Don’t give thanks

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“God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” Luke 18:11

Steven J. Pagels

Did the title of this devotion grab your attention? Maybe you were thinking to yourself, It must be a typo or Whoever proofreads these articles needs to do a better job of editing. Don’t give thanks? That doesn’t make sense. That advice doesn’t agree with the many Bible passages that encourage Christians to thank God for their many God-given blessings.

Actually it isn’t a typo, and those words do make sense if you look at them in the context of Luke 18. Jesus found himself in a gathering of people who thought very highly of themselves and very little of others. To take these self-righteous people down a notch, the Lord told them a parable about two men. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

WITH A PROUD HEART

The Pharisee was a respected religious leader. People looked up to him, and probably plenty of people were looking at him when he stood up in the temple and began to pray: “God, I thank you . . . ” It was such a good start, a good beginning to any prayer a believer might pray. But as the Pharisee continued, the self-righteous words that came from his lips revealed that something was wrong inside his heart.

“God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evil doers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” The Pharisee wasn’t really interested in giving thanks to God. He was more concerned about drawing attention to himself, to how good he was, to how much better he was than all the wicked people in the world.

My guess is that you have never prayed a prayer like that, that you would never imagine praying a prayer like that. I wouldn’t either. But we don’t have to repeat the Pharisee’s words to have the same kind of self-righteous attitude. Instead of letting God know how good we are in our prayers, we can communicate the same idea in the prayers we choose not to pray. Why should I be thankful? I had to work hard to get the things I have. It was my effort, my determination, the decisions I made that got me where I am today.

BUT WITH A HUMBLE HEART

The other man in the parable wasn’t interested in telling God how good he was. He couldn’t even bring himself to look up to heaven. Instead he beat his breast and bowed his head and pleaded: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” What a dramatic contrast to the Pharisee’s prayer, and what a beautiful prayer it was!

The tax collector didn’t get into specifics, and he didn’t have to. He knew that God was aware of his many sins. He knew that he had no right to ask God for anything, but he did anyway. He asked God to be merciful, and God was. At the end of the parable Jesus explained that this man went home with his sins forgiven and his head held high.

The best part about this story is that it’s not just a story. It’s a true story. It is our story. We have a merciful God who lifts us up when we are weighed down by guilt. We have a living Savior who has forgiven all our sins. Because we are so blessed, because God has given us so much, we will do what comes naturally. We will do what grateful Christians do. With our lips and with our lives we will say, “Thank you.”

Contributing editor Steven Pagels is pastor at St. Matthew’s, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

 

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Author: Steven J. Pagels
Volume 101, Number 11
Issue: November 2014

Copyrighted by WELS Forward in Christ © 2021
Forward in Christ grants permission for any original article (not a reprint) to be printed for use in a WELS church, school, or organization, provided that it is distributed free and indicate Forward in Christ as the source. Images may not be reproduced except in the context of its article. Contact us

 

Benefiting our workers with WELS VEBA

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Charles Heup, pastor at Good Shepherd, Plymouth, Wis., discovered he had Cystic Fibrosis (CF) when he was in college. Now 59, he has been controlling the disease through daily treatment and highly specialized medication. His lungs operate at less than 40 percent of their capacity, but the treatment and medication keep him functioning normally, a blessing to this pastor, husband, and father.

Heup’s congregation offers its called workers WELS VEBA health care coverage.

“Every time my doctor says we need something, we submit it to WELS VEBA and VEBA has covered everything that we’ve needed to do, including a new medication,” says Heup.

The Husby family had a similar experience with their WELS VEBA coverage. The evidence is displayed proudly on their refrigerator—an explanation of benefits from Cassie Husby’s recent double lung transplant. The cost: $494,000. What the Husbys owed: $0.

“WELS VEBA is a program that works so well that I don’t even have to think about it,” says Jeremy Husby, pastor at Peace, Hartford, Wis. “It allows me to be able to focus on the things that are important—my wife’s health, my daughter, and my ministry.”

WELS established the health care system called WELS VEBA more than 30 years ago to provide for its workers’ health care needs. About 80 percent of WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod calling bodies provide this nationwide, long-term health coverage to their pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and lay workers.

“WELS VEBA’s strength lies in the large number of workers and calling bodies across the country that join together and participate in our synod’s health plan,” says Joshua Peterman, director of WELS Benefit Plans. “In this way, WELS VEBA has been able to provide consistent, comprehensive benefits to our workers and their families for generations.”

