Your Footprints
Everyone leaves footprints on the sands of time. Our prints are made by the imprints of our lives on others. A person is remembered for the weight of his or her character. For indentations of accomplishment. For shapes of kindness. For length of compassion. For width of personal warmth. For generosity. For values.
When we leave positive impressions behind, we enhance the lives of our friends and loved ones. We give them footprints to follow.
Thoughtful estate planning is one means we have to make a print in the sand to help others recall our Christian priorities. For example, consider the effect of a plan that includes provision for family members and resources for your local church, ND District-LCMS, and Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.
1. An estate gift makes a positive statement.
When you include these missions in the final disposition of your estate, you declare to your family and friends that you believe in and care about God’s work being done by and through them. Your parting gift becomes a clear declaration of your Christian values.
2. An estate gift provides needed funding.
Estate gifts are especially valuable, not only because they tend to be larger than annual gifts, but also because they often come at critical times. They provide that extra boost to the budget that can make the difference between program advancement and program retrenchment.
Estate gifts can be designated for a specific purpose or they can be unrestricted for use where needed most. They can also fund endowments that perpetually provide an ongoing witness to your friends and loved ones that you believe in the work of the ministries that are important to you.
3. An estate gift encourages imitation.
There’s something about a well-planned estate gift that influences others to “go and do likewise.” As friends and family members plan their own estates, they may recall your generosity and thoughtfulness. Your gift may unlock resources from other estates.
If you want to learn more about planned giving and estate planning, contact Mr Ed Bean via email edbean[at]cableone.net, or 701.261.9687
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