The document discusses the importance of estate planning and establishing wills, as 7 out of 10 Americans die without a will. It emphasizes that churches need to encourage members to continue giving to the church and its ministries through their estate after death, such as by establishing an endowment trust fund. The church should educate its members on the benefits of planned giving and maintaining a planned giving program to promote leaving enduring gifts to support the church's future ministries.

3.  Salvation
 Estate Planning
 Establishing a Will
› 7 out of 10 Americans die each year without a
will.
 Resources are available to assist the local church in
educating the congregation about estate
planning.
 Integrity Values
 Marriage and Family

4. “Secular organizations have openly
discussed the benefits of planned giving
and enduring gifts, but the church for the
most part has remained silent on this
issue.”

5.  Are diligent in encouraging church
members to tithe today.
 Need to encourage church members
to keep on giving through their estate
after their deaths.

6.  Establish an endowment trust .
(Church Planned Giving)
 Educate their members on the great
value of giving back to ministry
through endowment.
 Gifts of endowment keep giving.

7.  Educate a congregation about
Planned Giving.
 Promote Planned Giving.
 Maintain a Planned Giving presence.

8.  Why every church member needs a will:
› There are many factors that make leaving the future to
chance far too great a risk.
› A will is the foundation of a sound and effective long-
range financial plan.
 When does a church member need a will?
› At every stage of the life cycle a will is needed.
› When they want:
 their financial affairs managed during incapacity.
 to give instructions about their medical care.
 to have charitable wishes.

9.  Host a seminar at the church by bringing in
a professional organization or individual to
lead it.
(Check with the state stewardship office or
Baptist foundation as possible resources.)
 An alternative would be to ask a Christian
estate planning attorney to lead the
seminar.

10.  A personal testimony can be a powerful
motivator.
 Ask a family who has recently taken care of
their estate planning to speak to the
congregation on the importance of
planning for their family’s future.
 A personal testimony from the pastor or
staff member would be an additional
alternative.

11.  Possible scriptures to use in such
sermons:
›Matthew 6:19-21
›Psalm 50:10-12
›Proverbs 20:21
›I Chronicles 29:3,9,14

12.  Value of Endowment/Church Planned Giving
 Establish an EndowmentTrust
 Form a Church Planned Giving Committee
 Promote a Planned Giving/Leaving a Legacy
 Maintain a Planned Giving Presence

13.  If money was not an obstacle, what
ministries would your church start today?
 Most church stewardship efforts focus on
current ministries.
 Provide opportunities for members to give
enduring gifts to the church today to impact
the church’s future.

14.  In 1986, if a church had an endowment trust
valued at $50,000, without additional
contributions, the following results would
have occurred through 2006:
› Trust value increased to $144,107
› $91,945 in cumulative annual distributions (1987-
2005)
› 2006 annual distribution of $6,265

15.  Establish an endowment trust through
› a trusted asset management firm.
› a state Baptist Foundation.
› Southern Baptist Foundation.
› a local bank or trust agency.
 Be sure the terms of the designations are
general enough to allow the money to be the
most beneficial to ministry.

16.  The committee plays a big role in growing a
successful endowment.
 The committee…
› should be a new committee rather than adding
this responsibility to an existing one.
› promotes the church endowment trust.
› communicates the importance of planned giving.
› maintains a planned giving presence.

17.  Will Rogers said, “People are marvelous in
their generosity if they just know the cause is
there.”
 Church Planned Giving will eventually
promote itself but…
› it needs a jump start
› and then to maintain a subtle emphasis – quarterly
reports are suggested.

18.  Communicate via
› regular
communications
› seminars
› quarterly letters
› mailings
 Acknowledge
› gifts publicly and privately
› show the gifts’ impact by
sharing stories that will
highlight ministries…
 Celebrate
› when the annual distribution
check from the endowment
trust is received by the church,
celebrate the ministry (s) that
will benefit.