Advancing Stewardship

At AMG, helping our ministry partners “put their houses in order” (Isa 38:1) as they prepare to hear our Lord say “Well done!” (Matt 25:3) is a privilege. To help accomplish this, the Lord has blessed us with a wonderful partnership with Ray Lyne and Bruce Owens of Lifestyle Giving (some of the most godly, capable, and knowledgeable men in Christian planned giving today) and for this we are so thankful!

Lifestyle Giving has helped many AMG ministry partners over the past 15 years with their estate plans. These plans accurately reflect what these partners feel God’s desire is for the distribution of their estates. As we consider completing or reviewing our own estate plans consider what Ron Blue of Kingdom Advisors reminds us all:

The Reality is…

1. I will die.
2. I will take nothing with me.
3. I will probably die at a time I did not anticipate.
4. Someone else will get my “stuff.”
5. I can only decide before I die who gets my “stuff” after I die.

The Facts are…

1. 80% of women will experience widowhood.
2. The average widow in 2000 was 55.
3. 80% of widows now in poverty were not in poverty before their husband died.
4. Life expectancy of a widow is a minimum of 18 years.
5. Long-term healthcare costs $73,000 a year per person – rising 3.5 times by 2025.
6. $42 - $136 trillion will pass to the next generation in the next 40+ years ($1 -$3 trillion/year).

At AMG, those who will be the beneficiaries of your estate plans are the priority. Planning for the distribution of your estate begins now. How you plan for the distribution of your estate is driven by Biblical stewardship. And ultimately, honoring God with your estate plan is the highest priority.

Biblical Stewardship is the accomplishment of God-given goals and objectives using God-given resources.

With 10,000 Baby Boomers (ages 45-65) applying for Social Security every day now, how will Kingdom work continue to be funded?  While 81 million Baby Boomers begin retiring, how will the 38 million Generation X’ers (ages 30-45) who follow them carry on the funding of Kingdom work that their parents and grandparents have so sacrificially invested in during their lifetimes?

Ray Lyne answers these questions in the following video as he spoke to AMG ministry friends who joined us for our Annual Pennsylvania Banquet in November of 2011.

As we meet with AMG ministry partners around the country, our desire is to help them finds God’s plan of stewardship for their estates. This process always begins by looking at the people and ministries that are dependent on them. From there, we discuss how to most effectively design their plans to reflect God’s plan for stewardship. Because if we miss God’s plan, what have we gained from all of our efforts?

For more information, feel free to contact us at 423-894-6060 and ask for our Advancing Stewardship Department. We look forward to hearing from you soon!