The PCA’s Ministerial Relief fund provides critical financial help to support widows.
You’re probably familiar with the financial plight of many modern-day millennials: drowning in student debt, supplementing their income with part-time jobs, struggling to pay rent and insurance premiums with nothing left to build a savings account or contribute to their retirement. The net worth of Americans under the age of 35 has fallen by more than a third since 1996, according to a study by Deloitte. It is increasingly difficult for millennials to make ends meet. It takes work to become financially secure.
Imagine being financially vulnerable except you’re single and over the age of 70. That’s the reality for most widows.
GIVE RELIEF TO WIDOWS AND PASTORS — TODAY
Many PCA pastors are not prepared for retirement, and that means their widows need all the help they can get. Recently we heard a story from Anna, one of our pastor’s wives. Anna’s husband, Robert, was a pastor who, late in his ministry, lost his retirement pay after feeling called to leave the PCUS for the PCA. While Anna’s husband never talked or complained about losing his retirement, money was tight.
As Robert grew older, his favorite song became “Little is Much if God is in it.” While Robert and Anna never had much and sometimes had nothing at all, they trusted God to provide for them. But Anna is a widow now and she is struggling to make ends meet. Anna’s vulnerable situation is one that far too many pastors’ wives find themselves in after their husband’s passing. Your donation to the PCA Relief Fund is one of many ways that God blesses and provides for Anna and other PCA Pastor’s Widows.
According to the nonprofit Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), half of widows experience a household income decline of 50% or more after the death of a spouse. Trying to become financially secure is especially hard for recently widowed women. Another statistical analysis by the Social Security Administration shows that there were 4.5 million Americans over the age of 65 living in poverty in 2016 and two-thirds of them were women.
The financial burdens that come with losing a partner are immense and immediate, and many women are not equipped to deal with the sudden cost of mortgage or rent. A 2018 survey by Merril Lynch and New Wave showed that only 14% of widows were making financial decisions by themselves before their spouse died and 69% of widows said “becoming the sole financial decision-maker” was the top financial challenge for them.
The financial situation that widows are forced into following the death of a spouse is not unlike the predicament someone in their 20s might find themselves in after moving out of their parent’s home or graduating college. Suddenly everything becomes expensive and you’re saddled with recurring payments for which you aren’t prepared. You have to hustle and find work to keep up. For a twenty-something female that might look like becoming an Uber driver at night, finding a roommate to save on rent, or selling handiwork online. For a widow, cutting costs can look like canning vegetables, selling household items, moving in with family members, or relocating to a cheaper home.
It isn’t unusual for pastors’ widows to have incomes close to or below the Federal Poverty Level. Many served under a low salary structure and were not able to adequately participate in a retirement plan. It’s hard for them to keep up with basic bills, but there is a way to help. The PCA Ministerial Relief Offering is designed to provide assistance to retired and disabled pastors, their widows, and dependent children in need through one-time, periodic, or monthly financial aid. Many of those who will receive assistance are single females advanced in age.
Learn more about the work of PCA Ministerial Relief and donate to help widows experiencing financial distress.
For more than 50 years, Geneva Benefits Group has been committed to serving those who serve the Church. Established by the PCA General Assembly in 1973, Geneva was entrusted with a clear and enduring mission: to care for pastors, ministry workers, and their families—not just in seasons of flourishing but in moments of real need.
At the heart of that mission is the Relief Fund.
The Relief Fund exists to provide financial assistance and compassionate support to PCA pastors, widows, and ministry families facing hardship. Whether the need arises from illness, loss, or unexpected crisis, the goal is simple: to ensure that those who have given their lives to ministry are not left to carry those burdens alone.
This work is overseen by the Geneva team and guided by people who understand ministry life firsthand. Many on our team are pastors themselves and have spent years walking alongside ministry families. Financial planners, staff members, and committee leaders bring both professional expertise and pastoral care to every situation.
Because behind every application is a real story.
