DONOR STORIES OF IMPACT

Catherine and Tom

TEAM Retiree Couple Finds a Win-Win 


Retired TEAM office worker Catherine* and her husband, Tom* know the win-win benefits of a TEAM gift annuity. In 1999, Catherine’s brother funded a gift annuity as a way to provide secure income for her during retirement. Later, Catherine and Tom funded two additional gift annuities. 


Now in their 90’s, they recently used funds from a matured Certificate of Deposit (CD) to establish a fourth gift annuity at a rate of 8.4% that will provide fixed payments for the rest of their lives. Thirty-five years after Catherine’s retirement from TEAM, the couple also continues to support TEAM global workers. 


Catherine and Tom are thrilled that whatever remains in their four gift annuities after their lives will stay with TEAM to impact future generations for Christ.   


*names have been changed



John and Shirley Bennett

An Avenue of Service to God 


For John and Shirley Bennett, TEAM was not only their “avenue of service to God,” as Shirley says, but also how the Lord brought them together. John served as a physician in South Africa for 12 years before returning to the States to work as the Medical Director at TEAM’s headquarters in Wheaton, Illinois. 


Likewise, Shirley had spent 11 years on the mission field in Zimbabwe when God called her back to the U.S. to serve as the Administrative Assistant to TEAM’s International Director, Dr. Vernon Mortensen. It was there in the TEAM home office that John and Shirley met. John noted Shirley’s commitment to the Lord’s work through TEAM, and their connection grew. The couple married in 1975 and continued to serve through TEAM in various capacities for many years.   


John and Shirley made the decision to include TEAM in their will when they first married and never wavered in that conviction. “TEAM’s priority is to share God’s Word worldwide,” says Shirley. “Whether involved in medical, education, church planting or other means, we are commanded to ‘go into all the world and preach the Gospel.’” 


Shirley encourages those who are considering a gift to TEAM. “Anyone who is planning to give to TEAM can be assured that their gift will be used judiciously, wisely, and frugally,” she says. Her hope is that “many more individuals will see TEAM as their ‘avenue of service to God.’”


Doug and Laura Snyder

A Legacy of Loyalty 


Doug and Laura Snyder have a passion for the next generation of Kingdom workers. Their work with TEAM began as global workers in central Asia and continued when they returned to the U.S. 


The Snyders started visiting colleges on behalf of TEAM, sharing about God’s work among Muslims. They encouraged young people to see their responsibility to share Christ with others — and how fun and fulfilling that work could be. The Snyders loved to “go to bat” for Muslims so students could get a positive glimpse of these “mysterious” people. 


One example of the fruit borne from these efforts occurred when Doug and Laura made a return visit to central Asia. A young language student approached Doug and said, “I know you. You and your wife talked about Muslims in my class at Wheaton College. I’m here because of you.” 


It’s this type of legacy that prompted the Snyders to include TEAM in their will. “Legacy and loyalty go hand in hand,” Doug explains. “TEAM has helped us to exercise our gifts in serving for many years. We want others to have the same opportunity.”

Doug and Jane Batchelder

‘We Want to Make Sure TEAM’s Mission Continues’ 


“We want to continue our Kingdom impact even after we’ve been ‘promoted’ to heaven,” Doug Batchelder says. That’s why he and his wife, Jane, chose to put TEAM in their will. 


The couple first learned about TEAM while Doug was pastoring a church. The congregation sent two couples to the mission field through TEAM — one to Japan, the other to South Africa. As Doug got to know the two couples, he also got to know TEAM and its disciple-making mission. He was so impressed, he eventually took a job on TEAM’s staff, equipping believers to partner with TEAM through prayer and financial support.


“My time in TEAM has been the highlight of my ministry career,” Doug reflects. As he and Jane considered their legacy, it was a natural step to make TEAM a beneficiary of their will. “We love the mission of TEAM and value how it has stayed true to the Gospel over its long history,” Doug says. “We want to make sure that the mission continues!”


John and Judy Nicely

All-In for God’s Work through TEAM 


John and Judy Nicely have been “all-in” with God’s Work through TEAM since they entered the mission field in 1989. First, they wholeheartedly responded to meet a short-term, emergency need for teachers – landing on Venezuelan soil a mere 30 days after they heard the call. Just a few years later, John and Judy faithfully served an additional 7 years in Venezuela, followed by 8 years in Spain. Since returning to the States in 2010, John has served in a number of roles, most recently in the Finance Department, while Judy has served in caring for and training TEAM’s MKs. 


John and Judy share that their many years with TEAM, both in the field as well as in the home office, have given evidence of TEAM’s unwavering commitment to its mission to send disciples who make disciples and establish missional churches to the glory of God. 


“TEAM has shown itself to be flexible and adaptable,” says John. “TEAM does a good job of trying to strike the balance between new and innovative, but at the same time, remembering the lessons that we learned from history.” 


When it came to considering an estate gift to TEAM, John says, “To us, it was a no-brainer. We’re all-in with TEAM. We left our careers, our family, and our home to be all-in with TEAM. Why not part of our will, too? To me, the question is, why wouldn’t we do this?” 



Is Your Story Next?

Leave Your Own Legacy


Did you know there are creative ways to support TEAM? Ways in which TEAM, you and your loved ones all benefit at the same time? Such giving techniques are called “planned gifts”, because with thoughtful planning, you create win-win solutions for you and TEAM. There are a variety of ways you can give,


  • Name TEAM in Your Will or Trust
  • Beneficiary designation in an investment or retirement account
  • Charitable Gift Annuity


Not sure how to get started or need some help updating your estate plans? Request a free Estate Planning Guide and Will Starter Kit by emailing 

jeanne.conder@team.org.

