By year-end, the NECF Foundation would have disbursed over RM106,000 to help needy full-time workers and their family members.
Of the 11 recipients, seven are receiving help for their children’s tertiary education, two for medical expenses and two for welfare purpose. Under welfare, the Foundation is giving a monthly allowance to a former pastor, who is unable to work because of poor health, while another full-time worker is receiving a monthly allowance to help engage a maid to care for his handicapped son.
The seven receiving aid for tertiary education are getting interest-free loans which are repayable when they start working.
Besides giving financial aid to needy ministers, the Foundation is also setting up panels comprising doctors, specialists and others such as optometrists, to provide services to ministers at special rates.
Meanwhile, over 850 pastors, full-time workers and Christians have signed up for the NECF-Great Eastern insurance scheme that was launched in September. The NECF Foundation, which initiated the scheme, has helped to subsidise half the premium of more than 250 pastors in rural areas.
The Group Multiple Insurance Scheme Investment Linked with Critical Illness offers insurance coverage on injuries or death due to accidents and medical ailments at only RM30 or RM50 per month. Full-time workers may seek help from the NECF Foundation if they cannot afford to pay the premium.
Commenting on the scheme, Freddie Acho Bian – the Chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee of SIB Sarawak – said it was timely and would serve the insurance needs of pastors and their family members.
Barnabas Boon, a former staff worker with OMF and now a Research Officer with Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, shared the sentiment. “It is a very good scheme for individuals as well as for pastors and full-time workers”, he said. A church leader said the scheme was God-sent as he had planned to increase their critical illness insurance coverage but it was beyond his budget to take up individual policies. With the NECF-GE scheme, they are now able to increase their coverage.
To encourage people to join the scheme, those who sign up before October 31 need not undergo medical examination. Thereafter, all applications will be subject to underwriting and if required medical examination. However, churches may request for the promotion by contacting Lawrence Liew of Great Eastern at 019-3382687.
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