Charitable remainder trust benefits WELS couple donating property

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Willi and Pam Schultz

When WELS members Willi and Pam Schultz were ready to sell a vacation rental condominium, they wanted to find a tax-wise way to do so that would not only benefit them financially but also allow them to support the ministries they care about.

When considering their options, a charitable remainder trust came to mind. ā€œI had read about the charitable remainder trust strategy several times in WELS Foundation mailings over the years, and I had filed the idea away,ā€ recalls Willi.

A charitable remainder trust turned out to be ideal for Willi and Pamā€™s situation. By donating their property into a charitable remainder trust instead of selling it, the Schultzes enjoyed a charitable income tax deduction and capital gains tax benefits. In addition, the retirement income they will receive from the charitable remainder trust will help offset the income they had been realizing from renting the condominium. And, once the trust ends, the ministries that Willi and Pam have chosen will benefit from their gift.

ā€œIt was a win-win-win,ā€ Willi says. ā€œThe charitable remainder trust is a fantastic tax-saving and income planning tool!ā€

Pam liked how the charitable remainder trust fit perfectly into helping them support gospel ministry, like WELS Home Missions and training future pastors at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

ā€œWe have been so blessed that we decided to give back to the Lord since everything we have has come from him,ā€ Pam says gratefully. ā€œWe know that our blessings will continue to support the work of WELS here on earth even after we have gone to heaven. Nothing is more important than sharing Jesus with others!ā€

The Schultzes appreciated the partnership with their WELS Christian giving counselors and WELS Foundation staff, who walked them through setting up their charitable remainder trust. ā€œThey did an excellent job of helping guide the process,ā€ says Willi. ā€œThe greatest benefit was working with people who have a heart for the Lord.ā€

Learn more about charitable remainder trusts or contact your localĀ WELS Christian giving counselorĀ at 800-827-5482 orĀ [email protected]Ā for assistance.

A charitable remainder trust funded with real estate

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Are you considering funding a charitable remainder trust with real estate to support a ministry close to your heart?

A charitable remainder trust funded with real estate might be ideal for you if you:

  • have appreciated real estate youā€™re considering selling
  • wish to avoid paying tax on the capital gains
  • would like to receive supplemental retirement income
  • want to financially support a ministry you love

How a charitable remainder trust works:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn more about charitable remainder trusts or contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor at 800-827-5482 or [email protected] for assistance.

Options for donating property to support ministry

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Are you looking to donate property to support a ministry you love?

One beneficial tool for supporting WELS ministry while enjoying tax benefits is the donor-advised fund (DAF). A DAF involves making an irrevocable contribution to WELS Foundation, then at any time thereafter recommending distributions to various WELS ministries.

When you donate property to a DAF, you can claim a charitable deduction based on the fair market value of the asset and avoid capital gains taxes that would otherwise apply to the sale of the property. One of the unique advantages of a DAF is the flexibility it offers to recommend distributions to different WELS ministries over time. Contribute to your donor-advised fund this year and decide later which WELS ministries you want to support. Your donations can be anonymous if you prefer privacy in your charitable giving.

One WELS couple recently donated a condominium to WELS Foundation to fund a DAF. They shared: “We have decided as a family not to wait until we die and then have our large gifts given to charity; weā€™d prefer to give it now so we can see, revel, and have joy in doing Godā€™s work. The best thing about giving appreciated assets is it allows us to increase our offerings. With real estate thereā€™s a little bit of work involved and there are always little obstacles that come up, but [the Christian giving counselor and WELS Foundation staff] were really quick to respond and help resolve issues.”

Another option for donating property is to simply give it (without establishing a donor-advised fund). You will receive the charitable deduction and avoid capital gains taxes all while supporting the gospel ministry of Christā€™s Church.

Learn more about donor-advised funds or contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor at 800-827-5482 or [email protected] for assistance.

Consider giving appreciated assets at year-end

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Making a year-end donation to WELS using appreciated assets such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate provides you with several advantages.

The timing allows you to maximize tax benefits before the close of the year. You receive a charitable deduction and avoid capital gains taxes, which means more support for the ministry to which you are donating.

Find procedures for giving securities on the Helpful Giving Tools page of the WELS Foundation website or download the gifts of securities procedures document.

Please note: Stocks/mutual funds must be received by WELS by Dec. 31. The date of transfer is the date of the gift. This may take a few days, so the earlier the better. Please inform WELS of what you are donating by contacting WELS Foundation at [email protected] or 414-256-3213.

Need assistance? Contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor at 800-827-5482 or [email protected].

Truly trusting God and his Word, Isaiah 55

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About 2,700 years ago Isaiah the prophet wrote many memorable words that are just as applicable and meaningful today. He has encouraging news for inmates, volunteers, and staff involved in prison ministry. Consider these words from chapter 55: Turn to the Lord before itā€™s too late. Call out to him while heā€™s still ready to help you. Let those who are evil stop doing evil things. And let them quit thinking evil thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord. The Lord will show them his tender love. Let them turn to our God. He is always ready to forgive- (v.6-7; NIrV). This is our ministry in a nutshell, sharing Godā€™s love with those who need and want it. But we need to apply these words to ourselves first. When we experience Godā€™s forgiveness, we are motivated to share it.

