Thoughtful Investing In Kingdom Work
What Is The First Baptist Church Foundation?
The First Baptist Church Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Corporation which is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-free charitable organization. The FBC Foundation exists to support Christ’s work through the ministries of CrossRoads Church as we honor Christ in years to come as He has blessed us in years past.
The FBC Foundation operates under the discretion of a local Board of Directors chosen by the members of CrossRoads Church.
The Foundation receives donations. These funds are invested and managed by the Board. The earnings may be used currently to fund programs or may be allowed to grow within the fund for a special purpose. The principal amount maintained within the fund will provide resources for coming generations.
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Why Give to First Baptist Church Foundation?
First Baptist Church Foundation offers you…
Worship
Express from your heart your gifts to worship our Father in Heaven by presenting an offering to Him.
Opportunity
Donors have a common goal; each wants to provide support for ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. The FBC Foundation provides a vehicle through which gifts of all sizes and types can collectively make a difference to further His Kingdom.
Simplicity
Gifts to our Lord through the FBC Foundation will benefit numerous ministries of CrossRoads Church.
Continuity
Earnings from the gifts will continue to provide support for ministries of CrossRoads Church annually.
Perpetuity
Gifts to our Lord may be given with assurance that the proceeds will provide benefits beyond the donor’s lifetime until the Lord returns.
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Options of Giving
The First Baptist Church Foundation provides the opportunity for you to provide a lasting gift to be used in Christ’s service for many years to come. Our foundation desires to create ways for your gift to be used in areas that we value as Christians and that fulfill our Christian purpose. This foundation provides several giving options that create possibilities for your gift to make Christ’s work possible both today and long into the future.
Perpetual Fund
When giving either through an estate or gift, you may choose to direct your gift toward the Perpetual Fund where the principal of the gift will be preserved. The Board of Directors of the FBC Foundation would invest your gift, along with other gifts, in a way that the income earned with this fund would directly impact ongoing ministries of CrossRoads Church.
Such ministries would include: world evangelism, camping, Christian education, worship resources, learning resources and outreach resources. Ministries would benefit annually from these gifts.
Project Fund
The second option provides for a one-time gift intended to expand the capacity of our church to do Christ’s work.
Many one-time ministry projects are dependent upon a large capital investment. Your gift to this Project Fund would allow the Board of Directors of the FBC Foundation to invest your gift, along with other gifts in the Project Fund, in a way that it can be held until a time of ministry expansion is at hand.
Such projects could include addressing space needs, transportation needs, handicapped accessibility needs, and remodeling needs to facilitate future ministry.
Opportunity Fund
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The third option allows for a one-time gift to expand the caring from our church to those in need. We call this the Opportunity Fund.
This option stems from Jesus’ words to sell our possessions and give to the Christians who are needy and poor. These are situations that come before the Board of Overseers, where brothers and sisters in Christ would benefit with our help.
Along with helping others within our CrossRoads church body, we could use these funds to help the extended body of Christ in our community or through the Minnesota Baptist Conference and Converge (formerly the Baptist General Conference) ministries.
To provide a couple of examples, perhaps funds could be available to help send more kids to Trout Lake Camp, or start up a church in a neighboring community in Minnesota. Or perhaps funds could be available to help a special need that arises with one of our supported missionaries out in the field.
The intent of this third option is to provide funds for caring for the needs of the people in the Body of Christ.
Current Gift Ideas That Could Be Made Anytime
Giving to a foundation often occurs through one’s estate, however, gifts can be made anytime. As you evaluate your situation you may decide that now is a good time to fund the FBC Foundation.
Gifts to the Foundation can take many forms. Listed below are a few examples of items that you might consider to give. It is important for you to understand that you could be eligible for tax benefits by making gifts to the FBC Foundation now. To take advantage of income tax deductions, you should examine the tax benefits of your donation with your attorney and/or accountant. We want you to do what is best for you as a steward as you honor the Lord with your gift to Him through the foundation.
Donation ideas you might consider giving may include:
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Cash gifts, CD’s, and the like
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Real Estate
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Securities
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Personal Property
Deferred Gift Ideas
It stands to reason that you still are using your estate for your support. Giving to a foundation often occurs after a believer has gone on to Glory through one’s estate. Planned giving that is arranged now but to be implemented later is a practice many believe is best for their situation. We encourage you to include the FBC Foundation in your will or other estate planning tools.
