North Carolina Baptist Foundation, Inc.

January 2023

"You will be enriched in every way for all generosity which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God."

2 Corinthians 9:11-12

Charitable Giving Impact

We are living in the midst of the greatest transfer of concentrated wealth in human history. A 2014 study by the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy estimated that just over $59 trillion will be transferred across generations between 2007 and 2061. Not $59 million - $59 trillion! This amazing amount of wealth passing between generations also means a remarkable amount money available for charitable giving. The Boston College study, considering both normal giving rates and the amount of transferred money earmarked for charitable purposes, estimates that during these same 55 years, almost $27 trillion will be designated for charity, at some point during the wealth-holders' lifetimes or as bequests from their estates.

Donor Advised Fund

A donor advised fund, or DAF, is a popular tool for charitable giving because it maximizes tax benefits, multiplies your gift's impact and simplifies the giving process. Think of a DAF like a savings account for all of your giving. Instead of writing multiple checks to individual ministries, you contribute to your DAF account and receive an immediate tax deduction. Those contributions are invested and grow tax-free. You decide which ministries to support and how often. When you're ready to make a gift from your DAF, North Carolina Baptist Foundation, Inc. sends the check on your behalf.

Generosity - Sermon Starter

The Three Faces of Giving

II Corinthians 8:1-12

The Corinthian church made a pledge and had not paid it. Paul was writing to remind them that the time had come to translate the promise into reality. The reason this pledge was so important was because the Mother Church in Jerusalem had fallen upon hard times. It needed help from all the developing churches in Asia Minor, which were primarily Gentile and Greek churches. So Paul wrote to the Corinthians to remind them of their pledge, but also to cite a wonderful example of giving in the Macedonian church. Hard times had really come to Macedonia. They were in poverty and yet, having heard of the need before the church, Paul lifted them up as an example of how and why one should give. This text address the following three faces of giving:

Priority

"..their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord..."(II Corinthians 8:5 TLB).

When we give an accounting of how we have used all that God has given to us in education, wealth, and opportunity, the question is not: "What have you done with all you had?" NO! The question is: "Who did you do it for?" The Macedonian Christians said loud and clear - we did it for Christ!

Purpose

"They gave...because they wanted to!" (II Corinthians 8:3 TLB)

Their giving was not prompted by nagging, duty, or guilt, but they gave because they wanted to and it brought them joy. Our commitment to Jesus Christ, our good works, our gifts, should be rooted in a sense of joy.

Potential

"God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven't" (II Corinthians 4:12 TLB).

We do not have anything that God did not give us. He simply wants us to give from what He has given to us. It is important spiritually for each of us to redirect the focus of our lives from "getting" to "giving" from "selfishness" to "sharing."

Dr. A. Richard Childress

Vice President for Development

Pulpit Supply

Let the North Carolina Baptist Foundation, Inc. help with pulpit supply. Please consider inviting a member of our development staff as a guest worship leader in your church. Our services are free.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Vietnamese Baptist Church of High Point Investing in the Future

NC Baptist Foundation (NCBF) and NC Baptist Financial Services (NCBFS) highly values our relationship with Vietnamese Baptist Church of High Point (VBC). That relationship began as a result of VBC looking for a permanent home for their Church in 2015. VBC had been a mission of FBC High Point and located there for over 25 years. The Church had grown and was looking for a Church home of their own. Pastor Paul Cao contacted Russell Jones of NCBFS knowing that they would need a financing partner for their plans. The Lord blessed them with a beautiful church home in Jamestown.

VBC has also been an investment partner with NCBFS. As the Lord continued to bless their ministry they invested funds in the Church Loan ministry to be used for future missions and ministry with NCBFS. In this way they blessed other churches in North Carolina who are seeking financing for building purposes. More recently Paul worked with NCBF to set up an endowment to fund mission work of VBC until Jesus returns.

VBC is a very generous Church. It’s members not only support the missions and ministry of VBC but they go way beyond. In many ways they exhibit the generosity of the Macedonian Church of 2 Corinthians. They have been known to give cars and even a house to others in need.

Pastor Paul Cao has generously given NCBF and NCBFS the opportunity to speak to their congregation to encourage them in their stewardship and generosity.

NCBF is thankful for our partnership with Pastor Paul Cao and VBC. VBC is faithful in joining God in His work not only in NC but throughout the World.

