Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation insights New special Sunday is Jan. 13

By David Battles, Executive Vice President

Each year in the Oklahoma Conference, January marks Foundation Month. This January, the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation is excited to announce a special emphasis on Jan. 13: Tithe Your Will Sunday.

We hope your church will join us in using that special Sunday to create awareness and educate our church members on what it means to Tithe Your Will.

It has been estimated more than 50 percent of Americans die without a will. Without an estate plan, we have no control of how our estates will be distributed, and those estates may be subject to unnecessary expenses.

As Christians we strive to be good stewards of that which God has provided to us, and a written estate plan is vital to take good care of the financial resources with which we are blessed.

An estate plan can reveal important things about us and the life we lived. It says we care about our loved ones. It means we sought to conserve our estate. And, it provides insight into what is important in our lives. A bequest to family members tells of our love and concern for their welfare, and a bequest to our church affirms our belief in the mission and ministry of our church and the desire to continue our passion for ministry.

In church we are reminded of our commitment to tithing as an expression of our love for God and gratefulness for all we have received. Have you considered tithing your will? Tithing your will means including a bequest in your will for 10 percent of your assets to go to your church after you are gone from this life. Tithing your will is a natural extension of our stewardship and serves as a witness to our foresight and commitment to ministry.

In preparing for Tithe Your Will Sunday on Jan. 13, the Foundation has included its Tithe Your Will Sunday bulletin insert in this issue of Contact. Each church was sent bulletin inserts and a newsletter article to use on this special Sunday.

We also encourage pastors and church members to share your personal story of why you have included the church in your will. Personal testimonies make a big impact and are a great way for others to relate.

We hope your church will participate in Tithe Your Will Sunday on Jan. 13, to talk about what it means to tithe your will and the impact it can make on the future of our church.

Contact the Foundation at 800-259-6863 for additional Tithe Your Will Sunday bulletin inserts.