Sage Appleby Assumes Texas Field Director Post
Sage Appleby, from the Dallas area, is the newest Stonecroft staff member. She began her duties as the Field Director for Texas on Oct. 1.
Active with Stonecroft as a volunteer since 2012, Sage has served in many roles including Vice Chair, Stonecroft Bible Studies Guide, hub leader, and a founding member of the Military Team at Fort Hood (Texas). Most recently, she served in the volunteer position of Stonecroft Regional Developer in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
“Sage has served faithfully in many areas of leadership with Stonecroft. She is smart, passionate, and loves the mission,” said Sarah LeBlanc, Director of Field Ministry. “I love that Sage has a passion to connect women with each other and with Jesus, and I am excited to see all that happens in Texas through Sage’s leadership.”
A native of Indiana, Sage met Paul, her husband of 10 years, in Georgia where they began the adventure of pastoring throughout Georgia and Texas. In addition to serving as a pastor’s wife and reaching women through Stonecroft, Sage loves hiking, camping, cooking, and traveling with her husband.
“I am excited to serve the volunteers as the staff has served me. Stonecroft is a family, and I love being a part of it,” said Sage. “I am looking forward to helping love 1 million women to Christ by 2025. I can’t believe we get to be a part of this!”
As Field Director, Sage will work out of her home in the Dallas area.
Donate Now, Receive a Rally Kit
Want to be a part of the Stonecroft Rally but don’t know how to begin? Check out the soon-to-be-released Rally Kit, a box filled with inspirational goodies that will help you grow in your faith as you become a confident, loving messenger of the Gospel to the women around you.
One of the limited edition items in the kit is Evangelistic Prayer: A Daily Journal. Its beautiful embossed, floral print cover and designed quote pages are sure to inspire delight in your prayer time for others. This interactive journal walks you through effective, loving prayers for people who do not yet know Jesus.
Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, easily fits in a tote bag or large purse. Handy at all times or for your special place of prayer.
Pages: 96, including 76 journaling pages to record specific prayers, requests, and updates for each person the Holy Spirit puts on your heart.
Binding: Plastic coil for lay-flat pages and easy writing.
Feature pages: pre-written evangelistic prayers and stylized, inspirational Scriptures, quotes, and relational evangelism tips.
Rally Kits are available for a minimum donation of $35. Descriptions of other Rally Kit items can be found on the kit’s donation page stonecroft.org/join-the-rally.
Catching the Rally Fever
Twenty Stonecroft leaders from Missouri and Arkansas visited the Stonecroft Home Office in Overland Park, Kansas, last month. Even though the visit was just for a few hours, they left with a clear vision for how God is leading Stonecroft’s future and its impact on the women of our country.
“It’s good to have a feeling of unity,” said Annelise Stoker of Eureka, Missouri, who has been involved with Stonecroft for 22 years. “Getting together helps us feel like we belong to a bigger organization than just our local group.”
Marilyn Haldiman, Chair of the Springfield (Missouri) Christian Women’s Connection and involved in Stonecroft for 30 years, sensed an excitement for the present and the future. “I am really encouraged that the Stonecroft ministry is still vital and vibrant now and for the coming generations,” she said.
Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton, President and CEO, described the God-sized Rally vision to love 1 million women toward Jesus by 2025. She also explained that if every Stonecroft woman would share the Gospel with two women a year, the 1 million-women goal could be reached.
“Women sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with two other women a year seems doable – especially knowing the Holy Spirit is doing the work,” Marilyn said.
The groups left feeling encouraged in their ministry and in the Rally. “The takeaway for me is that as we’re sharing in the vision we can be more intentional while organizing our luncheons, knowing we are not working in isolation,” said Annelise.
Show us Your Fall Fundraiser Fun!
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| (From left) Barbara Pittman and Chris Balsano of the Riverside, California, Women’s Connection enjoyed showing off their Country Fair items last year, including a “Big Wreath” studded with gift cards and other items worth $600 total. Send us your photos from your Fall Fundraiser fun! |
Fall Fundraisers are still going strong! If you’ve already had your Fall Fundraiser, please send in your photos with a media release form found HERE (login required). We’d love to share photos in Stonecroft social media and possibly other publications. Please send them to [email protected] .
It would be helpful if you could simply send some information about what you did, number of first-time guests/commitments, speaker, fundraiser theme and activity, or other interesting information to [email protected]. Thanks for helping us keep the fun going throughout the season!
Theme Aprons – Have you bought your Recipe for Success apron yet? They’re a great way to designate your event team at your Fall Fundraiser. You can also use them in your promotional photos, as giveaways throughout the year, and in your auction baskets. We have a limited supply, so order soon! Go here for product details and to order.
Thanks for helping us keep the fun going throughout the season!
70 ½ or older? Gift Your Required Minimum Distribution, Lower Taxable Income
If you plan to make a year-end gift(s), consider gifting all or a portion of your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) up to $100,000 to the charitable causes you are passionate about. Here’s why:
- An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) rollover counts against your RMD for the year and comes out of taxable IRA funds.
- As a taxpayer, it is smart to reduce your Adjusted Gross Income because that is what determines the income tax on your Social Security benefits and the amount of your Medicare premiums.
Contact your IRA custodian and tell them you want to make an IRA rollover gift to Stonecroft. Do not take money out of your IRA. If you do, you’ll be taxed on the money. The custodian must mail a check for the gift to Stonecroft postmarked by Dec. 31, 2019.
This information is not intended as tax, legal, or financial advice. Gift results may vary. Consult your personal financial adviser for information specific to your situation.
For more information on saving taxes through planned giving, visit stonecroft.org/donate and click on Lifetime Giving. Or contact Joan Johnson, Stewardship Manager, by phone at 800.525.8627, ext. 8863, or email [email protected].