Then consider this reminder: ā€œMy thoughts are not like your thoughts. And your ways are not like my ways,ā€ announces the Lord. ā€œThe heavens are higher than the earth. And my ways are higher than your ways. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.ā€ (v.8-9). We live in an ever-changing world. Yet God reminds us that he is in control even when we canā€™t see or understand what heā€™s doing. So when more and more inmates have access to tablet devices (and use mail less often), we adjust our ministry to deliver Godā€™s Word to our students accordingly, even when this adjustment requires big changes in some of our procedures.

Finally, look at this reminder about trusting Godā€™s Word: The rain and the snow come down from the sky.
They do not return to it without watering the earth. They make plants come up and grow. The plants produce seeds for farmers. They also produce food for people to eat. The words I speak are like that. They will not return to me without producing results. They will accomplish what I want them to. They will do exactly what I sent them to do- (v.10-11). We need this reminder. Our sinful natures tempt us to think that sharing Godā€™s Word is just our duty and often doesnā€™t really do any good. What little trust we have in the Word or the Spirit who works through that Word. Rather, let us redouble our efforts to share this powerful word that can and does change lives, starting with our own.

 

 

 

Working together bears fruit

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WELS Prison Ministry has been in partnership with Institutional Ministries (IM) for many years. We do many similar types of ministry, though IM has tended to focus on in-person ministry while WELS Prison Ministry has focused on correspondence courses. One effort that has provided both organizations with a great opportunity for teamwork has been assisting former inmates upon release. Hereā€™s one story.

Early in 2024, in rural Wisconsin, three members of a congregationā€™s evangelism team decided to participate in the WELS Prison Ministry online training class ā€œMentoring a Returning Citizen.ā€ The three participants included a former correctional officer as well as a current social worker/parole officer. Their decision to step out in faith yielded mixed results. Before the online class held its final session, God sent a returning citizen to their community. The social worker on the team connected the recently released inmate with Jim, the former correctional officer, who had agreed to be his mentor. But Jim was reminded that only God can change hearts when the former inmate stopped returning calls.

About this time, IM was putting together HelpReturning, a program to make former inmates and inmates nearing release aware of the many resources and assistance programs that can help them. It is intended to help returning citizens find housing, employment, transportation, and other basic needs. WELS Prison Ministry informed the evangelism team of this program and encouraged them to reach out to IM for further assistance in their mentoring efforts if needed.

Then a second returning citizen, Wayne, came to town. Andy, another member of Jimā€™s congregation, worked with Wayne to find housing and employment, while sharing his faith along the way. Fast forward about six months. God blessed the efforts of Jimā€™s congregation. Jim and Wayne became friends (see photograph) and worship together. In fact, Wayne recently became a member. When the congregation hosted another local session of ā€œMentoring a Returning Citizen,ā€ Jim attended with Wayne. The congregation also held an awareness Sunday of the assistance offered by Institutional Ministries. Because Jim is enthusiastic about the value of mentoring, he now joins in new training sessions to share his experience and insight. Both he and Wayne aspire to take the gospel into facilities as well.

WELS Prison Ministries is thankful for our partnership with Institutional Ministries. We recognize the value each organization brings to this ministry and look forward to working more closely together in the future.

 

 

 

Edovo update

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As most of you know, in March of this year WELS Prison Ministry began offering three of our Bible study courses on a digital learning management system created for inmates. This system, titled Edovo, is now available in about 1,000 correctional facilities housing about 1 million inmates total. (Note that not all inmates in these facilities have easy access to the tablet devices that have the Edovo app.) While 1,000 represents about 20 percent of all facilities, 1 million inmates is about 40 percent of the total population nationwide. To date, we have received Edovo tests back from more than 800 of those 1000 facilities. Our reach is significantly higher than the 400 facilities and 125,000 inmates that had access when we started in March.

As we mentioned in our previous newsletter, the response has been significant. We are receiving over 200 tests per week from just 3 courses on Edovoā€™s system. We continue to receive about 100 tests per week through the mail as well.

We still need additional test correctors. We are trying to rebuild our stable of active correctors back to 200 or more so that we can turnaround corrected tests in a timely manner. If you have interest in participating in this type of ministry, which can be done from your home anonymously to the inmates, contact our New Ulm office for more information (507-354-3130; [email protected]). We have made progress on our highly anticipated portal or website that will allow correctors to do their work online. We expect that system to be ready soon and pray that it further reduces turnaround time for tests.

We have been evaluating various strategies for releasing the remaining 23 of the current 26 Level 1 Bible study courses on Edovo. We have decided initially to create courses that do not require human correction, that is, the program will indicate to the inmates whether their answers on the final test are correct or not as they submit their answers. This will allow much more content to be available without overwhelming our correction system. However, our intent is slowly to convert studies back to human correction as the capability of our correction procedures and stable of correctors allows growth. Many inmates have expressed thanks for the volunteer efforts of the correctors over the years. We believe there is great blessing both to the inmate and to the corrector in this personal, if anonymous, interaction. Weā€™d like to incorporate this interaction in our dealings with as many inmates as possible.

