That's a good question. We live in a day of newsletters . . . how to make a fortune in real estate . . . inside information on the stock market . . . and we recently received information on a newsletter that reports on what other newsletters are saying.

But we believe this newsletter is important. This is a way in which you, a friend to the ministry of Manhattan Christian College, can receive vital information about your estate and gift design.

We trust this is of interest and value to you, and hope you will let us know how we can make it more valuable to you.

We think it is important to consider what God's Word says about our stewardship ministry. In each newsletter, we will attempt to bring you something fresh and challenging from the Word.

Think with us about why man attempts to accumulate wealth. We believe the Scriptures give us the following insights. Man desires to accumulate wealth because he:

• Loves money (Ecclesiastes 5:10; I Timothy 6:8-10)
• Wants self-esteem (Proverbs 16:16-19; I Timothy 6:17; Philippians 4:11-12)
• Wants the envy of others (Psalms 73:2-17; Luke 12:15)
• Desires protection (Matthew 6:25-34; 7:7-8; Mark 11:24; Luke 12:16-34)

But God has a very special reason for allowing man to accumulate wealth. Let's look at Romans 12:1-13. God is talking about the gifts of natural abilities that He has placed within man. And one of these is the ability to give (verse 8). God allows man to accumulate wealth to fulfill a spiritual gift, the gift of giving.

II Corinthians 9:11 confirms this. It says that God has given us much so that we can give much. (Living Bible)

God also speaks in the Scriptures of supplying our needs, according to His riches in glory, in direct reference to the person who has given.

Though the Scriptures talk about the love of money, self-esteem, envy of others and protection as negative reasons to accumulate wealth, with right motives, God will bless you. And "all these things will be given to you as well."

What greater protection could we ask than a God who supplies all our needs, according to "His glorious riches in Christ Jesus? Who is envied more by others than the individual who can use his wealth to care for those in need? Who has more self-esteem than the individual who sends unto the needs of others, whether building a church, feeding a child, or endowing a great educational institution?

And of course, who really loves money more than the person who knows what it will accomplish when it is placed in God's hands, to be used as He directs?

Let's check our motives for accumulating wealth and ask God what He would have us do in our ministry of stewardship.

• It provides an opportunity for you to give a final testimony of your Christian faith.
• It authorizes payment of all debts and expenses related to your final illness.
• It can be used to waive bond.
• It revokes all previous wills that you have made.
• It disposes of your personal property according to your desires, either through direct instructions in the will, or by reference to a letter of instructions placed with the will.
• It makes in-kind or fixed dollar distributions to family members or charitable organizations.
• It distributes the remainder of your estate, usually by percentage, to your individual and charitable beneficiaries.
• It names a personal representative who is responsible for entering the will into probate, and making distribution according to your desires as expressed in your will.
• It empowers the personal representative to carry out the terms of your will, especially relating to the ability to sell, dispose of, and liquidate property, as well as to continue the operation of your business interests.
• It establishes trusts for the benefit of minor children or for other individuals for whom you have income responsibilities.
• It names the trustee of any trusts established and empowers the trustee to carry out the terms of the trusts for their duration.
• It authorizes the payment of taxes by the estate.
• Each state has strict laws regulating the execution and validity of the will. For this reason, it is extremely important that competent legal counsel, familiar with the laws of your state of residence, be retained to draft your will.

A famous French philosopher once left a will that read,

In today's economy, many of us feel that way. In fact, we often hear people say, "I don't own much." "We really don't have enough to need to plan." "I don't know what will happen between now and the time I die, hospital bills, nursing facilities, inflation."

These are negative forces in the minds of many Christians, which keep them from experiencing the blessing of knowing that when they go to be with God, they will be found faithful, even in the final testimony of stewardship, their will.

God has not stated in the Scriptures that faithful stewardship is only for those who have accumulated large amounts of wealth. In fact, one of the greatest compliments He gave to a steward was to the widow who had little to give, but was faithful with what she had.

Do not let today's negative economic forces rob you of this blessing from God. He has provided for your needs, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

YOU'RE WORTH
MORE THAN YOU THINK

When you examine your assets, you will probably find that you have more than you realize . . . your home, life insurance, household goods, savings accounts, stocks or bonds . . . they add up. But regardless of the size of your estate, it is important that you complete your planning.

For many, a will is sufficient, often combined with a durable power of attorney to manage property in case of disability prior to death.

For others, it might be necessary to create a trust. If your estate is large enough that there will be estate tax implications, or if you have minor children, a trust is definitely needed.

DO IT NOW

And we want to remind you of the importance of doing it now. Remember, God has promised forgiveness for your sins, but He has not promised tomorrows for your procrastinations.

It would be sad for individuals who have lived Godly lives to face their Savior, and realize that something so important has been left undone, and they have missed the fullness of God's blessing.

MAY WE HELP?

