John & Joyce Yoder

In the early 1990s, John and Joyce Yoder purchased a meat processing business in Yoder, Kansas. Over the next twenty years, they expanded the operation and added a retail marketplace. Together, they built their livelihood through steady work, long days, and a commitment to serving their community well.

When they sold the business in 2008, they felt gratitude for the ways God had blessed them—and a desire to give back a portion of what they had received. From the sale, they wrote checks to several ministries they wanted to bless. And they established an endowment at MB Foundation to provide an ongoing source of giving throughout their lifetime and beyond.

“We were blessed with a prosperous business at the time, and this was a way to give back a portion of the blessings the Lord provided,” reflected the Yoders.

The endowment’s investment return in the first year was negative due to the economic downturn. But the Yoders never wavered. They had already entrusted their gift to God— confident He would do with it as He pleased.

That posture has remained steady for 17 years. Over time, the endowment has grown—and so have the payouts distributed from it. It continues to provide faithful, ongoing support to ministries helping people hear about Christ.

“As we receive the endowment reports, it gives us a sense of purpose—that we are enabling people to spread the Gospel,” John shared.

The Yoders’ story is a reminder that generosity doesn’t end with one moment or one gift. With thoughtful planning, what God entrusts to us today can continue making an impact for many years to come.

And in God’s Kingdom, that return is measured in transformed lives.