Pastor, how many funerals were conducted for your church members in the last five years? And how many gifts from a will or estate plan did the church receive?
The two reasons people do not leave a bequest to the church is because they (a) don’t have a will or (b) never thought of it when visiting an attorney.
Consider the impact if even half of your members committed a percentage of their estate to ministry. But will they? Yes--if given the opportunity.
-
After one weekend of Service/Seminar these bequests and gifts, (on average per church) were written into the estate plan of members. -
$621,600 to the Local Church -
$223,400 to International Missions
-
$ 65,000 to LIFE Pacific College
-
$270,800 to Other Christian Ministries
-
70% of American adults do not have a will
-
Typically, only 3% of Christians include ministry in their will.
-
After a seminar, 86% include ministry.
-
The average charitable bequest reported on 1997 Federal tax returns was $158,000.
Why not provide an opportunity for people to get this important legal document created? It will not only protect family members, but they may also consider leaving a legacy to the church and other ministries they now support.
