CHICAGO, IL (July 5, 2018) – Lawrence Anderson, executive vice president of finance for Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, will retire December 31, 2018, it was announced.
Anderson began serving as an elected member of various Covenant-affiliated boards starting with Swedish Covenant Hospital in 1973, National Covenant Properties in 1974, and CMB in 1976. He has served five separate five-year terms on the Board of Benevolence. He became its executive vice president of finance in 2008.
As a board member and then as administrator, he has helped oversee a vast expansion of Covenant Retirement Communities, the growth of Covenant Enabling Residences, and Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago and Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, California. He was instrumental “in establishing two endowment funds with total worth of over $100 million for the Turlock area after the hospital there was sold”
“I am personally thankful for Larry’s rich historical knowledge and helpful advice as I have begun my leadership journey at CMB,” said Roger Oxendale, who began serving as the ministry’s president in 2017. “Larry’s profound love and dedication to the ministries of CMB have been evident in his work and we know this will continue even into his retirement.”
Prior to joining CMB in 2008, Anderson worked for more than 23 years as a sales and marketing executive for three of the world’s largest financial futures firms.
Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from North Park and then a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.
His heart has always been with North Park. He has mentored more than 100 North Park Students through internship opportunities and career counseling.
“What I’ve really enjoyed are the ties between CMB and North Park, whether it be interns or other projects we’ve worked on together,” Anderson said. “Nothing excites me more than to see North Park’s success. They’ve been a big part of who I am.”
Anderson serves as president of the Covenant Harbor Foundation, which he said has been among his most rewarding experiences, and he plans to continue volunteering with the camp in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. “In addition to continuing to help in fund raising efforts, maybe I will go whack weeds or cut wood”
Anderson said he learned a lot about service from mentors. “I was just a young pup, and I had tremendous examples of Christian businessmen and women who were giving their time on these boards,” he said.
Anderson with his wife Diann was also was on the launch team for Naperville (Illinois) Covenant Church in the 1970’s.
He doesn’t have a lot of definite retirement plans but said, “I’ll continue to serve. That’s what I know.”