Knowing that coverage will remain intact offers peace of mind to called workers when they receive calls to different ministries or congregations. “[Health care coverage] doesn’t even factor into my decision,” says Heup. “I can focus on the question all called workers should focus on when they get a call: ‘Where can I serve the Lord with the talents he has given me.’ ”

Through WELS VEBA, health care costs of covered workers are shared across all participating calling bodies throughout the synod. Churches and schools don’t have to worry about the cost of benefits when making a call, since the plan’s premium costs are the same across all age groups. WELS VEBA also doesn’t charge higher premiums based on an individual’s medical care needs. It protects called workers and their calling bodies by ensuring comprehensive coverage for all participants in the plan.

“With WELS VEBA rates consistent across all ages and because the vetting of plans has already been done, we can focus on the ministry when making decisions about calling our called workers and not get hung up on details like insurance,” says Stan Bothe, congregation president at Peace, Green Lake, Wis.

He continues, “We’re not big and we don’t have unlimited funding, so to know we can offer our teachers and our pastor a good health plan that will meet their needs and that they can take with them if they should be called into a new ministry is a relief. It’s important to take care of the people who work in the ministry.”

 

 

Author:
Volume 101, Number 11
Issue: November 2014

Copyrighted by WELS Forward in Christ © 2021
Forward in Christ grants permission for any original article (not a reprint) to be printed for use in a WELS church, school, or organization, provided that it is distributed free and indicate Forward in Christ as the source. Images may not be reproduced except in the context of its article. Contact us

 

 

Seminary hosts Asian conference

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From Nov. 12-13, pastors originally from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Korea attended an Asian Conference held at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.

These men are the spiritual leaders and drivers of outreach to Asian peoples in North America and also overseas. Participants gathered in their respective ethnic groups to discuss plans for reaching out and expanding their ministry. Rev. Keith Free, WELS Board for Home Missions administrator, and Rev. Paul Prange, the coordinator of global cross-cultural outreach, were available to assist with those plans. Rev. Michael Hintz, director of the Commission on Evangelism, discussed ways participants might involve all the members of the congregation in outreach.

The conference wasn’t only about planning, but also about encouraging each other in the Word. Prof. Steve Geiger led a discussion on teaching adults, sharing that while some application varies from culture to culture, there are concepts, strategies, and methods that apply to everyone.

As everyone went home renewed to serve, Prof. E. Allen Sorum, says, “It is very exciting to see how the people our church body is already serving here in North America are building bridges for the gospel in many parts of our world.”

WELS VEBA open enrollment deadline

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Don’t miss out! The deadline for the WELS VEBA health care plan limited open enrollment is Nov. 30. Eligible workers at WELS/Evangelical Lutheran Synod organizations that have at least one worker already using WELS VEBA can enroll.

WELS established the WELS VEBA health care plan more than 30 years ago to provide for its workers’ health care needs. About 80 percent of WELS and ELS calling bodies provide this nationwide, long-term health coverage to their pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and lay workers.

“WELS VEBA’s strength lies in the large number of workers and calling bodies across the country that join together and participate in our synod’s health plan,” says Mr. Joshua Peterman, director of WELS Benefit Plans. “In this way, WELS VEBA has been able to provide consistent, comprehensive benefits to our workers and their families for generations.”

To learn more about the benefits of WELS VEBA and the plans it offers, visitwww.welsbpo.net.

New direction for Muslim outreach

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The Joint Mission Council (JMC), which comprises representatives from both Home Missions and World Missions who work collaboratively to meet cross-cultural ministry opportunities, has evaluated the Outreach to Muslim program and is preparing to take the ministry in a new direction.

The JMC determined it would be better stewardship of resources to focus assistance in Muslim outreach at the congregational level in areas with Muslim populations around them and to new congregations that may be started in the future in areas with high density Muslim populations. In addition, funding will be directed toward World Mission efforts in countries with Muslim populations.

With this change, the current position of Muslim outreach coordinator, held by Rev. Pieter Reid, will end on June 30, 2015. The Outreach to Muslims Committee will continue to function to assist in efforts, utilizing the expertise of Reid when possible.

