"In 1918," Hawkins said, "our founder William Lunsford stood before this group and made this pledge to the pastors, 'Give yourself wholeheartedly to the work. We'll stand back of you. If you fall in the work we'll care for you; if you die, we will not allow your family to suffer. If you grow old in the work, we'll comfort you in your declining years.'

"And we've never gotten away from our founder's vision," Hawkins said.

INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

The Wall Street Journal, Thomson Reuters and Investment News honored GuideStone Funds March 8 in New York City with the 2012 Lipper Award for Best Overall Small Fund Group in the U.S., rating the funds No. 1 out of 182 eligible companies with up to $40 billion in assets.

"William Lunsford would rejoice with us today in the incredible investment success that God has given to GuideStone, receiving the highest honors in the investment world," Hawkins said.

Additionally, ratings firm fi360 ranked GuideStone Funds No. 1 out of 223 mutual fund families for the quarter ending March 31, 2012.

HEALTHCARE

While citing the addition of Cigna to the group plan options offered by GuideStone, Hawkins acknowledged that the biggest news regarding healthcare revolved around the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare.

"Many of you know that the Catholics have taken a litigation route related to this," Hawkins said. "We're taking a legislative route with other denominational pension funds, working side-by-side trying to get legislation that is going to fix some of the things that are involved in this. We're also trying to work with the administration."

While emphasizing that GuideStone seeks to work legislatively and administratively, Hawkins said GuideStone would not compromise its core convictions.

"I was talking to our new president a moment ago and I asked Fred Luter when he goes to Washington, as he surely will very soon, to take a message from us, and that is: GuideStone Financial Resources will never allow this administration to tell us that we have to provide abortive drugs like morning-after pills or provide for same-sex marriages," Hawkins said to applause in the hall.

PROPERTY & CASUALTY

Hawkins discussed a new partnership with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company to provide property and casualty insurance.

"We found a real partner in Brotherhood Mutual," Hawkins said. Citing their similar age and heritage to GuideStone and calling them "our Anabaptist cousins," Hawkins said Brotherhood Mutual is one of the top property and casualty leaders in the nation. Continued...