Creating Blessings

“…When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.”    Joshua 4:21-24 KJV

A responsibility rests on all our shoulders to remember from where our blessings come. As Joshua and the people passed over the Jordan the Lord spoke specific instructions. Take twelve men, one out of every tribe, and each pick up a stone to place on their shoulder and take to the other side. Why? Because one day the children will then ask their fathers, “What do these stones mean?” The fathers can tell the incredible story of how God allowed them to pass over the Jordan river on dry ground.  

God has indeed given us many blessings and the miracle of His provision in our walk with Him.  None of us live forever though. We must leave a legacy of God’s blessings to future generations so that, “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” Psalms 145:4 KJV

There are tools available whereby you can leave this legacy through The United Pentecostal Foundation (UPF). When you create this legacy with your name or in your family’s name, it not only leaves history of God’s blessings in your life but will create blessings of providing for future generations. The UPF was created in 2003 to raise funds (or create blessings) to benefit, support, promote, expand and extend the ministries, works, causes, objectives, programs and publishing functions of the United Pentecostal Church International and its affiliated and endorsed ministries. Below are some of the tools that can be used.

Endowments/Scholarships

Individuals, ministries, or businesses can set up Endowments or Scholarship Funds or contribute to those already in place. These funds create recurring income for the recipient by using interest earnings to support the cause while leaving principal intact. Major areas of gifting are for Missions, Education and Humanitarianism.  

Missions

Endowments for Missions can be for Global or North American. Presently both UPCI ministries have established endowments where gifts can be placed from wills and trusts. These type gifts become a permanent annual gift to assist the chosen Mission’s administration until the Lord returns. So perhaps one day no missionary will have to pay a percent of their budget to cover administrative costs. The same is true with North American Missions, all Christmas for Christ offerings could go to ministry and administrative costs will be totally paid for from the endowments.

You can also establish an endowment for your local assembly so that when you have passed away, others will still know of your testimony. An annual gift will bless your church from the endowment as if you were still alive. Some donors have even left endowment gifts for their district camp grounds, district home mission’s and Ladies Ministries efforts. 

Education

If you have a passion for Christian Education, you can create a blessing by leaving an endowment gift to UPCI related education.

• UPCI Colleges in North America
• Local UPCI Christian Schools
• Global UPCI Bible Colleges

Humanitarianism

Another great giving opportunity is to bless ministries that help those who cannot help themselves. Some are listed below:

• Compassion Services International 

• Lighthouse Ranch
• New Beginnings International 
• Reach Out America
• Tupelo Children’s Mansion

Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

Donor Advised Funds are like a family foundation and are amazing tools you and your family can use to extend gifts. You get the tax write off at the time of the gift, but you and the future generations of your family decide where the gifts go throughout the years. You can even change the recipient each time. 

Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)

When you set up a CGA, you give a gift of cash or other asset and receive a stream of income for the rest of one or two lives, typically a husband and wife. It is based upon government actuary tables on the typical length of both lives. This can be an Immediate or Deferred Annuity. The longer you wait to start taking the stream of income, the higher the return on your gift. You receive a portion of your gift up front as a tax deduction and annually part of your annuity payment is also tax deductible. The charity portion is the money left in the annuity when the annuitants have passed away. This can go to the UPCI ministry of your choice or to an endowment or scholarship of your choosing. 

Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Lead Trusts 

You can also create blessings for the ministry(s) you love most by placing stock, property, businesses, etc. into a Charitable Trust before you sell the stock, property or business. You typically receive tax benefits at the time of the gift, receive a stream of income for yourself or family for a set number of years, and then the remainder goes to the UPCI ministry of choice. Or the gift can create a blessing up front for a UPCI ministry of choice and the remainder go to you and your family after a set number of years. 

It was Nelson Henderson who said, “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” If God has blessed you with more than you need to care for your natural and spiritual family, why is that? I suggest it is to create blessings for the present and future generations by giving forever gifts.