So thank God with us for as we learn how best to use the opportunities he provides, and pray diligently that he guides us so that we reach every soul behind bars that he has elected to be part of his kingdom.

 

 

 

Corrector’s corner – Fall 2024

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As indicated in the Edovo Update, lots of things are happening in the world of test correcting. Some are still works-in-progress. Hereā€™s a short summary:

  • Thanks to the impact of electronic delivery, we could still use new correctors. Please contact us if youā€™re interested in exploring the role of test corrector (507-354-3130; [email protected]).
  • We are in the testing phase of our new ā€œonline portalā€ where test correctors will have the ability to correct any number of tests at any time. Correctors would no longer be limited to correcting tests they receive by mail, but could correct as many tests as their volunteer time allows. We pray we can make this method available to correctors very soon and will notify all correctors when it is available.
  • We continue to receive tests by mail and through electronic delivery that we send to correctors, also by mail, to be corrected using pen and paper. Anyone who prefers this method of correcting will be able to continue to do so.

 

 

 

 

Three ways to support WELS Prison Ministry – Fall 2024

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Pray ā€“ As Godā€™s redeemed children, our prayers are powerful and effective. Current prayer requests: for more test correctors, for success in completing an online test correction system, for success in adding all Level 1 studies to Edovo, for ways to reach inmates outside the Edovo system.

Serve ā€“ All our ministry efforts are driven by volunteers motivated by Christā€™s love. To volunteer as a test corrector or pen pal, please contact us at [email protected] or 507-354-3130. To explore jail visitation or post-release mentoring opportunities, call 414-256-3243 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Give ā€“ We thank our Lord and you for your helpful special offerings to Prison Ministry, which support our efforts to share Jesus with people impacted by incarceration!

To provide additional gifts for Christā€™s work through Prison Ministry:
WELS, Attn. Gift Processing
N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI, 53188
(Make checks payable to WELS and list Prison Ministry in the memo line.)

Donate online at wels.net/donate-prison-ministry.

Give through your IRA charitable distribution, appreciated assets, or your will or estate plan. Contact WELS Ministry of Christian Giving at 800-827-5482 for assistance.

Direct your Thrivent Choice dollars (if you are a Thrivent member) to WELS Prison Ministry. Contact Thrivent Member Care Services at 800-847-4836 for assistance. Your 2023 designation is due by March 31, 2024.

 

 

 

 

Make the most out of the opportunity

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ā€œHis master replied, ā€œWell done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your masterā€™s happiness!ā€™ā€ (Matthew 25:21 NIV)

During the last week of his earthly life, Jesus tells the story in Matthew 25 of three servants who are each given responsibility to manage a varying amount of wealth. Two of the servants manage their masterā€™s funds well and double his investment. They are commended by the master, ā€œWell done.ā€ The third servant is condemned with the words, ā€œYou wicked, lazy servant!ā€ for doing nothing and wasting his opportunity out of fear.

Your WELS Prison Ministry has been given a critical opportunity by our gracious God. After years of searching for a way to distribute our Bible studies digitally, we finally identified Edovo, an organization with which we contracted to put our studies on their learning management system. This opportunity has tremendous blessings and challenges as described in “Bringing the digital age to prison ministry.” The system is available to approximately 150,000 inmates using computer tablets in over 400 correctional facilities (out of 5,000+ total nationwide). Edovo plans to be available to 250,000 inmates by the end of the year.

We need your help to be as diligent and faithful in making the most of the Lordā€™s blessings. The help we covet most is your prayers. Pray that God gives us all the insight, energy, and people we need to take full advantage of this new endeavor. We are having to develop new ways of carrying out our ministry while maintaining many of the methods we have used for decades. The extra effort is taxing our resources, including paid staff and volunteers.

The second form of help we crave is hours of volunteer effort. Currently, we have a significant need for test correcting volunteers. But we also need to maintain or grow other forms of serving, namely writing pen pal letters, visiting inmates in jail or prison, or mentoring them after release. We equip followers of Jesus to find and fulfill these opportunities, especially at correctional facilities in communities near their congregation. If you would like to explore options for serving, contact me at [email protected].

A third form of help we need is financial support. Our faithful donors provide the means necessary to be faithful to Jesusā€™ call and make the most of this golden opportunity. If youā€™d like to support what we do, here are some ways to do that. Through your prayers, time and effort, or donations, we can look forward to Jesusā€™ praise, ā€œWell done, good and faithful servant,ā€ knowing all we give already belongs to him.

Dave Hochmuth, WELS Prison Ministry administrator

 

 

 

Bringing the digital age to prison ministry

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Weā€™ve got some exciting (and perhaps somewhat daunting) news. After years of declining ministry opportunities, the Holy Spirit has breathed new life into the Bible study correspondence courses from WELS Prison Ministry. On March 15, we launched the first phase of a new effort to distribute our courses digitally. In this first phase, three of our courses were converted to online courses using a system run by Edovo.com as mentioned in the lead article.

