What if I told you that planned giving had almost nothing to do with collecting money for your ministry?  Would you think I had slipped a gear or gone off the deep end? 

For most of us in ministry, getting the funding is critical to our ability to provide the programs and services that help people achieve a deeper relationship with Christ, and grow in Him.  So adding or maintaining a planned giving program is just trying to do that - right?

Fair enough!  That's what we are all trying to do.  But let's look a little closer at Matthew 6:19 through 34.  We all know this passage.  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasure upon earth . . .but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  

Jesus begins in Matthew 5:1 with the Sermon on the Mount and Beatitudes, and doesn't stop talking until the end of Chapter 7.  Right in the middle, he covers 16 versus on how we are to deal with His provision for our needs.  We aren't to hoard – “got that”; we aren't to worry – “got that”; we are to trust Him to provide – “okay as long as I have some input”.  Oops!!  That's not what it says is it?

In a nutshell, this passage says that He will take care of the funding if we will focus on bringing folks closer to Him.

From an “organizational perspective”, that is exactly what we should be doing when we think about Planned Giving. 

It is not about getting the money in the door.  It's about helping the donor realize the joy and reward of investing in the Matthew 28:19 connection with your ministry. ("Go into the world and make disciples. . . ")  The money is just the vehicle to bring them closer.

But, you say, if I don’t focus on the money, I won’t know whether we can provide the program.  Right, I say.  It’s called faith.   The real issue is whether God is drawing enough people to His work in your location to accomplish what we think the real goal is. 

For those where a planned gift reduces the inheritance to their own children in favor of “God’s franchise” (YOU), that’s exactly the point. 

So how do we do this?   First it takes a commitment to treat the donors God brings us as “His Provision”, and focus on meeting their needs first.  As they become more involved in the ministry, the Holy Spirit will direct them in whether you are the outlet for their “investing in the Kingdom” or not.

Second, it takes an organizational commitment to look at something other than the financial potential in these donors.  (They realize when you are doing this by the way)  If we are sincere in our desire to “help them achieve their personal mission” nothing in the world can stop them from joining the work God calls them to invest in.

Finally, it will take prayer.  Prayer that you and I can see God honored in the process, and in the result.