GuideStone establishes regional relationship manager role in Georgia

DULUTH — In 2019, Georgia Baptist Executive Director W. Thomas Hammond Jr. sat down with leadership at GuideStone Financial Services. Since helping pastors better manage their finances falls under the umbrella of Pastor Wellness, the subject had become a priority for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.  

As they discussed what the restructured Mission Board would look like, GuideStone leadership asked, “What do you want from us? How can we help?” Hammond recounted at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention during his Executive Director Report.  

Hammond replied, “Here’s what I want. I want a full-time GuideStone person in our building, in our office, working for just Georgia Baptist pastors and our staff. And that’s it.”  

Naturally, GuideStone leadership explained, “We don’t do it like that.” 

“Well, you asked me what I wanted,” Hammond recounted the conversation to amused GBC messengers and guests. “That’s what I want.”  

Earlier this month, that wish was granted as Shawn Dorrough, a senior regional relationship manager at GuideStone Financial Services, brought his role to the Georgia Baptist Building in Duluth to “better serve the churches, pastors, and staff with their retirement, investment, and insurance needs, while building stronger relationships and strengthening our existing partnerships with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and local associations,” Dorrough shared.  

GuideStone is “fully aware of the unique needs pastors and their staff face,” and therefore, in his role in Georgia, Dorrough will help pastors create a “competitive, personalized” plan for retirement as well as provide an “in-depth educational program, plan management tools, and client service team with our pastors and staff in mind.” 

Helping others cross the bridge 

Dorrough, who has a business finance degree from Dallas Baptist University and an MBA in leadership from Amberton University, has been working with GuideStone since 2002. He holds Series 7 and 63 security licenses that equip him to serve SBC churches and staff with their retirement needs. His time at GuideStone additionally qualifies him to answer medical, life, and property insurance questions for GuideStone participants.  

“I believe that serving those who serve the Lord is my ministry,” Dorrough, who began his financial career helping individuals, couples, and small businesses prepare for retirement, said. 

However, he “realized that something was missing,” he shared. “My heart longed to make a bigger difference for the Kingdom so when God opened the door for me to join GuideStone I knew He was calling me to follow a different path.” 

Dorrough is passionate about assisting pastors with their financial planning because, “at GuideStone our mission is to, ‘Serve those who serve the Lord with the integrity of our hearts and the skillfulness of our hands,’ Dorrough said. “And because of this, we are driven by more than just the bottom line.”  

“One of the most fulfilling things in life is when you get to help others cross a bridge that they may have struggled to cross alone,” he continued. “I believe every time I help a pastor or staff member with their retirement questions, goals, or strategies, I am helping them, their families, and their churches prepare for the next season of life, whenever that may occur.” 

“Serving pastors and churches has been a fulfilling ministry for the last 17 years,” Dorrough reflected as he moves his role to Georgia, “and I look forward too many more years of ahead of me.”