The NECF Foundation is negotiating with an insurance company to provide insurance coverage to ministers at a significantly lower premium as part of the foundation’s ongoing initiative to enhance ministers’ welfare. (Ministers refer to pastors, full-time workers and missionaries.)
The scheme will include a retirement plan besides the usual insurance coverage of hospitalisation and medical expenses, accidents and permanent disability.
Although the scheme was originally designed for ministers, it will also be offered to Christians attending churches which are members of NECF, and NECF’s Asscociate Members.
“We are extending to Christians because the insurance company has proposed a sizeable discount on the premium if we have a larger number of participants,” said NECF Secretary-General Rev. Wong Kim Kong. “But we aim to help our ministers who wish to participate in the scheme by providing them subsidies on the premium,” he added.
Rev. Wong stressed the importance of adequate insurance coverage to meet the material needs arising from unexpected events such as death and permanent disability. He has witnessed cases where pastors unexpectedly passed away, leaving their wives and children without any financial support.
“Ideally, the church should take over the care of the bereaved family members but sometimes, this is not possible,” he said. NECF has identified the scheme and will be presenting it to the NECF Council for discussion and approval. It hopes to introduce the scheme within the first quarter of next year. |
