Planned Giving -- Leaving a Legacy
Like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it … I Corinthians 3:10
God has given each of us the same opportunity – to build a foundation of faith for generations that follow. We will not be remembered by what we have accumulated, only by what we share as a lasting legacy of faith.
A Legacy of Lasting Love
There is no greater joy than knowing you have made a positive difference with your life – that you are leaving a legacy of lasting love. As thankful servants of the Lord, our most significant legacy is bequeathing the gospel of grace to future generations.
As Christians, we have a need to respond to God's love and mercy. Gifts through planned giving and endowment funding fill the need to respond by giving while providing the growth of the Christian ministry.
Planned giving is including the church as part of your estate plans. Endowment funding helps ensure the perpetuation of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church by providing financial support. The Endowment Fund permits existing programs to be expanded and new programs to be developed as needs arise in such areas as education, youth activities and outreach ministry. The Fund also provides for capital expenditures ensuring future growth for the church.
The Needs and Blessings
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church needs a planned giving program and endowment funding:
- To provide ways to continue Christian stewardship beyond one’s lifetime.
- To enter new ventures for Jesus Christ through His Church.
- To help perpetuate financial support of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
- To receive gifts from those who wish to remember loved ones in a lasting way.
- To provide financial strength for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church to meet challenges in the years ahead.
The blessings of gift planning and endowment funding:
- We satisfy our desire to continue giving beyond our lifetimes as responsible stewards.
- We help give our Church a solid financial strength for the future.
- We keep our ministry alive so that God's work through our Church grows stronger.
- We show our love for Jesus Christ and our brothers and sisters in the family of God.
We give witness to our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit among God's people.
The Endowment Fund
The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Endowment Fund was incorporated in 1998 with the purpose of providing opportunities for Christian Stewardship involving faithful management of perpetuity and non-perpetuity gifts. The distribution of the gifts is for the sole purpose of enhancing the ministries of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and is not available to supplement the operating budget.
Gifts to the Endowment Fund are gifts to the future of the church. Gifts can be money, securities, real or personal property, insurance policies or annuities, or deferred gifts through wills and other estate planning. It is necessary to designate one’s gift to the Endowment Fund.
The ministries of the church are as strong as our interest and support. The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church family thanks you for considering planned gifts and/or endowment funding.
If you are interested in leaving a legacy gift or need more information, please contact Paul Phillips at (919) 848-9221.
10 Ways to Leave a Legacy
- Prepare a will. Without a will you lose control of possessions you worked a lifetime to acquire.
- Leave a gift in your will for the charitable organizations that make a difference in your life. Fewer than 6% of American households include nonprofit organizations in an estate plan. Image the positive impact on our GSLC family if everyone makes a modest donation!
- Leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate.
- Utilize assets (e.g., stocks, bonds, real estate, art and jewelry) for your charitable gift. Such gifts may provide tax savings.
- Name a GSLC ministry as a beneficiary of your IRA or pension plan.
- Purchase a new life insurance policy naming a GSLC ministry as the beneficiary.
- Name a GSLC ministry as a beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy.
- Encourage family members and friends to leave charitable gifts in their wills.
- Ask your financial advisor to include charitable giving as part of their counsel to other clients.
- Teach your children, grandchildren, and other young people about the joys of giving.
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered tax or legal advise. Please consult with your tax or legal advisor about proceeding with your estate plan.