Perpetuate Your Tithe

By: Laurie Valentine

Tithing is part of our Christian stewardship responsibilities. It is a discipline practiced by many all of their lives and it is vital to the continued viability of the programs and ministries of our churches.

When you die, will there be someone to “step into your shoes” to provide the funds your tithe has been providing to your church?

To assure your church will have the financial resources it needs, until the Lord returns, consider including in your estate plan a provision for the creation, at your death, of an endowment fund for the benefit of your church. Or, establish an endowment fund now to which you can make modest gifts at regular intervals during your life with provision in your estate plan for a final gift to the endowment at your death.

To create an endowment fund large enough to have sufficient earnings to fund your tithe in perpetuity requires a gift at your death (or a combination of gifts during life and at your death) equal to approximately 25 times your current annual tithe. This assumes an annual distribution rate of 4.0%.

For example, if the current amount you tithe each year is $2,000, the endowment would need to have $50,000 in it ($2,000 x 25) by the time you die. Assuming the endowment is invested to grow its value over time, the amount it will distribute to your church will also grow over time.

Assure your tithe will provide support until the Lord returns by endowing it.

Laurie Valentine is COO and Trust Counsel for the Kentucky Baptist Foundation, PO Box 436389, Louisville, KY 40253; (502) 489-3533 or 1-866-489-3533 (Toll-free, Kentucky Only); KYBaptistFoundation.org.

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.

Remember the Crystal Cathedral

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO 

Even if you never have visited the site of Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral, you likely have an image of that ministry and its facilities. The 13-story majestic Tower of Hope, which was dedicated to God’s glory in 1968, now stands idle along with the thousands of dirty glass panes in the cathedral itself. This ministry is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. It is likely thousands of other churches and ministries will be in bankruptcy within the next decade or two.

There are numerous factors that will contribute to this, but among the most significant is the passing away of the older contributors who have been and continue to be the sustaining members of evangelical churches and ministries around the world.

 
Those who are coming behind them, children and grandchildren, have not demonstrated anything like the level of commitment to share and to support their churches and ministries. Some futurists have projected a 70 percent decline in giving over the next decade or two if giving trends do not change dramatically. One writer has described it as “a silent tsunami that has already broken—unnoticed and miles off the coast.” Regretfully, most churches and ministries are unprepared.

Did you know people over age 75 give four times as much of their income as 25 to 44 year olds, according to “The State of Church Giving Through 2009?” Each younger generation gives significantly less of its income to ministry. 

Although older members account for only 19 percent of the membership of churches in the USA, they give 46 percent of the donations, according to a Barna Survey. Can your church sustain a 46 percent drop in donations?

These older, more generous core members are the ones whose funerals are being held every day across this country. Collectively they will be passing 41 trillion dollars of wealth to their children, grandchildren, other heirs—and to the government in taxes. It is highly unlikely your church is receiving even a tithe of this largest generational transfer of wealth in history? Why? Because pastors and other church and denominational leaders are not allocating the resources necessary to educate, encourage and enable these faithful members to consider their church and other ministries in their estate plans.

The Kentucky Baptist Foundation exists for that very purpose. Please give us the privilege of assisting you and your church, and other ministries.

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.

P P P P P Givers

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO 

I am one of those fortunate individuals whose parents began teaching me and holding me accountable at an early age about the importance and the role of financial stewardship in my relationship to Christ and to other human beings.

My late father’s favorite scripture was Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse … Test me … says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” He more than tithed out of his income and the profits from his business. My late mother tithed out of the allowance my father provided her to run the household. So, all of my life I have been a proportionate giver with the tithe as the floor, not the ceiling, of my giving. I like what the late R. G. Lee said to those who claimed tithing was an Old, not a New, Testament requirement. He said: “to give less under grace than we give under law is a disgrace.”

I was taught also to be a priority giver, which means to give “first” regardless of the proportion, then save and spend. Too many Christians spend first, and too often there’s nothing left to give or to save. The Apostle Paul advises in 1 Corinthians 16:2 to set aside on the “first day of the week” a proportionate sum to give.

To be a progressing giver was another part of my parents’ teaching. That meant to be ever growing the proportion of my giving. The example of Zaccheus in Luke 19:8, who gave one-half of his possessions, is not out of the question for many.

And, I was taught to be a pleasurable giver, not reluctantly or under compulsion, “…for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7).

