Our History

Envoy Financial exists to serve ministries today because two people responded to God prompting them to launch a ministry to serve the financial stewardship needs of Christians serving the Kingdom here in the United States and around the world.

In the 1980’s, Bruce Bruinsma and Bethany Palmer were financial advisors when God began revealing to them the need for pastors and ministry employees to receive sound financial counsel and better prepare for the day the paycheck stops, but the call to ministry remains.

In 1986, Bruce met with a couple planning their return from the mission field to determine what they would have to live on and despite their assurance from the mission organization that “they would be taken care of in retirement,” they were going to receive $390 per month plus $450 from Social Security.  The missionaries and Bruce were both shocked and dismayed by the amount.  Bruce knew that this situation was wrong and was compelled to prevent it from happening again.

For the next three years, Bruce worked to assist missionaries and other Christian Ministry Professionals with retirement and investment help but he discovered few solutions to delivering the help they so desperately needed.  On a trip to Mali and Timbuktu, where Bruce was assisting missionaries with financial planning, he realized that God wanted him to help His workers with their money and stewardship.

In 1991, Bethany spoke at a denominational conference about retirement planning and had 200 people respond with the need for counsel.  They were located across the country, but Bethany felt compelled to provide advice and counsel to the men and women leading churches and ministries.  Working over the phone and sending information via fax, she was able to provide the service they needed.  Provide these services in a manner different from the traditional model of face-to-face investment counsel, was a key revelation that would define Envoy Financial in the years to come.

In 1993, Bruce & Bethany designed and developed the systems to support a business model of providing financial counsel and advice from one central location to clients, regardless of their location.

In 1997, a mutual benefit non-profit corporation was established and Christian Retirement Coalition was born.  The mission of CRC was to help Christian Ministry Professionals and Christian Ministry Organizations in the areas of financial stewardship and retirement plans.

In 2002, CRC changed its name to Envoy Financial to better reflect the greater services provided to ministries.  The name envoy was selected for its meaning: trusted messenger.  Our slogan “Trusted Advice Along The Way” reflects the heart and passion of the ministry and its employees to provide trusted advice to Kingdom workers as they work today and prepare for the days of ministry to come.

Today, Envoy Financial stretches to fulfill the vision first imparted to Bruce, Bethany, and now to a growing staff of dedicated associates.  Refining and expanding how the vision is to be fulfilled is the ongoing work of the ministry.  The majority of Envoy’s staff are headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  There, Bethany Palmer serves as Executive Director, and Bruce Bruinsma continues as CEO.

KEY TURNING POINTS IN OUR MINISTRY

• Seeing the need for biblically-based financial stewardship counseling
• Realizing that the need can be met via phone, the Internet, email and fax
• Understanding that "retirement" is not only a reward for past service, but a stepping-stone to a "Future-Funded Ministry"™
• Tailoring a service plan for the different categories of people we serve: e.g., Head of the Organization, Board Members, Payroll Administrator, Decision Maker and the Christian Ministry Professionals (employees)
• Identifying and filling the need to add group benefits and benefit consulting services
• Identifying and defining the key roles of our ministry, which include:

  Personal Stewardship Counselors 
  Stewardship Directors 
  Stewardship Specialists 
  Benefits Specialists 
  Organizational Specialists 
  Ministry Implementation Specialists
  Ministry Service Coordinators
  CMP Service Specialists 
  Ministry Support Specialists

We praise God for the opportunity to serve you.  We thank Him for the team He is building to accomplish God’s plan for financial stewardship and wisdom in the lives of His people.  Our goal is to have 50% of all ministries worldwide think first of Envoy Financial as their primary resource for their retirement and benefits needs.

For more information on how we can serve your ministry, contact Jeff Gater at (888) 879-1376, ext. 209 , or by email.  We look forward to serving you.  Our ministry is to serve your ministry.

Envoy Financial