Director of Stewardship

President, United Pentecostal Foundation

 

In the past five years since the Stewardship Group was established we have been invited to many churches to teach what we call the "Gift and Estate Design" seminar. The scriptural basis is I Timothy 5:8, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

 

The basis of the presentation is to help everyone in the church understand the importance of having good plans to care for their spouse and family at the time of death. This includes not only a Last Will and Testament or Living Trust, but durable powers of attorney to take care of business and make health care decisions if and when they become incapacitated. Also if you have children you need to make guardianship for who will raise your children should both parents pass away before the children turn eighteen.

 

Another important component of the teaching is explain the concept of tithing of their estate to their local assembly as well has the opportunities of leaving other gifts for the Kingdom after they have taken care of their families. This includes leaving gifts to their local assembly through Charitable Gift Annuities, bequests, life insurance beneficiaries, charitable trusts, retirement plans and stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.

 

We work with individuals/couples the day after the seminar in one on one sessions to help them work on collecting an inventory of all that God has trusted them with while here on earth. While doing this we review if they need more life insurance to care for their families in the event of an early death as well has how they need to plan for their retirement.

 

Many pastors feel uncomfortable making this type of presentation but the Stewardship Group is prepared to help you make a professional presentation to your congregation to fulfill 1 Timothy 5:8. The average in future gifts left to the local assembly where we have taught over the last several years has been over $400,000.

 

If you are interested in someone from the Stewardship Group to come to your church to teach, can email us at smdrury@upci.org or call Stephen Drury at 314-837-7304, ext 309.