Leaving a Legacy
A local church sends me its monthly newsletter. From what I can tell, it is a solid, Bible-believing church focused on the gospel. When I received this month's letter, an article headline caught my eye:
Leaving a Legacy
My initial thoughts were, “Great! Maybe they are starting a discipleship program, or maybe they're holding an evangelistic outreach event. What better legacy can a person leave than by passing on the gospel to others?”
My excitement soon waned as I read the first lines:
Congregation members can make an impact on the future direction of this church by planning and implementing a total planned giving program. Planned giving can be a powerful stewardship opportunity for those who love God and care about the future of this church.
Of course, it is good to give willingly and generously to the church. The money, no doubt, helps support gospel ministry. Still, I would like to see an appeal for a more direct approach in leaving a legacy. So, I thought I would modify the article slightly:
Congregation members can make an impact on the future of this church and the world by planning and implementing a total gospel-sharing program. Gospel sharing is a powerful opportunity for God to speak to lost and wayward people. Additionally, God entrusted those who love him and care about the future of his son's church to pass on this wonderful, life-changing message.