Time to Recast the Nets
by Dr. Donald Mann

The enormous wealth that now exists in this country is not concentrated in the treasuries of an aristocracy, the fortunes of corporations, or the vaults of government. It exists in large part in the savings and assets of a generation that endured a severe depression, sacrificed life in a global war, built our infrastructure, and now fill the pews of our churches. It is their legacy that stands poised to be transferred to the next generation. Will these funds be a windfall profit for government programs, a means to finance a lifestyle of indulgence, or a responsible inheritance of values and assets which include an investment in the Kingdom of God?

Luke 5:4-6, records that Jesus’ disciples were standing on the shore of Galilee after an unproductive night of fishing. Jesus directed them to put their nets down on the other side of the boat. The harvest of fish was so overwhelming that the nets broke as the fish were being brought into the boat. The Church today figuratively stands on the shore of a new millennium. Ministry and mission enterprises have accomplished many things, but they pale in comparison to the size of the task to make disciples throughout the entire world. The Master may be directing the attention of the church to “cast the nets” on the other side. If this is a convergence of unprecedented opportunity for the gospel and unparalleled resources within our churches, what should be our response?

I am convinced that casting the nets on the other side is a good biblical picture of the opportunity that awaits the Church. We teach stewardship about and make appeals for gifts of cash. Yet only about 9% of wealth in America is cash, 91% are assets and property, ideal for some form of planned gift. In light of this reality, why has the church been so reluctant to teach stewardship of lifetime resources or hesitant to make an appeal for a planned gift? How have we exempted ourselves from the responsibility and potential of putting estate planning within the reach of the average church member? And if the church were to adopt planned giving as part of an overall stewardship program, what is the most effective practice to employ such a specialized ministry at an affordable cost?

It took me five years to answer those questions which formed the basis of my research for a Doctoral degree. During that time I learned that the Bible has much to say about the stewardship of all that we manage, not just of income. I also learned that the early church began and later maintained a tradition of receiving estate gifts. These traditions were interrupted during the founding of the Church in America when estate planning became the province of societies and charitable institutions that were intended to represent the values and compassion of the church. I also learned that estate planning is a valid and valuable ministry to families within a church who have not ventured into the maze of technical information and decision making that is required to complete an adequate plan for the end of life.

But I also have been a part of church leadership long enough to know that whatever the merits of a ministry, it will have to be affordable and produce a good return on investment to be accepted. Few churches can justify hiring a well-trained planned giving officer and then provide the support staffing and resources to cultivate, educate, develop proposals, and complete the planning process. Outsourcing the process to contain the cost and allow the church to fully enter the planned giving process seems the logical alternative.

Three years later, I can tell you it is not only logical, but now that we are on the “other side” it has exceeded all of our expectations. Our church is now beginning the fourth year of a very successful partnership with PhilanthroCorp, an outsource for estate planning. Over the past three years, our congregation has received this ministry with enthusiasm. Greg Ring, Dave Keesling, and all the staff of PhilanthroCorp have become more than our planned giving solution, they have become true friends and partners in ministry. Our leadership has a new vision for the funding of our future. More importantly, our congregation is discovering a new vision for stewardship.

Dr. Donald Mann is Pastor for Development with Calvary Baptist Church of Winston Salem, North Carolina and the President of ProVision Foundation, a separate non-profit foundation to manage gifts and fund ministry initiatives.

Reprinted by permission 

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