Deferred Gifts are arranged now, but the actual gift is made at a later time when it best fits your situation.
Examples of deferred gifts being used would include:
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Wills
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Certain trusts
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Designating FBC Foundation as a beneficiary of insurance policies, retirement plans, or bank accounts
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Real Estate
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Securities
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Personal Property
It is important for you to understand that your estate could be eligible for tax benefits by making gifts to the FBC Foundation. To take advantage of estate tax benefits, you should examine the tax benefits of your donation with your attorney and/or accountant. We want you to do what is best for you as a steward as you honor the Lord with your gift to Him through the foundation.
AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY
The term “estate” is often associated with wealthy individuals, but anyone who owns any property or has a dollar that one doesn’t plan to spend has an “estate”. Your estate consists of those possessions and assets that you have. Simply stated, “estate planning’ is planning that helps you make the most of the estate that you have or can develop. In its broadest aspect, estate planning is sometimes called personal financial planning. Estate planning is an lifelong process that deals with:
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Creating your Estate: acquiring assets and possessions.
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Using your Estate: to meet the needs of yourself, your family, and others.
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Conserving your Estate: preventing shrinkage of your estate due to taxes, inflation or unique investments.
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Transferring your Estate: because you can’t take it with you, you must make plans to transfer your estate to others during your life and/or at your death.
Thoughtful estate planning is a good idea for everyone. But for a Christian, estate planning is more than just a good idea - it is an important responsibility. The Bible tells us that in regards to assets and possessions we are to consider ourselves “stewards” or managers.
God owns the estates we call “ours” (Psalms 24:1, 1 Chronicles 29:11-14) and He entrusts the management of these estates to us (Psalms 8:4-8, Genesis 1:26-28). We are responsible for faithfully managing our estates, and will be held accountable for our management (Luke 16:10-12, Matthew 25:14-30). Because the management of our estates is such an important responsibility, the Bible has much to say about handling money and possessions. In fact, the Bible has more verses dealing with money and possessions than with prayer and faith. Effective estate management requires good estate planning. While estate plans will differ from individual to individual, all plans will be formulated by following several basic steps.
First, determine your objectives, or goals. Prayerfully and thoughtfully decide what you want to do with your estate. Remember that the Bible can give a great deal of help in determining your objectives. Your objectives are important because they will give direction to your estate plan.
Second, determine your current estate status. Before you explore all the estate planning opportunities available, you must know what you have to start with. Inventory your estate by making a list of your assets.
Third, determine plans needed to achieve your objectives. Consider the wide range of estate planning tools - a few of which are mentioned in this pamphlet. Professional advisors can help in this step, and in the next step, which is to implement your plans. Put your plans into action.
Finally, because circumstances and needs change throughout one’s lifetimes, it is important to review your estate plan periodically. Make sure that your plans fit your current situation.
The Grace of Giving
Many of you have heard the ministry of Dr. David Jeremiah on “Turning Point” on KFNW radio station. Dr. Jeremiah has a book he wrote entitled The Grace of Giving. In this book, Dr. Jeremiah makes an interesting observation that is worth considering when we discuss giving to the FBC Foundation. He says, “After 30 years of teaching and preaching God’s Word, I have noticed an interesting phenomenon. If I teach a series of messages on the stewardship of time, people get energized about using their time better and becoming more productive. If I do a series on the stewardship of talent (say, a series on spiritual gifts), people get motivated about discovering their spiritual gifts and finding places to serve. But when I do a teaching series on the stewardship of treasure, people get protective - even defensive at times. Why is that?
It’s because money speaks so deeply to us. It is the best representation we have of our values and priorities; what we really believe. Money is also the primary feedback we get in our culture about the contribution we are making. We give ourselves to a vocation or a pursuit and receive money in return. Our money represents who we are. So when we start addressing things having to do with people’s money, they respond emotionally and protectively. When we talk about giving your money away, we’re talking about “giving part of your life away.”
The Board of Directors of the FBC Foundation agrees with Dr. Jeremiah’s observation that donations to the foundation is “giving part of your life away”. We believe the foundation provides a vehicle where you can give “part of your life” back to our Lord as an offering to Him. May you receive blessing as you contemplate what you want to do with all He has entrusted to you and your estate.
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