• Evangelism & Discipleship
• Leadership Development
• Missions Mobilization
• Missions Support
  • Cooperative Program & Stewardship Development
    • Capital Fundraising
    • CP Video
    • It's a New Day for Financial Freedom
    • Planned Giving
    • Short-term Stewardship Bible Studies for Kids
    • Stewardship Resources
  • Executive Offices
  • Information & Facilty Services

Planned Giving

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 
Hebrews 11:4 NIV

Your Legacy	Helps Your Church		Reach Your World

Estate Planning

Your Legacy Today the average amount parents leave as an inheritance is $50,000. The average adult child inheriting that money spends it in 90 days. You spent a lifetime scrimping and saving to get a nest egg for your kids. Don't let them waste it as soon as you are gone. You can still give them the help you planned by giving it to them over time. Instead of them using it up on luxuries, they can continue receiving income for years after you are gone. There are may ways to do this through estate planning. At the same time, your estate is the single largest opportunity for stewardship you will ever have. The Bible is filled with good teachings on estate planning. Out of this has grown a partnership between the Office of Cooperative Program and Stewardship Development of the State Board of Missions, The Baptist Foundation of Alabama, and several estate planning resources.   Your Basic Estate Plan Components Durable Power of Attorney Your Will Your Advanced Medical Directive If you are interested in more information, contact Jim Swedenburg at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 283 or jswedenburg@alsbom.org. Return to Top

The year was 1984. I was planning my first international mission trip to Nigeria.  Dianne was 100% supportive of the trip with one exception. “Before you go we have to have a will.” We had talked about a will  many times since our wedding in 1971, but as most of you know, it’s one of those things we put off until later. I now had a deadline and a definite goal. We had always believed in the Southern Baptist way of supporting missions through the Cooperative Program. We both tithed through our local church as children and youth. That practice of obedience continued naturally as a couple. In talking about our few assets we decided to continue giving a tithe through our estate after our deaths. I contacted the Alabama Baptist Foundation, since that is their area of expertise. The process was as simple as making an appointment with a representative of the Foundation. I’ve since learned that most giving in churches is cash and that few consider tithing to include property or other assets. I believe Scripture is not just giving financial advice, but presents stewardship of all that I have as a way I worship. We have talked many times about revising our will, but that call is even easier to postpone than the initial call. We’ve talked about being more specific in the tithe of our estate, but we have never considered not giving 10% to Baptist causes. May I challenge you to do the same as an act of worship. Bill Morgan

Helps Your Church

When your members remember the cause of Christ in their will, the church can do more ministry. Estate Stewardship is a ministry to provide assistance in planning how to give a portion of your estate to benefit the cause of Christ. We can help you integrate your personal, financial and estate planning goals with your goals for lifetime or testamentary charitable giving. 

The pilot of this ministry to the local church began in January of 2005.  In the first 16 (of the more than 3,200) Alabama Baptist churches, more than $128 million in immediate and planned gifts were been designated by fellow Baptist who have discovered the significance of planning the estate through the eyes of a steward.  Of this amount, more than $78.5 million is designated for the local church. Prior to that, only 2% of participating individuals had an estate plan. After beginning the process, 90% have an estate plan. When God's people hear, understand and then apply biblical principles to estate planning, ministry is funded. 

Stewardship is not about your money. Any life plan based on money will fail. We must get back to Biblical teachings on stewardship that include time, talent, and treasure. Biblically based stewardship education is needed in all of our churches and families.

This ministry is NOT about money. It is about stewardship. It is not a program. It is an education process.

Reach Your World

Other links:

• Calculators for planned giving
• Estate Planning
• Church Planning

• Building a Plan