Regardless of the size or complexity of your estate, proper planning may not be as costly or as complicated as you think. In fact, it can be quite simple. We would like to show you how easy it is to have the satisfaction of knowing that God's blessing will be yours.

Why not let us help you as you begin planning your estate, or review the plan that you have in light of current probate and tax laws.

We have available for you, with no cost or obligation, a Will and Trust Planning Guide, which provides all the information you need to start planning your estate or to review your current plan. Please use the enclosed response card to request your free copy.

Our services are free and have been a blessing to many. And we're sure they will be to you, also.

One of the more difficult decisions you will have to make is the selection of a personal representative to administer your will.

The administration of the will is a highly technical job, governed by strict laws. It is also a highly controversial job, often dealing with relationships among family members.

And it is a position of trust. If that trust is breached, with or without intent to cause harm, penalties can be severe. Here is a case in point.

Mr. Jones was appointed personal representative of his friend's estate. His chief qualification for the job was his familiarity with his friend's business. He employed an attorney to represent the estate in tax matters. And in due course, the estate tax return was filed, and taxes paid.

However, an amended return was necessary, and $27,000 in additional tax was due, for after-discovered assets.

Mr. Jones was asked to sign the amended return, which he did, but he was not told to pay the additional tax. Thus, he distributed the estate to the heirs. The Internal Revenue Service determined that Mr. Jones was personally liable for the unpaid taxes, in his fiduciary capacity, and the tax court agreed.

They ruled that Mr. Jones had a duty under the law to determine that additional taxes were due, and he failed in that duty. By signing the amended tax return, he had "notice sufficient to put a reasonably prudent person on inquiry" concerning the tax, and thus was chargeable with the knowledge.

The personal representative can also be a position of arbitration. Here, the penalties are not in dollars, but in severance of relationships. A case in point . . .

Ken was appointed personal representative of his father's estate. He was the oldest son, so his father felt that he was the logical person for that position. Besides, he thought it would be expensive to hire a bank or a trust company to do the job, and wouldn't it be better to "keep it in the family?" The estate instrument was a properly drafted will, making a sizeable charitable gift and equal distribution to family members.

There were sufficient assets in the estate to make the charitable gift. But problems began when a brother asked Ken to transfer the property with the home on it to him. He felt his request was justified, because he had lived there for several years, caring for their parents.

But there was disagreement by other family members. The brother had not paid rent during that time, and several felt that he had been well paid for the care he had provided.

This was only a beginning. When it came to distributing items of personal interest, the family division grew deeper, causing ill feelings toward Ken, as the personal representative, which have never mended.

Estate planning emphasizes the people in your life. It is also a proven method of avoiding unnecessary taxes, minimizing probate expenses, and distributing property according to your desires and what you understand to be God's plan for your stewardship ministry.

The choice of a personal representative is an extremely important decision. Choose with care. A bank or a trust company might be a wise choice. They are qualified, bonded, and can serve as a buffer in interpersonal family problems.

In each issue of Christian Steward, we would like to share with you ideas that can help you in developing your personal lifestyle of giving.

Some will be direct methods that you can use in your giving to support our mission.

From time-to-time, we will simply share with you giving lifestyles which others have developed. Some will be creative, and others will be very simple, like the following.

SHOWING YOU CARE

Caring is important. However, words are often empty and inadequate when you attempt to express love and understanding to a family who has lost a loved one.

Many individuals find a deep personal satisfaction in making contributions to a charitable organization in memory of

someone special. These meaningful gifts express to the family that you care, and at the same time assist the organization in carrying out its mission.

When we receive your memorial gift, a card is sent to the family of the remembered person, without mention of the amount of your gift. You also receive an acknowledgment of your tax exempt gift.

We have memorial envelopes available for you to use when you wish to show a family who has lost a loved one that you care.

You may send your memorial gift directly to The Memorial Fund, Manhattan Christian College, 1415 Anderson Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502, or you may telephone us for more information at 785-539-3571.

I trust this giving idea is of value to you and that you will soon incorporate it in your lifestyle of giving.

LOVE

We recently read of an individual who left his wife something much more valuable than his estimated $200,000 estate when he died. He left her his love, publicly declared in a probate court filing.

According to a will signed 45 years earlier, all his property went to his "dearly beloved wife and companion."

The will read: "The above bequest is so made by me for the reason that it was through her untiring efforts that I achieved whatever success I have and for her comforting aid in time of sickness, trouble, and sorrow, and also to make more apparent and public the ardent love and deep admiration that I bear for the sweetest and dearest wife and pal in the world."

He was 78 when he died, and had been a common pleas judge for 30 years until he retired in 1973. He was married 51 years.

We trust this first issue of Christian Steward was of interest to you. We look forward to hearing from you with suggestions for future issues, or with any questions you may have about any of the information shared here.

And please take time now to write, to receive your free Will and Trust Planning Guide.

We want to help you in any way we can. Please write or call our office to let us know how we can help.

© Lifestyle Giving, Inc., 1994, 2000. Printed by permission.