Robert Simons

Central Area Manager

Charitable giving up but gifts to larger churches dropped

Source: Religious News Service

An annual report on giving to evangelical Christian nonprofits, including churches and other ministries, found that giving in the United States' largest churches fell by more than 6.6 percent, despite a rise of 4 percent last year in charitable giving nationwide. The finding appeared in the 2022 State of Giving report, released by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, an accreditation organization that sets standards for ministries' financial management reporting. Many Christian groups other than churches saw increases in keeping with the overall rise in philanthropic giving, and some did far better. Donations to Christian foundations (65.8 percent), anti-human trafficking groups (28.9 percent), K-12 schools (18.3 percent), church planting (12.2 percent) and pregnancy resource centers (14.5 percent) saw some of the largest increases. Giving to Christian charities overall was up 3 percent. That tops overall charitable giving in the United States, which dropped by just under 1 percent, according to Giving USA. Those numbers made the decline in giving to church (-6.6 percent) and youth ministry (-2.9 percent) all the more stark. Churches with budgets under $2 million saw giving go down by 8 percent, while those with budgets of more than $20 million saw giving go down by 2.5 percent. The churches in the ECFA are larger than the average church in the United States. According to the 2020 Faith Communities Today study, which looks at congregations from a wide range of faith groups, the median congregation has a budget of $120,000, down 20 percent from 2010. Most congregations in the United States have budget of less than $100,000, but because larger churches draw so many, about half of Americans (51 percent) attend a church where the budget is $1 million or more.

Eastern Area Manager / Development and Trustor Services

The North Carolina Baptist Foundation, Inc. is seeking a full-time Eastern Area Manager Development and Trustor Services. The ideal candidate will be an active member of a Baptist church and deeply committed to Jesus Christ as Lord. This individual must possess strong time management and communication skills, as well as the ability to multi-task. The nature of the work requires confidentiality, attention to detail, and a willingness to travel. Candidates should enjoy working independently or with a team. The best candidate will also be an active learner and critical thinker, and one with a humble spirit, positive attitude and great integrity. The ideal candidate should be well-respected in Baptist life, possess a good understanding of North Carolina Baptist history, the ability to work cooperatively with all NC Baptist, and live in eastern NC or be willing to relocate.

To learn more about the specific responsibilities and to make an application, visit online here.

Application deadline: February 15, 2023

Have you given any thought to what will happen with all your “stuff” when you are no longer here? We know that we cannot take our belongs with us when we die, and according to North Carolina law, there are two options. The first is to have a Last Will and Testament (and other estate planning documents) and then the individual gets to choose who gets what. The second option is to not have a Will (or other estate planning documents) and then the laws of the State of North Carolina will determine who gets what. The second option is not good financial discipleship.

By having a Will, you get to choose if you want to leave anything to your church or other favorite ministry. By having a Will, you get to choose if you want to leave an inheritance outright to your children or if you want to use a trust so that they receive income over their lifetime. Don’t give up your right to make these and many other choices. Do what’s right with what’s left.

Simplifying the Complexity of Estate Planning

NCBF has partnered with PhilanthroCorp to help you identify your important relationships and resources and then recommend the most effective tools to ensure that your family is well cared for and that you leave the legacy you choose. The process begins: (1) by conducting a phone interview where PhilanthroCorp asks questions to learn your story, including your wishes and hopes for future generations. (2) by providing tools that can guide you to legacy decisions within the privacy of your home. (3) by designing a plan that will be refined through a series of phone conversations and then ultimately implemented by your attorney or by an attorney referral.

Testimonial:

"We were encouraged by the North Carolina Baptist Foundation, Inc. to utilize a legacy planning service. We didn't have wills in place and knew this would be a good opportunity. We had an overall very good experience. This process allows you to think through things that you need to do, but also some things that you may have never thought about. We would encourage anyone to try this service. The estate specialist that worked with us was very helpful, and we really enjoyed the process." Jeff and Jennifer Gibby, Brunswick Baptist Association

Daryl Trexler

Assistant Vice President

for Financial Services

919-459-1673

Robert Simons

Central Area Manager

919-459-1682

Allen Schuyler

Western Area Manager

919-459-1678

Endowments: Gifts That Persevere

The North Carolina Baptist Foundation Inc. and its donors have long been attracted to the concept of endowments. Endowments are gifts that keep on giving. Gift principal generally remains untouched, and only the income is used to support worthwhile ministries. For churches and ministries, endowments create permanence and financial stability. For ideas about creating an endowment with the Foundation simply contact one of our area managers.

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA BAPTIST FOUNDATION

North Carolina Baptist Foundation, Inc.

201 Convention Drive

Cary, NC 27511

919-380-7334

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