USA (MNN) – Do you have an estate plan? If not, the United States arm of SAT-7, a satellite TV ministry to the Middle East and North Africa, has partnered with Financial Planning Ministry. Together, they are taking the mystery out of estate planning.
Estate Planning
Information from a 2017 Caring.com survey reveals that nearly 60 percent of adults in the United States do not have an estate plan. However, through the partnership, SAT-7 is offering a seminar* to help Christians protect themselves and wisely steward their resources. It is also a way for SAT-7 USA to serve its donors and ministry partners.
(Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash)
Plus, Senior Development Officer with SAT-7 USA John Frick says estate planning can actually help further the Gospel. How? By drafting ministry gifts in the estate plans.
“We do ask people to be prayerful about how God may want them to leave an estate gift, whether it’s SAT-7, whether it’s their local church, [or] whether it’s some other ministry—we want to advance the Kingdom of God,” Frick explains.
The partnership makes available free estate planning education and resources for creating wills and trusts. The goal—to help foster biblical stewardship. This partnership equips SAT-7 USA to help people look at estate planning “from a Kingdom perspective [and] from a biblical stewardship perspective.”
Biblical Stewardship Through Estate Planning
Frick says there are at least three Scripture passages with a biblical narrative with regards to money. These passages include Genesis 4—which depicts Cain’s careless giving; Acts 16—an account of how wealthy Christians supported Paul’s work to spread the Gospel; and Matthew 23–when Jesus confronts the Pharisees and their heart behind giving.
“What I see here is when we’re dealing with biblical stewardship principles, first, we need to be intentional. Second, we need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I think one of the reasons perhaps [why] Paul was delayed is the Holy Spirit was continuing and preparing for those people with resources so that when the timing was right, Paul would be able to advance his mission,” Frick says.
“And then, whatever we do, we do with a heart of gratitude and compassion for the Kingdom of God. With that foundation, that’s where we see it working in the financial planning ministry and doing proper estate planning.”
Furthermore, if Christians prayerfully include a gift for ministry work in their estate plans, they are ensuring a set amount of their resources make the Gospel message available to those who might otherwise not encounter it.
SAT-7 Resources
For SAT-7, receiving such a gift equips the organization to communicate God’s love through satellite TV and other media. It supports their discipleship programming. It also helps grow and support the Church in the Middle East and North Africa. But, regardless of who is the recipient, will you prayerfully consider including a ministry-related gift in your estate planning?
“I truly believe that one day as we stand before God and we’re called in to account for how did we manage and steward the assets and resources that God had given to us and asked us to manage, those who’ve done some estate planning at least [will] be able to answer those questions with some specific actions. I think it benefits both the Christian steward to be a good steward and it benefits, again, the Kingdom of God in advancing,” Frick says.
To sign up for estate planning resources through SAT-7, click here.
*SAT-7 USA may provide information on estate planning, but this information is not legal advice. SAT-7 resources are not provided by attorneys or accountants.
Header photo by NORTHFOLK on Unsplash.
