Contact: Lisa Grote, Senior Manager-Marketing Communications, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, 800-333-3735 ext 5698

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 28, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company and Guidestone Financial Resources today announced they have formed an alliance to provide property and liability insurance services to Southern Baptist churches and affiliated ministries.

"We are pleased to align with an organization like GuideStone, that shares our vision for advancing the Kingdom by serving the church," said Mark Robison, chairman and president of Brotherhood Mutual. "GuideStone is a respected organization of the Southern Baptist Convention, financially solid and customer-focused. Our service philosophies are well-matched, and we expect this alliance will help more ministries find the insurance and risk management solutions they need."

GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins noted that the alliance with Brotherhood Mutual brings together two ministry-focused organizations that share common values and a heritage of serving churches.

"The risk management needs of churches continue to grow and change," Hawkins said. "Brotherhood Mutual understands the unique needs of ministries, and working with them through this new alliance enhances and strengthens our ability to provide the best possible property and liability coverage for the churches and ministries we serve."

Brotherhood Mutual of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was founded in 1917 as a mutual aid association, providing fire and storm protection to farms, homes, and churches in three states. Today, Brotherhood Mutual is one of the nation’s leading church speciality insurance companies, with an A Excellent rating from A.M. Best and more than $337 million in assets. Through its network of independent agents, the company provides property, liability, commercial auto, workers' compensation, and foreign travel insurance coverages exclusively to churches and related ministries in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Founded in 1918, GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention is a leading provider of retirement, medical, life and disability coverage, investment management, and executive planning services to the Southern Baptist and the broader evangelical Christian community.

Some Southern Baptist churches are already long-standing customers of both Brotherhood Mutual and GuideStone. Among them, the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia, pastored by Dr. Johnny Hunt, a past president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

"We rejoice with the news that GuideStone, with whom we have been associated for decades with our investment and retirement needs, is joining forces with Brotherhood Mutual to serve churches with their property and liability insurance," Hunt said. "These two organizations have both been serving Christian ministries for almost a century and share our cherished Christian values and convictions. No one knows the church world like these two service giants."

Churches interested in learning more about property and liability coverage created especially for ministries can contact Brotherhood Mutual at 1-800-333-3735 or visit www.BrotherhoodMutual.com to request a quote from an independent agent representing Brotherhood Mutual.

Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company offers comprehensive property, liability, workers' compensation and commercial auto insurance for churches and related ministries throughout the United States. Other programs include foreign liability and travel assistance for short- and long-term mission trips. The company's home office in Fort Wayne, Indiana employs more than 300 people, with independent agents in 42 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.brotherhoodmutual.com.