Rev. Keith Free, administrator of WELS Home Missions, says, “We’re very thankful to Rev. Pieter Reid for the 22 years of ministry to Muslims in Indonesia as well as in the United States. He and his wife, Marlys, certainly have raised our church body’s awareness about reaching out to Muslims.”

Learn more about WELS cross cultural ministries at www.wels.net/missions.

Missions opportunities in Ethiopia

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Prof. E. Allen Sorum, director of the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., and two South Sudanese PSI students, Peter Bur and Simon Duoth, visited Ethiopia Oct. 14 to Nov. 6 to explore new opportunities for mission outreach in Africa on behalf of WELS Missions.

One opportunity involved teaching and encouraging refugees from the Nuer tribe, who fled to Ethiopia because of civil unrest in South Sudan. Five of the local pastors contacted Bur, a South Sudanese refugee who emigrated to the United States and is now a member at Good Shepherd, Omaha, Neb., to ask for spiritual training. “These five pastors all grew up with Peter Bur in various situations. They were together in South Sudan. They were together in refugee camps in various parts of Africa. Peter was always the leader,” says Sorum. “If Peter Bur wanted to share his discovery of WELS with these five men, these men wanted to hear the details.”

At a refugee camp in Gambella, Bur and Sorum explained confessional Lutheran Christianity to these five pastors as well as to 80 others who traveled from neighboring camps. “When these pastors and their members heard the truth about Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, conversion, justification, the universal priesthood, inspiration, they were dropped jawed, over-awed,” says Sorum.

Sorum says that these men were very open when talking about doctrinal differences and wanted to hear what the Bible teaches. “These five pastors possess a humility that was rooted in their own sincere relationship with God and in their desire to serve God’s people well with the power of his true Word,” he says.

Sorum, Bur, and Duoth also met with the local government to discuss humanitarian aid needs, which include a water purification system and mobile health clinics.

According to Sorum, immediate opportunities abound to share hope through Jesus with a hurting population, which could lead to future possibilities for further outreach when these refugees return to the South Sudan. “Hundreds of thousands of people are up to their ears in human misery right now,” says Sorum. “They’re sitting in refugee camps. They can’t work, and they’re anxious to be involved in something meaningful while they’re waiting to get back into their homeland.” He says that he feels many of these opportunities can be met by working with and through Bur and other WELS South Sudanese members in the United States.

While in Ethiopia, Sorum also met with Rev. Dr. Kebede Getachew Yigezu, who contacted WELS in 2013 to discuss fellowship possibilities. Kebede has gathered a group of like-minded Christians in and near his hometown of Bishoftu, and registered the church with the Ethiopian government as the Lutheran Church of Ethiopia (LCE). The church numbers 300 members. “The members of the LCE earnestly seek membership in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference so they can stand with and be encouraged by fellow Lutherans of the Reformation heritage,” says Sorum.

Sorum spent two weeks discussing doctrine with Kebede and LCE members and sharing seminars on leadership and preaching with students in the LCE’s college and seminary program. He also talked extensively with Kebede on his future plans for his theological program. “He’s trying to provide solid theological resources for the people of his country,” says Sorum. “These are adults who want to enhance their ministry skills. They’re interested in solid biblical teaching, and they’ve learned the LCE gives that.”

According to Sorum, there is potential to connect Kebede’s seminary program with the South Sudanese refugees who are looking for more spiritual training.

Discussion is underway to determine the next steps in working with both the South Sudanese refugees and the Lutheran Church of Ethiopia. “The Board for WELS World Missions has the responsibility of evaluating new world mission opportunities,” says Rev. Larry Schlomer, administrator of World Missions. “We will be investigating the next best steps so we can move quickly to facilitate this growing partnership with Sudanese and Ethiopian brothers in the United States and Africa.”

View a slideshow from the trip to Ethiopia

Synodical Council holds fall meeting

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At its fall meeting the Synodical Council (SC) adopted a first draft of the Ministry Financial Plan (budget). The initial plan calls for no planned increases in spending for each of the next two years. The decision for a “no increase” plan reflected the SC’s decision to take a conservative approach initially. Since this is a first draft, changes to the plan may still be made at the SC’s February meeting when it finalizes its recommendation that will be presented to the synod convention in July. As the SC makes final plans it will take into consideration actual mission offerings in 2014, as well as Congregation Mission Offering subscriptions for 2015.