The response has been significant. Since the three courses were made available to inmates, we have been receiving about 240 tests per week on Edovoā€™s system. We continue to receive about 100 tests per week through the mail as well. The combined total is higher than our historical peak usage of about 300 tests per week via the mail 10 to 15 years ago. We thank God that we are reaching so many inmates again.

But this surge has its challenges, the first being a need for test correctors. We are trying to rebuild our team of active correctors back to 200 or more so that we can turn around corrected tests in a timely manner. If you have interest in participating in this type of ministry, which can be done from your home anonymously to the inmates, contact our New Ulm office for more information (507-354-3130; [email protected]). In conjunction with this recruitment effort, we are developing a new system for online test correcting for those correctors who would find that more convenient. We expect that system to be ready by this fall and pray that it further reduces turnaround time for tests.

Secondly, this surge in activity has been generated by only three studies. We would like to make the rest of our studies available to inmates on Edovo as soon as we can, but that could potentially generate thousands of tests per week, which is far more than our current and planned systems and procedures can handle. We are evaluating various strategies for this situation and pray we have a plan to report by the next newsletter in October.

A third challenge is that Edovo currently serves between five and ten percent of correctional facilities nationwide. While we expect that percentage to grow, we need to find or maintain other ways to reach the millions of inmates who donā€™t have access to Edovo. (For example, only five Wisconsin and two Minnesota facilities have access to Edovo. These are all county jails.) With so many of our resources devoted to responding to the Edovo surge, this seems daunting.

Thank God with us for these new opportunities, and pray diligently that he guides us so that we reach every soul behind bars that they might be part of his kingdom.

 

 

 

Receivers become givers

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WELS Prison Ministry received an encouraging letter and gift from an unexpected source. Chaplain C. Tracy Bennett from Tyger River Correctional Institution in South Carolina sent us the following note along with a $100 gift:

Dear Friends in Christ,

Please find enclosed a donation for your ministry. Inmates made donations and asked for me to send it to you. We appreciate the Bible studies and are very pleased with the response we are getting from inmates who are completing them.

Prayers are being lifted for your ministry as it aids in building Godā€™s Kingdom!

Blessings and Peace for the Journey,

C. Traci Bennett, Senior Chaplain

What a great encouragement it is to see the Holy Spirit is not only working faith in the lives of people through Godā€™s Word, but is also motivating those hearers of the Word to want to help pass it along to others. God is good.

 

 

 

New Bible study going to press

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WELS Prison Ministry is pleased to announce our 26th booklet, Who Is The True God?, is going to press. This new study helps students see that everyone has a god, whatever they love and trust the most. In our culture it is often self or material wealth. But only the Bible shows us the true God in Jesus, who lived and died as our substitute to win our eternal victory. We trust only in him.

 

 

 

Pen pal pipeline – Summer 2024

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Excitement for the opportunity to send our booklets to inmates through electronic means has stirred up the hope that we may be able to connect pen pals to inmates digitally. Unfortunately, providing our booklets electronically and writing person-to-person through our pen pal program are two very different processes. Pen pal writing via e-mail poses unique challenges. The process and programs used in each facility can vary. Also, these programs do not allow pen names, which removes the safety of anonymity. As we continue to seek solutions, we still regularly receive inmate requests for pen pals. We continually need willing writers, who for now will write via pen and paper. With the busyness of the booklet ministry boom, processing pen pal requests is taking longer than normal. We ask that if you are interested in writing to an inmate as a pen pal, please contact Amy at [email protected]. She will give you the program details and assign you a pen pal as soon as she is able.

Please continue to pray for our pen pal volunteers as they share the gospel with the incarcerated through their letters.

 

 

 

Three ways to support WELS Prison Ministry – Summer 2024

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Pray ā€“ As Godā€™s redeemed children, our prayers are powerful and effective. Current prayer requests: for more test correctors, for success in developing an online test correction system, for ways to reach inmates outside the Edovo system.

Serve ā€“ All our ministry efforts are driven by volunteers motivated by Christā€™s love. To volunteer as a pen pal, please contact us at [email protected] or 507-354-3130. To explore jail visitation or post-release mentoring opportunities, call 414-256-3243 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Give ā€“ We thank our Lord and you for your helpful special offerings to Prison Ministry, which support our efforts to share Jesus with people impacted by incarceration!

To provide additional gifts for Christā€™s work through Prison Ministry:
WELS, Attn. Gift Processing
N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI, 53188
(Make checks payable to WELS and list Prison Ministry in the memo line.)

Donate online at wels.net/donate-prison-ministry.

Give through your IRA charitable distribution, appreciated assets, or your will or estate plan. Contact WELS Ministry of Christian Giving at 800-827-5482 for assistance.

Direct your Thrivent Choice dollars (if you are a Thrivent member) to WELS Prison Ministry. Contact Thrivent Member Care Services at 800-847-4836 for assistance. Your 2023 designation is due by March 31, 2024.

