Giving is an important part of life for David and Lillian Lay. They view it as a great blessing, and quietly celebrate its impact. It is a part of the bond that makes them a couple.

Their church, national organizations, Christian colleges, agencies focused overseas, and kids in their community all benefit from the Lays’ generosity. They enjoy making a difference by stepping up to the plate and making something possible that otherwise may not have been accomplished.

As a math professor at the University of Maryland, Dr. Lay invests in the lives of youth. He has authored a widely-used linear algebra textbook and co-authored several other college texts. Highly acclaimed in his field, Dr. Lay is a deeply spiritual man who sincerely cares about others. He and Lillian live modestly and see themselves as stewards of God’s resources.

With his analytical bent and sense of responsibility for how “God’s” money is used, Dr. Lay had some questions about a ministry they supported, Gospelink. This intriguing organization raises money in the U.S. to support indigenous preachers in Africa. Its preachers reach out to the communities beyond their homes, effectively using the local language and an understanding of the local culture – a remarkably influential and cost-efficient way of spreading the gospel.

Did this young organization have the infrastructure to continue to expand? Was the model scalable? Dr. Lay contacted the National Christian Foundation for help. Not performing that kind of research themselves, they referred him to Calvin Edwards & Company.

Agreeing to analyze the ministry and advise, we spent two days on-site at Gospelink’s Florida office, interviewing key staff and volunteers, reading board minutes, analyzing financial and statistical data, evaluating processes, and reviewing a variety of materials.

In the end, we advised Dr. Lay that infrastructure on the Africa side was simple and adequate, but there were needs on the U.S. side for this growing organization. A list of recommendations was provided to remedy the situation and to strengthen the organization in other ways.

Dr. Lay reflects, “The analysis Calvin Edwards & Company did has been invaluable. We understand at a deeper level whom we are supporting, and are excited about Gospelink’s incredible potential for evangelism. The firm’s recommendations were excellent. We now have some clear ideas of how to direct additional funds as Gospelink matures into a larger organization.”