The SC adopted a policy requiring specific SC approval if areas of ministry or synodical schools plan to spend more than what was approved by the synod convention or if they desire to add staff beyond approved levels.

The SC was briefed on the WELS VEBA health plan, especially as to how the plan may be affected by the Affordable Care Act. WELS VEBA provides uniform coverage for our workers at the same cost regardless of age. Both the SC and the Conference of Presidents desire to keep the plan healthy and viable. Doing so will provide adequate health insurance for our workers, prevent congregations with older workers from paying extremely high premiums for insurance, and will help to ensure that health insurance does not adversely affect our calling system. WELS VEBA began communicating these issues with congregations last month.

The SC took other actions, including:

  • Adopted a building fund policy to ensure that the new WELS Center for Mission and Ministry is properly maintained.
  • Re-appointed Mr. John Tappe and Mr. Kenneth Zehm to the Church Extension Fund (CEF) board.
  • Approved a change in the CEF bylaws allowing the CEF board more flexibility in making grants to the Board for Home Missions.
  • Began to assemble a prioritized list of unfunded priorities to be presented to the synod convention in July.

Serving in Christ,
President Mark Schroeder

200th School of Outreach

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On Oct. 4, WELS Commission on Evangelism held its 200th School of Outreach event. The School of Outreach program helps WELS congregations with planning, assistance, and resources for evangelism programming and implementation of outreach strategies.

Originally, the School of Outreach was held at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis. Then congregations began hosting the program, and nearby congregations would also attend. This “satellite” School of Outreach made it possible for more congregations to participate. The first satellite School of Outreach was held in September 1993 in Modesto, Calif., and eight congregations attended. Since then, the total number of registered congregations has been 1,344. Over the years, many congregations have attended more than once.

“The School of Outreach gave us an opportunity to evaluate our community, to dig into God’s Word, and then to wrestle with how we might continue taking the Word to the community in which we live,” says Rev. Joel Russow, pastor at Faith, Tallahassee, Fla. “It was a blessing to have our members wrestling with these things. We left invigorated by the tremendous message and the ripe opportunities before us.”

Faith attended School of Outreach sessions in September 2013 and February 2014. The current program is broken into two one-day sessions that are separated by several months. District evangelism commission members conduct the sessions and stay in touch with congregations after they attend to provide follow-up assistance specific to the needs of the congregations.

Russow notes, “The School of Outreach presenters have a contagious zeal for reaching out with the gospel of Jesus, and they were a Barnabas to us. It was also mutually edifying to spend a couple Saturdays with the other WELS congregations in our ‘area’— who drove from 2 to 3 hours away—studying God’s Word and discussing outreach. It made us thankful for the partnership that we share in the gospel.”

Throughout the 200 School of Outreach events that have been held, many changes have taken place. Rev. Mike Hintz, director of WELS Commission on Evangelism, notes, “Evangelism directors have come and gone, but one person has been involved with all 200 events. That person is Audrey Bluhm, the administrative assistant for the Commission on Evangelism, who helps coordinate all the details for these events. I’m so thankful for her service.”

For more information about the School of Outreach, visit www.wels.net/evangelism or call 414-256-3287.

Start the year with Interactive Faith

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January is two months away and what better way to start a new year than with a new Interactive Faith online Bible study series.

Beginning Wed., Jan. 7, 2015, Rev. David Scharf, Immanuel, Greenville, Wis., will lead a six-week study called “Breaking the Cycle with Grace (a study of the book of Judges).”

Scharf says of the topic, “It has been said that nearly every doctrine of the Bible can be found in the biblical narratives contained in the book of Judges. That fact alone merits a deeper look! And yet, how often have we read, let alone studied this action-packed book of God’s grace? In our lives, we go through cycles of ups and downs—we think God is pleased one moment and that he is not the next. Come and break the cycle of uncertainty with grace as we study a book full of God’s love and patience!”

The study will be streamed live online twice every Wednesday night between Jan. 7 and Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (central).

Thousands of WELS members have participated in the Interactive Faith Bible studies, which are held twice a year and led by a WELS pastor or professor. Many congregations gather as a group for the study; other WELS members connect as couples or individuals. The studies are designed to have 10 to 15 minutes of lecture by the instructor, followed by 5 to 10 minutes for congregations to discuss a question or two or do further study. Participants can interact with the instructor via the chat box.

