Newton Graves, 82, and his wife Harriet are longtime friends of American Bible Society, having supported the Bible cause for more than half a century. That’s because the Overland, Kan., native believes God’s Word is powerful, life-changing and necessary.

No stranger to Scripture, Newton spends six hours a week studying the Bible. He also teaches four classes a week. In fact, he’s taught one class for the past 16 years. And the more he learns and teaches, the more inspired he becomes.

It’s impossible not to feel Newton’s passion for the Bible. As he speaks about Scripture, his voice fills with energy. “Through the Bible, God reveals himself to us. He shows us his plan and purpose. It is the inspired Word of God. And the more I study it, the more I love it.”

Newton has a heart for ministry. Early in his life, he planted a church in Florida and pastored there for four years. During that time, he made the message of the Bible come to life for his congregation.

Teaching, then and now, is both privilege and responsibility. “I am accountable,” he says. “I take my role very seriously because people put trust in me. I will be judged for this, so I’d better be accountable.”

Newton left ministry to pursue a career in the trucking business, eventually working his way up to vice president of sales for a major transportation company. But Newton always had his heart—and many of his friends—in missions work. As a result, he met a third-generation missionary who worked at ABS during the 1950s.

It was then that Newton learned about the Bible cause. “ABS does international ministry work and home mission work, using the Word of God as a focus for what they do. I’m impressed, and always have been, with the depth and breadth of this organization’s work.”

That’s why Newton was happy to place his money in a charitable gift annuity, which provides a guaranteed rate of return for him and his wife Harriet. In the event of Newton’s death, 100 percent goes to Harriet for the duration of her life. Whatever money is left after she dies will go immediately to the Bible cause for ABS’ ministry programs.

“I thought it would be wonderful to invest our
money in ABS because it will be here long after we are gone,” Newton says.

Nothing, after all, can outlive the Word of God.