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Kingdom Concepts in Financial Strategy

By Rachel Wegner 07

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Click Photo to Enlarge Dr. David Hand 73, who is the dean of the ORU School of Education, shared a table with Neal Bratschun 81-MBA at the January OAC luncheon.

Click Photo to Enlarge Oklahoma State Senator, financial advisor and 1996 alumnus Gary Stanislawski offered sound biblical principles for managing money in good times and bad.

Click Photo to Enlarge George Wiland 74 chats with a fellow alumnus as they wait for the OAC speakers to begin their presentation.

Click Photo to Enlarge Susan (Elliot) Hill 77 and Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris 83-JD take the opportunity to catch up as other alumni mingle and enjoy the buffet.

Click Photo to Enlarge Tony Bastian 96 started off the luncheon with a look at the stock market and advice on the basics of investing and financial management.

Alumni Tony Bastian 96 and Gary Stanislawski 96 teamed up at the ORU Alumni Connection Luncheon on Jan. 20 to offer sage advice about managing finances in the midst of tough economic times.

Tony Bastian, who works as a financial services professional with Mass Mutual Financial Group, led off the luncheon, discussing the basics of financial investment and the importance of retirement planning. He expounded on the proper approach to taking risks in the stock market and the importance of having a trusted financial adviser. He also encouraged his fellow alumni not to be driven around by the unpredictability of the market from month to month and year to year.

"Familiarize yourself with investment concepts, have a goal and have a strategy," Bastian said, in summary. "Look at the long-term view of where you want to be and what you want to accomplish."

Gary Stanislawski, who is a certified financial planner and president of Regent Financial Services, Inc., spoke about a wider financial strategy that goes beyond stock market investments. He presented the contrast between the driving forces of fear and greed in the stock market and the way the Bible tells Christians to live. He also examined the difference between stewardship and ownership in a biblical context.

"Stewardship means I'm managing something, ownership means I'm controlling something that's mine," Stanislawski said, adding that God calls us to be stewards. "If we're good stewards, then we're going to do the best we can to reproduce what the Lord has given to us."

He also shared that a lifestyle of giving is an effective way to combat the world's system of greed. Noting the reality of tumultuous economic times and uncertainty about the future, Stanislawski reminded those in attendance that the Bible calls them to walk by faith and not by sight.

"If you walk by faith, you're not moved by fear," Stanislawski said. "The world may be going into a recession and having a hard time, but you're still moving along. We don't have our trust in the dollar. We have our trust in the Lord. We're in a whole different kingdom--we're in God's kingdom."

Gary Stanislawski was elected to the Oklahoma Senate on Aug. 26, 2008. He and his wife, Dayna, have two children. Tony and his wife, Jennifer (Boarman-96), have three children.