The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Now that Christmas is behind us, and the joy of giving and receiving gifts is over, we move on to the next stage – the reality that at least one of the gifts that we gave, or received, is now damaged or no longer working, or will be in that condition in the relatively near future. Personally, I have already been down that road. It doesn’t take long, does it?
Let’s face the stark reality that nothing lasts forever. While some gifts last a long time, even they will eventually be put out of service due to damage, deterioration, old age, or simply being out of style. The cycle of buying, giving, and then buying again continues all to the delight of the retail industry.
But there is a gift that you can give that will not damage, stop working, or go out of style. I am speaking of a gift to a Michigan District, LCMS Endowment Fund. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
How Does an Endowment Impact Ministry?
When a gift is given to a Michigan District Endowment Fund, whether to an existing fund or one that you establish, your gift never goes away. It is there forever because the principal is never touched. Only the earnings, or a designated amount of the earnings, are used for current or future ministry in the Michigan District.
As the Endowment Fund increases over time from investment growth and/or from additional funds being added, the likelihood of more funds being available for unrestricted or designated ministry purposes also increases. The result of a well-funded Endowment is more, and better, Michigan District ministry.
To guide and monitor this Michigan District Endowment program is the Endowment Advisory Council (EAC). The EAC watches over the investment of the Endowment funds to ensure that the investment strategy is being adhered to, resulting in acceptable levels of growth within the current market capability. The EAC meets four times annually to review fund status and to make any necessary adjustments to continue maximum Endowment Fund growth.
Funds generated from Michigan District Endowments are used to help start new mission congregations and ministries within the District and to help provide scholarships to future professional church workers studying at the seminaries, Concordia University Ann Arbor, Mich., or other Concordia University System schools. Endowment funds are also directed toward urban ministry initiatives such as Acts 2 Enterprise, and to other unrestricted and restricted purposes as directed by each individual Endowment Fund.
Please prayerfully consider making a gift that keeps on giving…a gift to the Michigan District Endowment Fund.
How to Give
Often Endowment Fund gifts are made through an estate gift as part of a person’s estate plan. Multiple instruments are available to help facilitate your estate plan, whether it is something as easy as making a life insurance beneficiary designation or a more complex plan. Gifts may also be cash gifts to start an Endowment Fund, and then added to later with additional cash gifts or eventually through an estate plan.
Please consider allowing us to talk with you about Michigan District Endowment Funds and the impact they are having on District ministry. For more information, please contact Ray Zavada, Assistant to the President – Development, at 734.904.2773 (mobile), 734.213.4264 (direct line), or by email at ray.zavada@michigandistrict.org.