To learn more or join the study, go to www.wels.net/interactivefaith.

Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Forum meets

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Leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) and WELS met Oct. 20-21 at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry, Waukesha, Wis. The biennial meeting provides the sister synods an opportunity to discuss theological topics, share information, and encourage each other through worship.

“The gathering of leaders and representatives of the WELS and ELS is a time to enjoy the blessed fellowship we share. Not only is it encouraging and uplifting to focus on God’s Word together, it is always a boost to learn more about what each synod is doing and to discover means of cooperation and mutual assistance,” says Rev. Michael K. Smith, professor at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mankato, Minn.

Twelve leaders from each synod attended the forum, where they updated one another on mutual issues in the synods and then participated in small group discussions. Three theological essays were presented and discussed during the plenary session.

“The ELS/WELS Forum is a treasure. We are able to see how genuine Lutheran brothers are handling similar situations, and we gain a profound appreciation for the diverse fruits of the Spirit as he gives them to the church,” says Rev. Paul Prange, administrator for ministerial education and global cross-cultural outreach.

The forum began in 1967 after the Synodical Conference, a fellowship organization between WELS, ELS, and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) dissolved due to doctrinal differences with the LCMS.

“The exchange of information about our respective synods’ programs is so important to our ongoing fellowship. And the opportunity for personal, as well as professional, interaction is always encouraging,” says Rev. Steven Petersen, ELS Board for World Outreach administrator.

Fellowship between these two church bodies means that they work together on joint mission and ministry programs. It also means that pastors of either synod may preach in congregations of the other and that calls into the ministry and membership transfers between the synods can take place. Because the two synods are in fellowship with each other, members from each synod may worship and commune in congregations of either synod.

The next Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Forum will take place Oct. 17-18, 2016, at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Synodical Council gathers for fall meeting

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The Synodical Council (SC) will hold its fall meeting on Friday and Saturday of this week. The major item of business is the initial discussion of the Ministry Financial Plan (budget) for 2015-2017 that will be recommended to the synod convention next July.

Work on the plan began last summer as areas of ministry each developed their plans. The SC had directed the areas of ministry to plan for a “no increase” budget initially. The president’s office, along with the President’s Advisory Council, then adopted an overall plan last month. That plan will be presented to the SC for consideration at this meeting. The plan still will be able to be adjusted in the coming months (depending on funding available from Congregation Mission Offerings and other sources). A final recommendation will be adopted by the SC in February.

There is more good news about Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO). Mission offerings from congregations are continuing at a strong and encouraging pace. October offerings were very strong with an increase of 8.4% over 2013 and $321,000 more than projected for the month of October. Year-to-date CMO is up 3.1% over 2013 and $451,000 over projections. Once again, the Lord has moved his people to respond to his grace with generous thank offerings. We thank him, and we thank God’s people for their faithfulness in supporting our work as a synod.

Serving in Christ,
President Mark Schroeder

Retirement Income

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If you are between the ages of 45 and 65 and would like to make a gift towards the Lord’s work that provides an income source during retirement—and a charitable deduction now (while income is higher), consider a deferred gift annuity.

A deferred gift annuity allows you to make a gift of cash or appreciated assets in exchange for fixed quarterly payments starting at a future date and continuing until you go to heaven. After that, the residual of the gift will be used by your congregation, synod, or another WELS affiliated ministry. The following example illustrates the benefits of a single-life annuity (two-life annuities are also available). It is based on:

  • a gift of $10,000 (minimum) in cash
  • a payment rate of 6.4 percent for someone who is 55 years old and wants payments to begin 10 years from now (rates vary based on these factors)

You may claim a charitable income tax deduction of approximately $3,446.10 and receive annual payments of $640 for the rest of your life. And $329.60 of the payments you receive each year will be tax-free during the first 19.9 years. Then, after you’re in heaven, the residual value of your gift annuity would go to the ministry of your choice.

Transferring stocks, bonds, or mutual funds may be an even more beneficial way right now to fund your deferred gift annuity. In many cases these assets are highly appreciated, so a gift allows you to avoid capital gains taxes now and pay them in a more favorable way later.

A WELS Christian giving counselor can discuss the details for your personal situation. Call WELS Ministry of Christian Giving at 800-827-5482.