 

 

 

 

Planned giving program bears fruit

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Pictured above: Members of St. Peter participate in an Everyone Outreach evangelism workshop

More than 20 years ago, the members of St. Peter, Schofield, Wis., realized their congregaĀ­tion would benefit from forming a planned giving committee. One of the goals of the comĀ­mittee was to actively promote to members what a blessing planned giving could be in supporting the gospel work of the congregation.

Member Bob Stasney has been part of the conĀ­gregationā€™s planned giving committee since its inception. He recalls that the new committee benĀ­efited from the support of a WELS Christian giving counselor, who supplied startup resources and advice. ā€œ[The resources] were key in guiding us to establish policies that are very important to refer to over the years,ā€ remembers Stasney.

Since that time, St. Peterā€™s planned giving commitĀ­tee has been encouraging members in their giving by providing regular communication in the bulletin or newsletter about gifting tools. The committee also assists members who have questions about making planned gifts, directing them to their local WELS Christian giving counselor as needed.

Through Godā€™s blessing, this targeted, supportĀ­ive approach has resulted in members setting up gifts to benefit the church through a variety of methods, like gifts of appreciated stock or gifts through a will or estate plan. Last year the conĀ­gregation received several large gifts, including $220,000 to create an endowment and another $400,000 to further Godā€™s ministry in multiple areas. Another $20,000 gift went to tuition assistance (the churchā€™s scholarship program has distributed over $130,000 to families since its inception). St. Peterā€™s planned giving committee also oversees the congregationā€™s endowment funds and invests with WELS Investment Funds.

Stasney encourages other congregations to consider setting up a planned giving commitĀ­tee, utilizing the resources and planned giving program manual available through WELS: ā€œThe current manual seems quite comprehensive and is a must-go-to for anyone starting from scratch.ā€

Stasney gives all credit to God for his blessings on St. Peter. ā€œThe Holy Spirit has worked miracles at St. Peter over and over again, and our members have historically been cheerful givers,ā€ he says. ā€œTo God be all the glory.ā€

Learn more about starting a congregational planned giving program at wels.net/plannedgivingprogram or contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor at 800-827-5482 or [email protected] for assistance.

Starting a congregational planned giving program

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Christians seeking to honor the Lord with their offerings will want to know about the tax-wise opportunities available when planĀ­ning for the transition of accumuĀ­lated wealth (their ā€œestateā€) to loved ones and the Lordā€™s work at lifeā€™s end. There are also ways to support the Lordā€™s work now while at the same time receiving tax benefits. WELS has produced a manual to help church leaders start a planned giving program to share these opportunities with fellow members.

If your congregation is interĀ­ested in starting a planned givĀ­ing program, visit wels.net/plannedgivingprogram to order free manuals. The manual starts with the basics of how to communicate planned giving opporĀ­tunities to members and then provides options for building on that foundation. For example, a conĀ­gregation can also organize a planned giving committee and start an endowment fund. Your local WELS Christian giving counĀ­selor can walk your congregation through the manual and answer any questions.

Investment options for congregations

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Congregations receiving larger gifts from members have long-term and short-term investment options through WELS. For long-term investing, WELS Investment Funds provides cost-effective, professionally managed investment portfolios exclusively for WELS and affiliated organizations. These funds are designed especially for endowment and scholarship funds.

Currently 255 WELS organizations have entrusted more than $300 million to WELS Investment Funds. Investors benefit from lower investment costs, oversight by a national board of directors made up of WELS members with relevant experience, the expertise of professional institutional investment consultants, and ease of use as investors work directly with professional WELS staff to set up and manage accounts. Explore your options at wels.net/welsfunds or by contacting [email protected] or 877-888-8953.

WELS Church Extension Fund (WELS CEF) provides short-term investing to congregations through one-year savings certificates and 6- to 60-month investment certificates. In addition to receiving competitive investment rates, congregations can appreciate that WELS CEF uses the investments to provide financing to mission congregations and mission-minded self-supporting WELS congregations and schools for land and facility projects. For more information visit wels.net/cef or contact [email protected] or 866-511-7793.

Rate increase good news for donors

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The charitable gift annuity is a favorite planned giving tool for donors who are 60 or older. Not only can you support a WELS ministry after you go to heaven, but meanwhile you can receive regular, guaranteed payments for life. To top things off, the rates on those payments increased in 2024 by an average of 0.4 percent (depending on your age)!

In brief, you can set up a charitable gift annuity (CGA) with WELS Foundation for a minimum of $10,000 in cash or securities or through a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA. You will receive a charitable gift deduction (not applicable to a CGA funded by a QCD) and then quarterly payments based on a rate according to your age. These payĀ­ments continue until you are taken to heaven, at which point the remainder goes to your designated ministry (or ministries). If you are interested in setting up a CGA, contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor.

Learn more about charitable gift annuities and view the latest rates table

Watch WELS Foundation Executive Director Jim Holm interview WELS Christian Giving Counselor Jon Kehren about the advantages of CGAs.

 

Increased maximums for qualified charitable distributions

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The maximum amount of qualified charitable distribuĀ­tions (QCDs) you can direct to ministry from your IRA has increased in 2024 to $105,000 (previously $100,000), and the maximum you can distribute to WELS Foundation to set up a charitable gift annuity is now $53,000 (previously $50,000). This is because under SECURE Act 2.0 there is a yearly increase, indexed for inflation, in the annual limit of QCDs starting in 2024.

