By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO
Something special is being offered to pastors of Southern Baptist churches across the country by the International Mission Board in cooperation with various state Baptist foundations, including the Kentucky Baptist Foundation, and our legacy giving partner, PhilanthroCorp. This could revolutionize and facilitate estate stewardship in those churches whose pastors choose to participate.
The results of a recent LifeWay survey confirmed what we’ve known for years, namely, many pastors do not have wills and other estate planning documents in place, and most churches make no effort to educate and sensitize their members about including the church and other Baptist ministries in their wills or estate plans.
To develop a biblically generous church, the church must have a pastor who is faithful in his stewardship. To that end, the IMB has arranged a “free” luncheon on June 11 during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Houston, Texas to the first 1,000 pastors who register. The luncheon will be held from noon to 1:30 at the Hilton Americas Hotel, which is very convenient to the convention center. It is being held at the same time as the pastor’s wives’ luncheon as an added convenience. IMB President Tom Eliff will speak, and the focus will be “The Last Full Measure of Devotion: a Pastor’s Missions & Ministry Legacy.”
Reservations can be made on line at: http://www.regonline.com/SBC_Luncheon. You also can register by calling 1.804.219.1405 or emailing lconnerley@imb.org. Remember, it’s first come, first served.
To those Kentucky pastors who register, please look for a Kentucky Baptist Foundation table when you arrive at the luncheon. I shall look forward to hosting you.
You will be pleased to know no Cooperative Program or Lottie Moon funds are being used to provide this “free” lunch. The event is being made possible by a gift from an anonymous donor in the Houston area who believes the personal blessings, vision and materials shared with you can insure the ongoing expansion of the Great Commission.
If you are a pastor and attending the annual SBC meeting, please register for this luncheon today! If you are not a pastor, please make sure your pastor is aware of this opportunity and encourage your pastor’s participation.
The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.
Showing posts with label Lifeway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifeway. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
An Under Tapped Tool for Churches
By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO
Earlier this month the results of a survey conducted by LifeWay Research among pastors of Southern Baptist churches throughout the USA were published. The purpose of the survey was to gauge the awareness and preparedness of churches to the issues surrounding estate stewardship.
Let me share a few of the findings for your awareness and for any needed action you and/or your church might need to take in light of the findings. Only 16 percent of churches received any kind of estate gift in the year preceding the survey; that meant 84 percent did not. Churches that reported receiving at least one estate gift received an average of $22,507. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy the average estate gift to all charities was $70,000.
72 percent of pastors believed every Christian should include the church and other ministries in their estate plans, but 86 percent of them confessed they had not provided their congregations with seminars or even basic information on estate planning during the last year. The survey results also revealed the majority of pastors were more comfortable and more inclined to preach on the importance of giving from one’s income than one’s estate.
The KBF has the conviction that for Kentucky Baptist churches to be successful in reaching Kentucky and the world for Christ, Kentucky Baptist churches must be equipped to cultivate and secure estate gifts from their members. And, the KBF was established in 1945 “by the churches, for the churches to help the churches reach Kentucky and the world for Christ.”
If your church has not yet called upon the KBF to assist it in putting in place a plan of education and awareness, casting a vision about the vital importance and use of estate gifts and facilitating the receipt and administration of such gifts, please do not hesitate any longer and take advantage of this under tapped tool. Laurie Valentine and I are awaiting your call and the opportunity to assist.
For more information, please call us at (502) 489-3533 or toll free in KY at 1-(866) 489-3533
The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.
Earlier this month the results of a survey conducted by LifeWay Research among pastors of Southern Baptist churches throughout the USA were published. The purpose of the survey was to gauge the awareness and preparedness of churches to the issues surrounding estate stewardship.
Let me share a few of the findings for your awareness and for any needed action you and/or your church might need to take in light of the findings. Only 16 percent of churches received any kind of estate gift in the year preceding the survey; that meant 84 percent did not. Churches that reported receiving at least one estate gift received an average of $22,507. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy the average estate gift to all charities was $70,000.
72 percent of pastors believed every Christian should include the church and other ministries in their estate plans, but 86 percent of them confessed they had not provided their congregations with seminars or even basic information on estate planning during the last year. The survey results also revealed the majority of pastors were more comfortable and more inclined to preach on the importance of giving from one’s income than one’s estate.
The KBF has the conviction that for Kentucky Baptist churches to be successful in reaching Kentucky and the world for Christ, Kentucky Baptist churches must be equipped to cultivate and secure estate gifts from their members. And, the KBF was established in 1945 “by the churches, for the churches to help the churches reach Kentucky and the world for Christ.”
If your church has not yet called upon the KBF to assist it in putting in place a plan of education and awareness, casting a vision about the vital importance and use of estate gifts and facilitating the receipt and administration of such gifts, please do not hesitate any longer and take advantage of this under tapped tool. Laurie Valentine and I are awaiting your call and the opportunity to assist.
The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.
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