Finally, I have been taught to be a perpetual giver, leaving a lasting legacy beyond my lifetime to advance Christ’s kingdom (Proverbs 3:9; Hebrews 11:4).

Over the years I have proven both the reasons and the promises the Lord has made to His people about giving; I urge you to do the same thing. Let us know how we can help.

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.

E-Devotional- Week 28

Creative Giving Ideas-Week 2

Giving Out Of Assets Vs. Income 

The churches, associations, institutions and agencies of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention are making a difference for the Kingdom of God in our state, nation and around the world. They are worthy of significant and sacrificial support that will enhance and undergird their missions and ministries.

Perhaps you would like to make gifts above what you give out of income as tithes and offerings to provide on-going support to one or more of these causes, but you may be concerned that such gifts could affect your financial security and that of your family. This lesson will provide ideas about how you may give out of your assets.

Scripture References: Proverbs 3:9; Luke 16:10-12; 1 Timothy 6:7.

Please read these passages in your Bible now.

How Can I Honor God With My Wealth?

“Wealth” refers to your assets, your estate. Tithes and offering giving is, generally, giving out of your income. Honoring God with your wealth means giving out of your assets, whether it’s to a church building program, Baptist college’s capital campaign, or to establish an endowment fund to benefit state, national and/or international missions. This is giving out of your principal cash, stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, real estate, life insurance and/or retirement assets.

When Should I Honor God With My Wealth?

Giving out of assets can be done during your lifetime through outright gifts, endowment gifts and life income gifts. Consideration should also be given to giving out of your estate at your death through a bequest in your Will or Trust or a life insurance or retirement account beneficiary designation that sets up a gift of a designated amount or share of your estate to pass to one or more charitable causes at your death.

Is There A Way to Make A Gift That Keeps On Giving?

Many people would like to make a gift that provides on-going support to the cause or causes they want to benefit. This can be accomplished through the creation of an endowment fund. An endowment fund is a permanent, perpetual fund created during your lifetime and/or at your death for the support of one or more charitable causes. Only the earnings of the endowment fund are paid to the causes you designate; the original value of what you place in the endowment fund is never distributed. Endowment fund giving provides the opportunity to make gifts that keep on giving.

Prayer Focus: Take some time now to ask for God’s guidance in how you can honor God with your wealth and extend your Christian witness.

Next Week: Appreciated Asset Gifts 

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.

Endow Your Tithe

By: Laurie Valentine- COO & Trust Counsel 

Tithing is part of our Christian stewardship responsibilities. It is a discipline practiced by many all of their lives and it is vital to the continued viability of the programs and ministries of our churches.

When you die, will there be someone to “step into your shoes” to provide the funds your tithe has been providing to your church?

To assure your church will have the financial resources it needs, until the Lord returns, consider including in your estate plan a provision for the creation, at your death, of an endowment fund for the benefit of your church. Or, establish an endowment fund now to which you can make modest gifts at regular intervals with provision in your estate plan for a final gift to the endowment at your death.

To assure the funds will be used as an endowment fund, you must specify that in the bequest or beneficiary designation.

To create an endowment fund large enough to have sufficient earnings to fund your tithe in perpetuity requires a gift at your death (or a combination of gifts during life and at your death) equal to approximately 28.5 times your current annual tithe. This assumes an annual distribution rate of 3.5%.

For example, if the current amount you tithe each year is $2,000, the endowment would need to have $57,000 in it ($2,000 x 28.5) by the time you die. Assuming the endowment is invested to grow its value over time, the amount it will distribute to your church will also grow over time.

Assure your tithe will last forever by endowing it.

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.

E-Devotional-Week 20

PROPORTIONATE GIVING-WEEK 3        

PROPORTIONATE AND SYSTEMATIC GIVING

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

Unfortunately, most churches approach the giving aspect of financial stewardship as an economic necessity versus a basic spiritual, and distinctively Christian, imperative.  Giving is at the heart of the Christian life.  Cecil Ray once said, “the Christian giver is one who has first found Jesus Christ as the real Lord of life and then has sought to make both his words and deeds bear witness to this lordship.”  Ask yourself the question, what does my giving say about my relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ?