A Thoughtful and Pastoral Application Process
The Relief Fund is available to PCA pastors, widows, and ministry families experiencing financial hardship. The circumstances vary, but often include medical crises, disability, loss of income, or the death of a pastor—leaving a spouse or family navigating both grief and financial uncertainty.
Applying for assistance is designed to be a private, respectful, and pastoral experience. Applicants are invited to share their circumstances in a way that helps Geneva understand both the financial need and the broader context of their situation. Financial information is gathered but always with an emphasis on dignity, confidentiality, and care.
No one is treated like a number. Every application represents a person, a family, and a story that matters.
How Relief Fund Grants Are Prayerfully Distributed
Once an application is submitted, it is carefully reviewed by Geneva’s Financial Assistance Committee. This team includes financial leaders, pastoral staff, and experienced advisors who bring both wisdom and compassion to the process.
Each request is approached with prayerful discernment. In many cases, applicants also meet with a Geneva financial planner to gain a clearer understanding of their financial picture and to receive guidance on next steps. This ensures that assistance is not only timely, but also thoughtful and sustainable.
Several factors are considered in determining how relief is given:
- The nature and urgency of the need
- The applicant’s available resources
- The long-term impact and sustainability of support
Support may come in the form of a one-time emergency grant or ongoing assistance for more extended situations. Each case is handled individually, with care taken to tailor support to the specific need. Relief is delivered as quickly and practically as possible—meeting people where they are, when they need it most.
How Your Generosity Changes Lives
Every dollar distributed through the Relief Fund begins as a gift.
Donors make this work possible by giving generously to support pastors, widows, and ministry families they may never meet but with whom they share a deep bond in Christ. These gifts are carefully stewarded by Geneva to ensure both immediate impact and long-term sustainability.
Supporting the Relief Fund is relational, not transactional. To give to the Relief Fund is to participate in the care of the Church. It’s a way of saying, “You are not forgotten.” It’s a tangible expression of gratitude for those who have spent their lives serving others.
The impact of your generosity is literally life-changing:
“My wife and I would not have made it financially for the last few years without the help from the Relief Fund.” -Scott, PCA Pastor
“When I got the call that I was going to be given help, I cried for 20 minutes straight on the phone…It felt like a miracle and that the Lord saw me.” -Jen, Widow
“Without the Relief Fund, I don’t know where I would be. I could very well be homeless. I have no family that can help. I can’t say enough good things about this ministry.” -Kimberlee
Time and again, these gifts become lifelines—helping families stay afloat, covering essential expenses, and providing stability in seasons that might otherwise feel overwhelming.
A Growing Need
As the PCA continues to grow and mature, so do the needs within it.
More pastors are reaching retirement age. More widows are living longer and requiring ongoing care. At the same time, rising healthcare costs and financial pressures are increasing the strain on ministry families.
The need for the Relief Fund is growing.
And with that growth comes an opportunity for the church to respond–to live out its calling as a connected, caring body, and to ensure that those who have faithfully served are, in turn, faithfully supported.
How to Get Involved
At its core, the Relief Fund is a bridge.
It connects those in need with those who are able to give. It reflects a shared commitment to care for one another across churches, cities, and generations. It honors the service of pastors and ministry families by ensuring they are not alone in times of hardship.
“You often don’t know the struggles and trials your pastor, his family, and other ministry workers endure. They often put on a great public face while having many internal struggles and weariness in the ups and downs of hard ministry work. Being able to provide relief is essential for helping those who serve the Lord openly and, in their calling, when they have extraordinary need.” – Relief Fund Monthly Sustainer
This is what it looks like to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). And it is an invitation:
- To pray for those in need
- To give to the Relief Fund as you are able
- To apply for help
As we support one another in times of need, the Church becomes a clearer picture of Christ’s love and care for His people.
Geneva Benefits Group serves those who serve others, providing practical support for the financial, physical, and mental wellbeing of people who work in full-time ministry.
