Good News - August 2020

COVER STORY 25 AUGUST 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Laria, Chief Financial Officer of OneHope, Inc., said, “One of the reasons we bank with ANB is because I feel like I have a community banker. I actually have some- one who cares about me, our mission, our ministry, and Ginger is a woman of faith too, so she really appreciates what we do around the world.” And what a time to have a community bank that knows you, works with you personally and has your cell phone on speed dial. “In March when we were shut- ting down the economy, donors were calling and saying my business is closed. I don’t think I can continue to give at my usually pace,” explained Laria. “With rev- enues down, the staff were all scared to death, but with the confidence we were going to get the PPP with Ginger’s help, we were able to say we’re not going to knee jerk react. We could commit to the whole staff to keep them on board until June 30th….Ginger and her staff were so responsive. We were successful in get- ting our loan approved right out of the gate, the first week. It went through on a Monday and we were funded that same day.” 4KIDS of South Florida also received funding for their PPP loan through ANB. “From the beginning we felt confidence in their ability to navigate us through the PPP loan process,” said Kevin Enders, president of 4KIDS of South Florida. “Many kids are not safer at home during the COVID-19 shutdown, and we need to continue to recruit, train and license excellent foster families... The help we re- ceived from the American National Bank team allowed us to focus on new inter- ventions to kids and families in the communities we serve.” Making a difference Calculating the total number of employees represented by the PPP Loans they funded, Ginger figured more than 7,000 people continued to be paid. “Those 7,000 people, those are families, people’s livelihood, how they’re going to pay their bills. And here’s what we saw too. Some companies really would not have survived without the PPP money. Even the company where I receive physical therapy, the owner has become a friend, and she told me, ‘I would have had to lay people off and close the doors if we had not gotten this money,’” Ginger said. Covered in prayer With all of that traffic at the bank, how did ANB keep its customers safe from COVID? “We were very conscientious when bringing customers in to close the loans. We controlled who came into the bank, had all of the customers wear masks and sanitized, following all the best practices.” However Ginger also said, “I physically anointed the doors of the bank with oil and I just prayed that protec- tion. We recited Psalm 91:3 – no pestilence – and God did keep us safe.” And the prayer didn’t stop there. “We just had the heart of asking that God’s hand would be on us and his favor,” said Ginger. Others prayed as well. “One person prayed, let every dollar be a seed that is planted that will bring forth your harvest. And at the time we had loaned $35 million, and I thought 35 million seeds!” Ginger said she prays blessings for all of her bank customers. She reflected on Isaiah 61:1-3. “It basically talks about rising and letting your light shine and that the glory of the Lord will rise upon you and nations will come to your light. So here we are at this small community bank that I saw God use, and I give him all the praise and glory for that.” Stephan N Tchividjian, Co-Founder and President, National Christian Foun- dation, said, “Ginger Martin is one of the finest examples of someone who is bold in their faith and earns the right to be heard because she is world-class in her work. My grandfather, Billy Graham, was quoted saying, ‘I believe that one of the next great moves of God is going to be through the believers in the workplace.’ I think Ginger took that seriously because she exemplifies this. The stories are too many to tell. Ginger’s engagement with her church, her community, organizations such as Lifework Leadership, OM and NCF exemplify someone who lives tire- lessly to improve the lives of those around her. Recently, watching her rally her team and serve her banking customers during one of the most stressful times in recent history, demonstrated that she does not just talk her faith, but lives it by doing what she does with excellence. Ginger brings joy whenever she walks into a room and has an energy about her that can only be explained as God-given. Ginger inspires me.”