Every agency director in the ARP tells me it makes sense to have adequate financial resources in place to sustain current program operations and open new works within the ARPC. New opportunities stretch our resources and can put current operations at risk. To that point, I had a generous donor tell me the key to expanding and growing the good works in any organization – our churches and all ARP Agencies – is sustainable resources: “decades of excellent staff work can be wiped away in one bad year of funding” and went on to encourage planned giving and endowments in our plans for future growth.
Endowing projects secures the present, and lets us dream for the future! The ARP Foundation has received many such gifts that will impact the future: A recent $100,000 gift to ONA for part-time youth pastors leveraged matches from three small churches for another $90,000; A $20,000 gift of a low performing CD would endow a full scholarship to graduate a nurse from the ARP Hospital in Pakistan from now on and provide a 6% annual return to the donor for life. A gift of $15,000 endows a total annual scholarship for students attending the Pakistan School. A recent unexpected gift of $20,000 grew our Dunlap Pastor’s Adoption Assistance fund to a level it can now begin spending the interest! A gift of stock generated a total $90,000 to build a new church in Turkey – totally paid for!
The ARPC enjoys faithful and generous support from our members for the many opportunities that the Lord opens to take the Gospel into our communities and across the Globe. As we work together to build our infrastructures to support church staff, ministries and missionaries in the ARPC, we are also wise to also develop financial strategies to sustain what God has already established. Planned Gifts and bequests can be used to endow virtually any ministry purpose – large, or small – all can have a profound ongoing impact on the Gospel and the Denomination.
For that very purpose, the ARP Foundation was created to serve individuals, churches, presbyteries and ARP Agencies with a full menu of gift planning services at no-cost, as a financial ministry of Synod: 100% of funds given to the Foundation go to your choices of ministries: no fees, no commissions, no product sales.
Taxes can often be reduced, provision for our families secured, and without affecting monthly, annual gifts or tithing, anyone – young or old – can make a bequest to the ministries you choose; many can make a gift from their assets now and see the results! 85% of planned gifts are not deferred, but can go to work now for ministry during your lifetime. The most common gifts are bequests life Insurance policies, appreciated stocks, land & real estate – often set-up without an attorney.
The ARP Foundation exists to serve you to help reach your financial goals and fund the Kingdom. If you want to explore possibilities, please contact Steve Nichols 864-232-8298 or visit our website arpsynod.plannedgiving.org