Learn more about qualified charitable distributions at wels.net/qcd.

 

Donate appreciated assets instead of cash

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When donating we typically first think of giving cash (online or through a check). A cash donaĀ­tion provides us with a chariĀ­table deduction. But consider donating an appreciated asset instead, such as a stock, bond, mutual fund, or real estate. You will still get the charitable deduction and avoid the capital gains tax you would typically pay when selling the asset.

Find procedures for giving securiĀ­ties at wels.net/foundation under ā€œHelpful Giving Tools.ā€

Be joyful and glad

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The stone the builders didnā€™t accept has become the most important stone of all. The Lord has done it. It is wonderful in our eyes. The Lord has done it on this day. Let us be joyful today and be glad. Lord, save us. Lord, give us success. (Psalm 118:22-25, NIrV)

The Bible is full of encouragements to be joyful, rejoice, be glad, and the like, including here in Psalm 118. The Lord put these encouragements all over his word because he knew we would need them. Living for God in 2024 just seems so challenging, and the devil would be delighted for us to throw up our hands in surrender, curl up into a ball, and just give up. But letā€™s not forget what Paul said to his young colleague Timothy: ā€œFor the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.ā€ (2 Timothy 1:7)

Yet Psalm 118 reminds us that Jesus faced opposition in doing the work he was sent to do. He was rejected but refused to back down. He went to the cross not as a victim, but as the unlikely path to victory. With that victory God raised him up and gave us reason to celebrate.

Yes, each passing day seems to bring new challenges to our life of faith. But God promises that he will send us whatever we need to follow Jesus. That might be the right words at the right moment (Matthew 10:18-20), joy despite suffering (Acts 5:40,41), contentment no matter the circumstances (Philippians 4:12,13); or the confident expectation of ultimate deliverance (Romans 8). With Godā€™s power and love behind us, we cannot give up. We strive to continue to show love to those around us, including, and maybe especially, to those who are considered unlovable by the world.

For our ministry, that means continuing to share Jesus with people impacted by incarceration in whatever ways God provides. Correcting tests, writing pen pal letters, visiting inmates in jail or prison, or mentoring them after release are all ways we can do this. We equip followers of Jesus to seek these opportunities, especially in the correctional facilities in communities near their congregation. Our faithful supporters provide the means necessary to reflect Jesusā€™ love for us to others.

One of the greatest joy-stealers is worry. But focusing on the needs of others instead of our fears reduces our worry. Serving Jesus by serving others restores ā€œthe joy of my salvationā€ to us. If you are already serving, thank you. Iā€™m confident you have felt the joy of this work. If you would like to explore options for serving, contact me at [email protected]. If youā€™d like to support what we do, see page 4 for ways to do that. Come join us in this joyful effort.

By Dave Hochmuth, WELS Prison Ministry administrator

 

 

Blessings on a jail visitor’s creativity

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As times change, so do some of the methods we use to share the unchanging gospel. Prison Ministry Committee member Bob Fink has used lots of creativity in trying to serve inmates in the Manitowoc County Jail. Through his innovation, Bob and his fellow volunteers have seen a noticeable increase in the number of souls they serve.

The ministry Bob serves was started in 2015 by Pastor Greg Pope. Bob received training from Chaplain Phil Merten from our partner Institutional Ministries. Initially the ministry followed the traditional format of biweekly studies attended by five or so inmates. As Bob got to know some of the inmates better, he would schedule one-on-one visits to give them more opportunities to learn and grow. But all that stopped when the pandemic hit. No in-person visits were allowed for over a year, and when they were allowed again, it was only via phones on either side of a glass barrier. So, Bob got creative.

At first Bob used mail to stay in touch and spiritually encourage inmates. He explored using video calls, but the expense was too high. But God was providing. Bob was asked to speak at the funeral of one of his former inmates. The funeral director was moved by Bobā€™s efforts and helped him with a donation of 100 Bibles for him to distribute. The real breakthrough came when Bob discovered a new ā€œe-mailā€ style service offered by Cidnet that the jail was using to help inmates communicate. Messages cost 10 cents each, so he could interact with multiple inmates at a reasonable cost. Bob now sends devotions and receives messages from 28 inmates. He makes them aware that we offer a Bible correspondence course, specifically geared for inmates. Nearly all the inmates would appreciate personal visits as well. Inmates inform Bob of additional inmates who want to be contacted. The six volunteers who work with Bob make as many visits as they can, but Bob is still looking for additional volunteers to accommodate all the ministry opportunities.

Hereā€™s an excerpt from one of the messages (typos and all) Bob has received through Cidnet:

Thank you so very much bob. my name is robert. im 47 years young. a christian whose fallen out of the life long practice. yes id be interested in the bible study your church offers if you would like to add me to the mailing list. i am facing time in prison and im sure i will go. i accepted my future fate already and ive only been in jail for 16 days. i know i have the lord on my side, its hard but i know i can make it.

