Called To Be A Blessing
“Called To Be A Blessing,” began in the fall of 2008 as a result of receiving a $100,000 charitable gifting initiative grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. This 2-year program will help us to grow in our financial stewardship as individuals, families, and as a congregation. 28 members of Peace participated in one or more of the 3 charitable gift planner training sessions held at Peace in the fall. Several of those leaders have begun their own will-planning process and are seeking to make good plans for their families as well as considering opportunities for charitable gifting. On February 1, 2009 we began the congregational phase of Called To Be A Blessing as part of our first special 125th Anniversary weekend. The weekend included a special dinner and presentation led by Pastor Joe Schultz, former Pastor of Peace, and Jennifer Nohelty of LCMS Gift Planning services. We had a great turn out and we hope many of you will be taking advantage of the program "Called to be a Blessing".
Jack Kilsdonk has been commissioned as our "Congregational Gift Planner." Not only is Jack able to use his accounting skills to help others work through the gift planning process but he also has completed the gift planner training and has gone through the process himself. Jack is available to make appointments and meet with anyone who would like to take advantage of this free estate planning service offered now at Peace.
"Called to be a Blessing" is an estate planning process, based on sound stewardship principles, that will help you "to maximize what the Lord has given you to manage". This process will help you identify your assets, set goals, and manage your resources in a way that supports your family, your beliefs, and your values, particularly in regard to your estate planning. As we meet with each family we will help them care for their families in a way that will help and not harm them, we will educate them about the opportunities to support our school ministry now through Thrivent's Simply Giving program and we will show them how to remember the Lord's work in their final gift plans. We anticipate substantial growth over the upcoming years in the funding of our church and school endowment funds through this charitable gifting initiative. When members remember ministry in their gift plans, their family will usually receive more-over a longer time, they will avoid paying any unnecessary taxes and they will have left a major gift to ministry that they never even dreamed was possible.
We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to Thrivent for helping plan and write the Grant and for helping fund the program. For without their help we would not be able to help all of you.
We would like to invite you to check out the Gift Planning Services link at:
Peace Lutheran Church
300 Deleglise Street
Antigo WI 54409