Endowments: A Timeless Gift

After moving to DeRidder in the 1960s, the Perrys raised their three daughters in the vibrant children's and youth programs of First DeRidder, grounding their family in the life of the church. Vic and Nell immersed themselves in nearly every aspect of congregational life.

From serving on the church council and finance committee to Nell chairing a major building renovation, the Perrys lived out their faith through steady, joyful service.

As their health began to decline in recent years, the Perrys faced the difficult decision to leave their longtime home in DeRidder. Although it was hard to consider moving away, they needed access to the assisted living care available in Houston-care they could not find in DeRidder.

Even in the midst of major life changes, one concern remained constant: ensuring their annual pledge to the church they loved would continue long after their lifetimes.

In 2021, they met with their pastor, Rev. Laraine Waughtal, to explore a planned gift.

Rev. Waughtal, a graduate of the Foundation-sponsored Practical Church Leadership program at Dakota Wesleyan University, realized during these conversations just how deeply the program had shaped her ministry. PCL gave her practical tools and real-world application-especially around the often-difficult topic of discussing finances with church members.

"Many church members want to give more but don't always know how," she reflected. Because she had practiced these conversations through her coursework, she felt fully prepared to guide the Perrys.

After family discussions and a few years of reflection, the Perrys finalized their plans in May 2025 with the help of Foundation President Chris Spencer . Together, they established the Perry Family Endowment, calculating a gift amount that would generate annual income equal to their pledge-providing support to First DeRidder in perpetuity.

This fall, the church received its first distribution. With Vic's passing in October, Nell takes comfort knowing their commitment continues automatically.

"The beauty of an endowment," Rev. Waughtal said, "is that as the church plans its budget and future fundraising, they have a consistent stream of income to build on. The Perrys' gift is forever, just as God's love is forever."

Their endowment now strengthens the church that shaped their family-and will continue for generations to come.