Learn More Today!

Catherine and Tom

TEAM Retiree Couple Finds a Win-Win 


Retired TEAM office worker Catherine* and her husband, Tom* know the win-win benefits of a TEAM gift annuity. In 1999, Catherine’s brother funded a gift annuity as a way to provide secure income for her during retirement. Later, Catherine and Tom funded two additional gift annuities. 


Now in their 90’s, they recently used funds from a matured Certificate of Deposit (CD) to establish a fourth gift annuity at a rate of 8.4% that will provide fixed payments for the rest of their lives. Thirty-five years after Catherine’s retirement from TEAM, the couple also continues to support TEAM global workers. 


Catherine and Tom are thrilled that whatever remains in their four gift annuities after their lives will stay with TEAM to impact future generations for Christ.   


*names have been changed



John and Shirley Bennett

An Avenue of Service to God 


For John and Shirley Bennett, TEAM was not only their “avenue of service to God,” as Shirley says, but also how the Lord brought them together. John served as a physician in South Africa for 12 years before returning to the States to work as the Medical Director at TEAM’s headquarters in Wheaton, Illinois. 


Likewise, Shirley had spent 11 years on the mission field in Zimbabwe when God called her back to the U.S. to serve as the Administrative Assistant to TEAM’s International Director, Dr. Vernon Mortensen. It was there in the TEAM home office that John and Shirley met. John noted Shirley’s commitment to the Lord’s work through TEAM, and their connection grew. The couple married in 1975 and continued to serve through TEAM in various capacities for many years.   


John and Shirley made the decision to include TEAM in their will when they first married and never wavered in that conviction. “TEAM’s priority is to share God’s Word worldwide,” says Shirley. “Whether involved in medical, education, church planting or other means, we are commanded to ‘go into all the world and preach the Gospel.’” 


Shirley encourages those who are considering a gift to TEAM. “Anyone who is planning to give to TEAM can be assured that their gift will be used judiciously, wisely, and frugally,” she says. Her hope is that “many more individuals will see TEAM as their ‘avenue of service to God.’”


Doug and Laura Snyder

A Legacy of Loyalty 


Doug and Laura Snyder have a passion for the next generation of Kingdom workers. Their work with TEAM began as global workers in central Asia and continued when they returned to the U.S. 


The Snyders started visiting colleges on behalf of TEAM, sharing about God’s work among Muslims. They encouraged young people to see their responsibility to share Christ with others — and how fun and fulfilling that work could be. The Snyders loved to “go to bat” for Muslims so students could get a positive glimpse of these “mysterious” people. 


One example of the fruit borne from these efforts occurred when Doug and Laura made a return visit to central Asia. A young language student approached Doug and said, “I know you. You and your wife talked about Muslims in my class at Wheaton College. I’m here because of you.” 


It’s this type of legacy that prompted the Snyders to include TEAM in their will. “Legacy and loyalty go hand in hand,” Doug explains. “TEAM has helped us to exercise our gifts in serving for many years. We want others to have the same opportunity.”

Doug and Jane Batchelder

‘We Want to Make Sure TEAM’s Mission Continues’ 


“We want to continue our Kingdom impact even after we’ve been ‘promoted’ to heaven,” Doug Batchelder says. That’s why he and his wife, Jane, chose to put TEAM in their will. 


The couple first learned about TEAM while Doug was pastoring a church. The congregation sent two couples to the mission field through TEAM — one to Japan, the other to South Africa. As Doug got to know the two couples, he also got to know TEAM and its disciple-making mission. He was so impressed, he eventually took a job on TEAM’s staff, equipping believers to partner with TEAM through prayer and financial support.


“My time in TEAM has been the highlight of my ministry career,” Doug reflects. As he and Jane considered their legacy, it was a natural step to make TEAM a beneficiary of their will. “We love the mission of TEAM and value how it has stayed true to the Gospel over its long history,” Doug says. “We want to make sure that the mission continues!”


John and Judy Nicely

All-In for God’s Work through TEAM 


John and Judy Nicely have been “all-in” with God’s Work through TEAM since they entered the mission field in 1989. First, they wholeheartedly responded to meet a short-term, emergency need for teachers – landing on Venezuelan soil a mere 30 days after they heard the call. Just a few years later, John and Judy faithfully served an additional 7 years in Venezuela, followed by 8 years in Spain. Since returning to the States in 2010, John has served in a number of roles, most recently in the Finance Department, while Judy has served in caring for and training TEAM’s MKs. 


John and Judy share that their many years with TEAM, both in the field as well as in the home office, have given evidence of TEAM’s unwavering commitment to its mission to send disciples who make disciples and establish missional churches to the glory of God. 


“TEAM has shown itself to be flexible and adaptable,” says John. “TEAM does a good job of trying to strike the balance between new and innovative, but at the same time, remembering the lessons that we learned from history.” 


When it came to considering an estate gift to TEAM, John says, “To us, it was a no-brainer. We’re all-in with TEAM. We left our careers, our family, and our home to be all-in with TEAM. Why not part of our will, too? To me, the question is, why wouldn’t we do this?” 



Is Your Story Next?

Leave Your Own Legacy


Did you know there are creative ways to support TEAM? Ways in which TEAM, you and your loved ones all benefit at the same time? Such giving techniques are called “planned gifts”, because with thoughtful planning, you create win-win solutions for you and TEAM. There are a variety of ways you can give,


  • Name TEAM in Your Will or Trust
  • Beneficiary designation in an investment or retirement account
  • Charitable Gift Annuity


Not sure how to get started or need some help updating your estate plans? Request a free Estate Planning Guide and Will Starter Kit by emailing 

jeanne.conder@team.org.New Paragraph

Learn More Today!
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