Giving through a Donor Advised Fund

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A donor advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving vehicle wherein an individual, family, or corporation makes an irrevocable, tax-deductible contribution of cash, securities, or other property to WELS Foundation and at any time thereafter can recommend grant distributions to qualified WELS ministries. The fund can be established with current gifts, deferred gifts (such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts), and testamentary gifts (such as wills, revocable trusts, or beneficiary designations for life insurance policies or retirement accounts).

The WELS Foundation DAF program provides an alternative to the private family foundation. You can accomplish many of the same goals, but with far less administrative work and expense.

What are the features?

  • Gift size. The minimum initial gift is $10,000. Donors can add funds in $100 increments at any time.
  • Individual. You may name your DAF. You, or the persons you designate, may recommend distributions to organization listed in the WELS Yearbook from your fund—anonymously if you so choose.
  • Grant recommendations. The minimum amount that may be recommended is $250. Each fund must distribute at least five percent of its asset value annually.
  • Lasting legacy. You may designate others to continue recommending distributions after your lifetime (usually for a period of 20 years).

What are the benefits?

  • Joy. Arrange to benefit the areas of the Lord’s work that are closest to your heart.
  • Tax savings. You receive an income tax charitable deduction in the year of your gift to your DAF, regardless of when grants are made. As with all gifts of long-term appreciated securities, none of the appreciation is subject to capital gains tax.
  • Recommend gifts when ready. Contribute to your DAF this year and decide later which WELS ministries you want to support.
  • Encourage family stewardship. Help your children and other loved ones experience the joy of giving by involving them in the decision making process for the grant recommendations.

Larry and Marie Clark (names changed to protect donor confidentiality) opened a DAF as a way of making more tax efficient gifts. They work in agri-business and arranged that the proceeds from a certain crop are paid directly to the DAF. What these donors especially like about this arrangement is that each dollar earned and given to their DAF is able to be used for ministries within WELS. Since the amount going into their DAF is not taxed, it has allowed this family to generously increase their offerings. When the check is paid to their DAF, they consult with their WELS Christian giving counselor and make a list of ministries they would like to support. This list is passed on to WELS Foundation, which distributes the money from their DAF according to their wishes. These donors are very pleased with this arrangement and would recommend this method of gifting.

For more information regarding setting up a donor advised fund, contact a WELS Christian giving counselor by calling 800-827-5482.

“We’re giving our kids inheritance”

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You’ve probably seen the bumper sticker on an RV that reads: “We’re Spending Our Kids’ Inheritance.” Up front, a gray-haired driver jockeys the vehicle down the road toward a warmer climate. Grandma and Grandpa are having a ball and don’t mind poking fun at the idea that they should live conservatively so they can leave more money for their children.

Not everyone feels that way. Many seniors are eager to leave their offspring a nice nest egg. They remember the tough times they had and want to make life a little easier for the next generation. They want to pass their hard-earned wealth on to their family.

While these Christians, in thanks for the saving work of Jesus, would also like to remember the Lord’s work in their plans, they wonder, “How will giving some of the money to charity affect my family?”

Truth is, you don’t necessarily have to decide between charity and your family. Through WELS Foundation, there are ways you can give to WELS ministry without jeopardizing your family. Consider these possibilities:

Insurance. Some donors use life insurance to replace the wealth they give to charity. A second-to-die policy can be quite reasonable and provide the beneficiaries with proceeds that approximate the amount given to charity.

Charitable Remainder Trust. You can establish a charitable trust now and receive income for the remainder of your life, and then have the income directed to your children. At the end of the trust, the remainder will go to charity.

Legacy Charitable Remainder Trust. This high-sounding option simply refers to a trust that is established while you are living but funded after both parents go to be with the Lord. The trust pays income to your children for a term of up to 20 years. When the trust ends, the remainder of the trust passes to designated charitable beneficiaries such as your church and/or synod.

These special planning tools are not for everyone, to be sure. But for some, they can provide a means to benefit family members and charity without taking away from the other.

Your local WELS Christian Giving Counselor can provide further information about the above planning opportunities, as well as others. He is also able to help you orchestrate any of these gift plans by working closely with you and your professional advisors. Contact him by calling WELS Ministry of Christian Giving at 800-827-5482.

Who knows . . . maybe you’ll want to create your own bumper sticker: “Our Kids Will Get Their Inheritance When We Give It to WELS.”