Legacy Programs
A
"Legacy" Program is a proactive effort whereby the Lutheran Foundation
of Texas partners with a Lutheran congregation, school or ministry for
a specific period of time (examples: January-December, September-March,
etc.) to encourage their members or constituents to prayerfully
consider leaving an estate or planned gift to benefit one or more
endowments which the Foundation administers on their behalf. LFOT
assists the ministry by helping to recruit Legacy Program Lay Leaders,
prepare Legacy program material drafts, make presentations to
individuals and groups at the ministry outlining specific ways that can
be used to leave an estate gift, etc. Details of individual estate
commitments are held in confidence by LFOT. More information on
partnering with LFOT on a Legacy Program is available by calling
1-800-880-3733, extension 271 or email Larry Ohls.
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In
May 2003, the voters of Zion Lutheran Church in Dallas voted to
establish the Zion Endowment Fund (ZEF). By the grace of God, they now
have more than $1.7 million in future estate and planned gifts
designated for their endowment. How did they do it? In January 2006,
Zion Lutheran Church launched a program called Building the Zion
Legacy. Members of Zion were asked to designate a future gift to the
ZEF through their will or estate plan. The ZEF supports three areas of
non-budgeted ministry at Zion: Christian Ministries (including special
outreach projects), Christian Education, and Music Ministries. By the
time the program concluded on March 31, 2007, 32 congregation members
had made a commitment of a future estate gift to the ZEF. Of these, 17
indicated a dollar value of their future gift totaling $1.7 million. To
help the program succeed, staffing was provided by the Lutheran
Foundation of Texas (LFOT). The Foundation helped prepare Legacy
program material drafts, made presentations to individuals and groups
at the congregation, and outlined specific ways that could be used by
church members to leave an estate gift to the ZEF.
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In
this new millennium, Shepherd of the Hills sees its mission as, "A
place of refuge in a stormy world - Called, Gathered, Enlightened, and
Empowered by God to multiply places of refuge throughout our world." To
help further its mission, the church members established the "Endowment
Fund of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church" in 1992. The purpose of
the fund is to provide an opportunity to make gifts over and above
regular giving which will help to sustain and enhance future
ministries. With the endowment, the principal is intended to be held in
perpetuity to provide earned income for ministry. The Endowment of
Shepherd of the Hills is administered by the Lutheran Foundation of
Texas (LFOT). The challenge in this millennium is to build the
principal of the endowment to yield significant and consistent income
to benefit future ministry. With this in mind, Shepherd of the Hills
launched the "Legacy of Faith" program in November 2008 whereby members
of the church are being asked to prayerfully consider the endowment in
their Will or Estate Plan. The program is being funded through a
"Charitable Gifting Initiative" Grant from the Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans Foundation. A "Charter Member Phase" is being held through
March 2009. So far 33 individuals/couples have made a commitment to the
Legacy Program. LFOT is providing assistance by preparing program
material drafts and mailings, by making presentations to individuals
and groups at the congregation, and by outlining specific ways that
could be used by church members to leave an estate gift to the
Endowment.
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In
1995, Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas (LOMT) established the John
W. Behnken Society to recognize those persons who remember LOMT and
Camp Lone Star in their will or estate plan. During the first 10 years
of the Behnken Society over 20 individuals/couples made a commitment.
In January 2007, LOMT partnered with Lutheran Foundation of Texas
(LFOT) to launch a new phase to expand membership in the Society. This
phase was called the "LOMT Landscapers" Program and had a goal of
gathering, with God's help, an additional 50 estate and planned gift
commitments. When the program concluded in December 2008, 54
individuals had participated. Praise the Lord! To help the program
succeed, staffing was provided by LFOT. The Foundation helped prepare
Landscaper program materials, made presentations to LOMT support
groups, and made personal visits to persons interested in making estate
gifts. The program was assisted by a $20,000 "Charitable Gifting
Initiative" Grant from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation.
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In
2003, the Texas District Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML)
Board of Directors launched the "Endowing Tomorrow's Lutheran Women in
Mission 75th Anniversary Campaign." The goal of the drive is to gather
$1 million in future estate gifts by the Texas District LWML's 75th
Anniversary in 2017 for the organization's two endowments. This
includes the LWML Scholarship Endowment, which provides support for
women who are preparing for full-time church work at a college or
university of the Synod, and the LWML Mission Inreach Endowment, which
provides income for spiritual enrichment, member development and
leadership training opportunities for LWML members. LFOT assists by
giving video/PowerPoint presentations to LWML Zone and Society
meetings, by preparing program material drafts, and by making personal
visits to persons interested in making an estate gift to the LWML
Endowments. To date, 133 LWML members in Texas have made commitments.
Pat Biar of Nederland, Texas, is the Chair of the Campaign Steering
Committee. If you would like more information about this campaign, contact Larry Ohls at 1-800-880-3733 or go to the Campaign Website at www.lwmltxdist.org.
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Endowment Expansion Programs
An
"Endowment Expansion" Program is similar to a Legacy Program, except
that LFOT partners with a Lutheran ministry to help raise cash gifts
and pledges for one or more endowments which the Foundation administers
on their behalf. LFOT similarly assists the ministry by helping to
recruit Campaign Lay Leaders, by preparing program material drafts, and
by making presentations to individuals and groups at the ministry
outlining specific ways that can be used to make a gift, etc. More
information on partnering with LFOT on an endowment program is
available by calling 1-800-880-3733, extension 271 or email Larry Ohls.
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Recently,
two supporters of the Lutheran Campus Ministry program offered to match
all gifts to the new Lutheran Campus Ministry Endowment-Lubbock on a "1
for 2" basis up to $100,000. This means if campus ministry friends
contribute up to $200,000, these friends will match every $2
contributed with an additional $1!!! So far, $127,000 has been pledged
towards the $200,000 goal, so $73,000 is still needed. This is indeed a
very important ministry which serves many students at Texas Tech
University. Activities on campus include weekday devotions, Sunday
suppers along with Bible Study, servant events and many other
Christ-centered functions. LFOT is also assisting by helping to prepare
campaign material drafts; recruit campaign leadership; accompany
campaign leaders on selected calls to prospective donors; make calls on
prospective donors outside of the Lubbock region; prepare promotional
materials including bulletin inserts, Texas Messenger articles, etc.;
and deposit funds and send receipts for campaign gifts to be placed in
the endowment. (Note: The Lutheran Foundation of Texas serves as
Trustee for the Endowment.) Gift checks of any amount should be made
out to the "Lutheran Foundation of Texas" for the Lutheran Campus
Ministry-Lubbock Endowment, and sent c/o the Lutheran Foundation of
Texas at 7900 E. Hwy 290, Austin, TX 78724. Please contact Reverend Brian Dupre
at 806-763-3644 if you have questions regarding the campus ministry
program in Lubbock or the matching gift program. You may also contact Larry Ohls at 1-800-880-3733.
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Please contact us for more information.