One area of the ministry that Bob would like to improve is support of former inmates after release. These returning citizens often carry lots of shame and feel very uncomfortable attending a worship service. Bob has had a little more success with inviting released inmates to a smaller, less formal gathering, such as a menā€™s Bible study. But our congregations need to find other ways to connect these new or returning believers to the body of Christ in a supportive way. To help equip congregation members for this task, WELS Prison Ministry offers two resources. One is a Bible study, ā€œHelping the Hurting with Hope,ā€ found here: welscongregationalservices.net/helping-the-hurting-with-hope. The second is a training course with online discussion offered twice a year. Alternatively, the training can be offered locally. Visit welscongregationalservices.net/mentoring-a-returning-citizen for more information.

 

 

 

More changes for Prison Ministry

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WELS Prison Ministry has been facing all sorts of changes, one of which is consolidating our booklet storage and shipping in New Ulm, Minn. On January 23, a crew of eight movers and three trucks converged on our former warehouse in South St. Paul. Loading the books onto the trucks was not too difficult because the boxes were stored on pallets and could be moved onto the trucks with pallet jacks. On arrival in New Ulm, however, the thousands of boxes of books had to be hand carried into our mailing facility with the majority being placed in the basement. Thanks to the crew from Bester Brothers Transfer & Storage Company that did the literal heavy lifting for this effort.

We also want to thank a crew of five Martin Luther College students who helped a few days later take delivery of a reprint of ā€œBelieve and Liveā€, one of our studies, and rearrange some of the delivered boxes so that they were in order.

Having all our inventory in or near the New Ulm mailing center will streamline our efforts and allow us to be more timely in our response to some bulk orders. We want to thank our faithful volunteer Elmer Stolle who manned the South St. Paul warehouse for decades, assembling and sending bulk orders of many of our Bibles, Bible studies, and other resources.

 

 

 

Pen pal pipeline – Winter 2024

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Currently the balance between our volunteer pen pals and the inmates seeking someone to write to is close to even, but we always need more to replace pen pals who canā€™t continue. Weā€™re also praying that as we get further into digital delivery of our Bible study courses, we will experience an increase in demand for pen pals. If you have been an active pen pal in the past but currently are not writing often or at all, contact our office and let us know about your willingness to get more involved again. We also may need a larger stable of pen pals willing to try e-mail as a mode of communication, with our office still providing the second leg of communication to the inmate to protect your personal information. Let us know if that is something you are willing to consider (no final decision needed at this time).

 

 

 

Three ways to support WELS Prison Ministry – Winter 2024

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Pray ā€“ As Godā€™s redeemed children, our prayers are powerful and effective. Current prayer requests: for the success of our electronic document team efforts; for blessings on (and funds to support) supplying postage paid envelopes to inmates; for success as we seek to equip more congregations and members to get involved personally in this ministry.

Serve ā€“ All our ministry efforts are driven by volunteers motivated by Christā€™s love. To volunteer as a pen pal, please contact us at [email protected] or 507-354-3130. To explore jail visitation or post-release mentoring opportunities, call 414-256-3243 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Give ā€“ We thank our Lord and you for your helpful special offerings to Prison Ministry, which support our efforts to share Jesus with people impacted by incarceration!

To provide additional gifts for Christā€™s work through Prison Ministry:
WELS, Attn. Gift Processing
N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI, 53188
(Make checks payable to WELS and list Prison Ministry in the memo line.)

Donate online at wels.net/donate-prison-ministry.

Give through your IRA charitable distribution, appreciated assets, or your will or estate plan. Contact WELS Ministry of Christian Giving at 800-827-5482 for assistance.

Direct your Thrivent Choice dollars (if you are a Thrivent member) to WELS Prison Ministry. Contact Thrivent Member Care Services at 800-847-4836 for assistance. Your 2023 designation is due by March 31, 2024.

 

 

 

 

A gift for family and ministry

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Joyce and Don Frisque

For Don and Joyce Frisque, supporting Christā€™s gospel ministry is close to their hearts. Joyce served as a WELS teacher for over 35 years, and Don served as a WELS teacher for 6 years and as a school social worker for 31 years. Their two children, Deb and Paul, have also devoted their lives to ministry.

When the Frisques retired, they planned to thank the Lord for his goodness to them. ā€œGod has blessed us, and we want to pass those blessĀ­ings on,ā€ Joyce says. ā€œWe donā€™t need anything more for ourselves, so we are going to give it back where we can to the church.ā€ They also wanted to share their blessings with their children and grandchildren.

The Frisques knew that funding a legacy gift from their individual retirement accounts (IRAs) could help them fulfill their giving goals, but they were searching for the right type of planned gift. When they met with WELS Christian Giving Counselor Rev. Tom Mielke, he explained the benefits of a legacy charitable remainder trust.

Don and Joyce were intrigued. A legacy charitable remainder trust (often called a ā€œgive it twiceā€ trust) would allow them to support both the people and the ministries they love, in addiĀ­tion to providing tax benefits.