What does the Bible say about proportionate giving? Proportionate giving was the basis of Old Testament tithing.  Although the New Testament focuses less on the legal basis, it retains the idea of giving as God has prospered you.  The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:12, “It doesn’t matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have.”

What does the Bible say about systematic giving? Giving should not be a hit and miss affair.  The Old Testament tithing system incorporated regular patterns that avoided sporadic giving.  Similarly the Apostle Paul instructed the Corinthians to put something aside every week.  1 Corinthians 16:2: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”

Prayer Focus: Pray for the motivation and discipline to be a proportionate giver.

Next Week: Earn more, Give More

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.

E-Devotional-Week 19

PROPORTIONATE GIVING-WEEK 2          

ARE YOU ROBBING GOD?

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

My late father’s favorite scripture was Malachi 3:10, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…”  As I recall my early years, I can vividly recall his stewardship testimonies.  He convinced me by his words and deeds of his understanding of the scriptures that giving anything less than one-tenth of my income was robbing God.  He more than tithed his income and business profits, and my mother gave a tithe of the allowance he provided her to manage our household.

I remember my father checking my church offering envelope after I received my first real paycheck.  Guess what?  I had included a tenth.  Tithing became a way of life for me, and I have been able to prove both the reason and the promise Malachi gave the people of God about tithing in Malachi 3:6-12.  My wife and I have taught our children to do the same.

How is failing to tithe robbing God? The tithe principle was born in an agricultural setting.  If there was to be a future crop, some of the current year’s harvest had to be saved for seed.  If everything was eaten, that is if everything was taken out and nothing put back into the cycle, the process would collapse.  The tithe was the “seed fund,” and it is a principle that applies to all of life.  If you are not putting back into the process of life, you are a taker, a freeloader, a burden on the process, and, yes, a robber.

Perhaps you ought to put back more than a tithe.  What Zaccheus did in giving half of what he had is not out of the question for many people. (Luke 19:8)

Prayer focus: Ask the Lord to impress upon you the tithe principle as a way of life.

Next Week: Proportionate and Systematic Giving

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.

E-Devotional-Week 18

PROPORTIONATE GIVING-WEEK 1

INTRODUCTION 

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO
The Bible teaches proportionate giving. In the Old Testament, the tithe, or 10%, was to be returned to God. The same principle of proportionate giving carries over into the New Testament. As Christians we are not to give arbitrarily or haphazardly. God has gifted us with a certain amount of financial resources, a portion of which we are to give back to him for kingdom work.

From 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 we could paraphrase Paul this way: “Don’t take an arbitrary approach to giving; it’s much too important for that.” That is, don’t say, “well, I guess I’ll give $25 to my church,” or “I guess I’ll increase my giving by $5.” Consider what proportion or percentage of income you are now giving. Is that a proper proportion? If not, then what is? Paul pointed to the Macedonian Christians who “gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability” (2 Cor. 8:3).

Begin by letting God’s Word speak to you. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Mal.3:10).

Then make the careful and prayerful decision, which Paul suggested, for giving. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Let God’s Word and the inspiration of his Holy Spirit be your guide.

Prayer Focus: Ask God to put into your heart the earnest desire to be a cheerful, proportionate giver.


Next Week: Are You Robbing God?

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.

Biblical Giving Pattern

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

I am indebted first to my parents then to my childhood pastor, church training leaders and Sunday school teachers for most of what I know and practice in financial stewardship. But it was my parents primarily who modeled financial stewardship for me. Here’s the biblical pattern they taught me.

First, be a priority giver. “Bring the best of the firstfruits” (Ex. 34:26). Second, be a proportionate giver with the tithe as the floor, not the ceiling, of my giving. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse … test me … says the Lord Almighty , and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10). “The gift is acceptable according to what one has” (2 Cor 8:12). Third, be a premeditated giver. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give” (2 Cor 9:7). Be a periodic giver. “On the first day of the week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money” (1 Cor 16:2). Fourth, be a progressing giver. “But Zacchaeus stood up and said … Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor ….” (Lk 19:8). Fifth, be a pleasurable giver. “…for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). Sixth, be a perpetual giver. “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead” (Hebrews 11:4).

Across the years I have proven both the reasons and the promises Malachi, Jesus and Paul made to the people of God about giving. I urge you to do the same. To the extent we in the Kentucky Baptist Foundation can be of assistance in facilitating your perpetual giving, please give us that privilege.