Transfer the Blessings

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Transfer the Blessings

• How can you empower your congregation to be a
  blessing for generations to come?

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Transfer the Blessings starts with Gods Word

• Command those who are rich in this present world
  not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in
  wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their
  hope in God, who richly provides us with
  everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do
  good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
  generous and willing to share. In this way they
  will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
  foundation for the coming age, so that they may
  take hold of the life that is truly life.
• 1 Timothy 617-19

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As children of a giving God, we too are giving
people

• God has given us eternal life through our baptism
• Each Christian has a Lifetime Plan for Giving in
  their hearts
• We are called to Transfer the Blessings on to
  others

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Transfer the Blessings strengthens the mission of
the church

• This unique opportunity from the Foundation's
  gift planning department trains and equips
  volunteers to serve as congregational gift
  planners to assist members with their Lifetime
  Plan for GivingTM to the families and the
  ministries they care about.

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Why Transfer the Blessings?

• Currently, one gift planning counselor serves the
  families in one district
• Each counselor serves approximately 150 families
  annually
• Districts may have over 25,000 families
• Good job security or poor strategy for serving
  each family?

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How do you get Transfer the Blessings started?

• A congregation must have a vehicle to organize
  the future growth of the church
• Review or establish bylaws that establish the
  procedures for receiving and distributing gifts
  to ministry
• Ask the gift counselor for endowment fund
  resources and information

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How do you get Transfer the Blessings started
(cont.)

• Organize the congregations leadership to support
  Transfer the Blessings
• Prayerfully consider who might become the
  volunteer congregational gift planner
• Complete your Lifetime Plan for GivingTM before
  assisting others

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How does Transfer the Blessings work?

• Helps create relationships between members,
  congregations and The LCMS Foundation
• District gift planning counselor provides
  experience, knowledge and mentoring to the gift
  planner
• Additional support through the congregational
  team and The LCMS Foundation

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The LCMS Foundation supporting personnel

• Senior Vice President of Gift Planning
• District Gift Planning Counselor
• Manager of Gift Planning Services
• Backroom Support Staff

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What steps are needed to establish Transfer the
Blessings in a congregation?

• Establish a congregational support structure
• Review or establish the congregational endowment
  fund (or other such vehicle)
• Form a Transfer the Blessings team
• Select the volunteer gift planner
• Commission the volunteer gift planner

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The training session that introduces the team to
gift planning

• Understanding Stewardship
• Establishing a Congregational Gift Planner
• Preparing for Service
• Building the Relationship
• Discovering the Lifetime Plan for GivingTM
• Planning Solutions
• Completing the Lifetime Plan for GivingTM

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The LCMS Foundations promise to congregations
and members

• The LCMS Foundation is the only LCMS organization
  that offers comprehensive charitable expertise
  and services to help members plan and direct
  their passion for giving to family and all
  ministries of the church today, tomorrow and
  forever.

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LCMS Foundation member services

• A Lifetime Plan for Giving includes
• Gifts Today- direct gifts providing immediate
  benefit to ministry
• Gifts Tomorrow- deferred gifts providing future
  benefit to ministry
• Gifts Forever- gifts that provide a perpetual
  benefit to ministry

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Family and individual gift planning vehicles

• Unitrust
• Pour-over Unitrust
• Annuity Trust
• Lead Trust
• Gift Annuity
• Pooled Income Fund

• Donor-Advised Family Gift Fund
• Life Estate
• Endowment/Memorial Fund
• Direct Gifts of cash or property

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LCMS Foundation congregational endowment fund
services

• Establish we provide samples, templates and
  resources
• Promote we help committees develop strategies
  and provide materials
• Grow experienced, professional staff dedicated
  to ministry
• Manage currently managing 22.1 million for
  congregations

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The Transfer the Blessings benefits to ministry

• Your congregation
• A district ministry
• An LCMS school, college or seminary
• An LCMS recognized service organization (Orphan
  Grain Train, Wheatridge, etc.)
• Other national and world-wide ministries

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What are the eternal benefits of Transfer the
Blessings?

• New opportunity engages members in stewardship
  principles and the churchs mission
• Creates awareness of the churchs mission through
  tailored promotion.
• Congregational gift planner provides new
  potential for funding ministry

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Questions?Thank you for your attention