After consideration, Don and Joyce set up a legacy charitable remainder trust, with WELS Foundation serving as trustee. When they are in heaven, their children will receive quarterly income payments from the trust for 15 years. After that, the remainĀ­der will support the multiple WELS ministries that the Frisques have chosen.

Don and Joyce appreciated Rev. Mielkeā€™s assisĀ­tance and the ease of filling out a single form, the Letter of Instruction, to select the ministries that will benefit from their trust. Joyce also loves the fact that after Jesus calls them home the trust will support their family members and the Lordā€™s work.

ā€œEverything we have been given has been entrusted to us, and we are responsible for managing it in a God-pleasĀ­ing way,ā€ says Don. ā€œIn this way we believe we are doing that.ā€

Learn more about legacy charitable remainder trusts by contacting your local WELS Christian giving counselor at 800-827-5482 or [email protected].

“Give it twice” through a legacy charitable remainder trust

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A legacy charitable remainder or ā€œgive it twiceā€ trust is funded after both parents (or a single parent) go to be with the Lord. In addition to any immediate gifts to children or other heirs, a portion of the estate is placed into a trust that pays five percent each year to children for a term of up to 20 years. When the trust ends, the remaining assets are distributed to designated charitable beneficiaries, such as your church and/or synod.

BENEFITS

  • Provides for your heirs: Instead of leaving a one-time lump sum inheritance, you can provide an ongoing source of income for your heirs for up to 20 years.
  • Tax savings: Funding the legacy trust from a tax-deferred retirement account may provide additional tax benefits. Rather than having to distribute an inherited IRA within 10 years, the IRA can be used via beneficiary designation to fund a legacy charitable remainder trust with a 20-year payout period.
  • A gift to ministry: At the end of the payout period, the trust remainder is distributed to the ministry (or ministries) of your choosing. This charitable distribution can be made as a lump sum or used to fund an endowmentā€”providing an ongoing source of support for your favorite WELS ministry.

The minimum gift amount for a legacy charitable remainder trust is $200,000 funded through your estate planning documents such as your will and beneficiary designations (for example, your IRA).

Legacy charitable remainder trust illustration

Learn more about legacy charitable remainder trusts by contacting your local WELS Christian giving counselor at 800-827-5482 or [email protected].

In this video, WELS Christian Giving Counselor Rev. Tom Mielke and WELS Foundation Executive Director Jim Holm talk about the basics and blessings of legacy charitable remainder trusts.

Did you know you can donate . . .

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. . . appreciated assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate)?

Receive a double tax benefit when you give appreciated assets held longer than one year. First, you can deduct the full fair market value of the investment. Second, save by avoiding all tax on the capital gain.

. . . from your IRA?

Direct transfers from an IRA to charity (up to $105,000 per year) are free from federal and potentially state income tax for anyone 70.5 or older.

Want to learn more? A WELS Christian giving counselor can help you get started. If you are interested, call 800-827-5482 or e-mail [email protected].

Looking for God’s direction

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[Paul and his companions] came to the border of Mysia. From there they tried to enter Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. So they passed by Mysia. Then they went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia standing and begging him. ā€œCome over to Macedonia!ā€ the man said. ā€œHelp us!ā€ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia. We decided that God had called us to preach the good news there. (Acts 16:7-10 NIrV)

Donā€™t you wish sometimes that God would make his will known to you as clearly as he does to Paul. Somehow God clearly communicated to Paul; that he was NOT to go into Bithynia (modern day northern Turkey), but to go into Macedonia (present day Greece) instead. Apparently, that moment was the time to start mission work in Europe, so thatā€™s what Paul and his friends did.

Those of us working with you or on your behalf in prison ministry are facing a similar crossroads. For 30 years we have dependably relied on the United States Postal Service to help us deliver the gospel and encouragement to eager eyes and hearts in correctional facilities. But mounting restrictions are making sending and receiving studies, tests, and letters more difficult and expensive (for us and for inmates). Thanks to our bulk mailing to chaplains, we still distribute a good number of studies per year. But sending tests to specific inmates as well as receiving completed tests back from inmates using regular U.S. Mail has seen a significant decline. God seems to be saying that this pathway may not be the way to go now.

In response, we are exploring some new (to us) pathways. First, we are trying the use of Business Reply Mail for inmates or their onsite chaplains to submit their tests. While this will significantly increase our costs, especially if God blesses the idea, we believe this added cost is a small price to pay to be able to serve as many students as possible.

Our second new pathway is electronic delivery of our studies to the tablets many inmates now have access to in facilities. WELS Prison Ministry recently signed a three-year contract with Edovo, which provides a learning management system that ministries and educational entities can use to distribute educational material to inmates. Edovo currently has agreements in place at over 300 facilities to provide content to the inmates. We are also seeking agreements with other similar providers.

Please pray for these efforts. We are asking the Lord to bless them according to his will. We desperately want to continue to serve thousands of inmates nationwide and believe these may be the pathways God wants us to use. Also pray that if there are other ways that he desires us to share the gospel, he would give us the ability and wisdom to see these other pathways and use them.

Dave Hochmuth, WELS Prison Ministry administrator