 veterans, 100 attorneys, 30 judges, 75 authors, 66 physicians and 80 public servants, including three governors, one U.S. vice president, and one controller of the U.S. Treasury.

Obviously, their life choices—how they spent their time and where they focused their attention--had monumental, far-reaching consequences.

I recently asked Foundation board members if they ever wonder if their sacrifices as board members make an impact.

These are men and women who have committed time--time away from their families and their businesses--to diligently guide the Foundation in its role of promoting charitable planned giving and financial management of the gifts that strengthen Southern Baptist ministries.

The impact is that students are able to attend an exceptional Christian university like OBU, senior adults have quality programs and housing at Baptist Village Communities, the BGCO’s ministries such as Disaster Relief receives funding to help in our state and around the world, and children receive guidance in a loving, Christian family setting at Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children.

Do you ever wonder if your life and sacrifices make an impact?

Robert K. Kellogg
President & CEO
The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma