FA Memphis Connection:How Can You Leave a Kingdom Legacy in Memphis?
- Boundless Team
- Jul 9
- 5 min read
Most people spend their lives building a career, a home, and a family, but have you ever stopped to wonder what will remain once the race is finished? Leaving a legacy isn't just about what you leave behind, it’s about what you send ahead.
How can you leave a kingdom legacy in Memphis?
You can leave a lasting Kingdom legacy by including First Assembly Memphis or Boundless Online Church in your will, trust, or estate plan. This form of "legacy giving" ensures that your heart for missions, family ministry, and the Gospel continues to impact the 901 and the world for generations to come.
The Heart of Stewardship: Beyond the Weekly Offering
When we talk about giving at First Assembly Memphis, we often focus on the tithe, the first ten percent of our current income. This is a vital spiritual discipline that fuels our daily operations, from KidsZone to our local outreach in Cordova and Bartlett.
However, there is another layer of stewardship that many believers overlook: Legacy Giving.
Legacy giving (also known as planned giving) is the process of arranging a gift today that will be distributed at a future date, usually through an estate plan. While tithes come from our "harvest" (income), legacy gifts come from our "barns" (assets). It is a way to make a final, powerful statement of faith, ensuring that the resources God entrusted to you during your lifetime continue to do His work long after you’ve entered your eternal rest.
Stewardship Type | Source | Purpose |
Tithing | Monthly Income | Daily Ministry & Operations |
Offerings | Surplus / Generosity | Special Projects & Missions |
Legacy Giving | Accumulated Assets | Future Sustainability & Long-term Impact |
Why Legacy Giving Matters for the 901
Memphis is a city built on soul, grit, and community. At First Assembly Memphis, we aren't just a building on a map; we are a lighthouse for the 901. From our history of serving families to our vision for global missions, our mission requires a foundation that spans decades, not just budget cycles.
When you choose to include the church in your legacy plans, you are providing "fuel for the future." You are ensuring that:
A child in Cordova will always have a safe place to learn about Jesus.
A missionary in the field will never have to come home because of a lack of funding.
Our Boundless Online Church can continue reaching the isolated and the unchurched across the globe.
Biblical Foundation: The Theology of a Legacy
As an Assemblies of God congregation, we believe that everything we own belongs to God. We are merely managers. The Bible is clear about the importance of preparing for the generations that follow us.
Proverbs 13:22 (NKJV): "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."
Leaving an inheritance isn't just about passing down cash or property; it’s about passing down values. By designating a portion of your estate to Kingdom work, you are teaching your children and grandchildren that God comes first, even in your final financial decisions.
Defining Legacy Terms
To help you navigate this process, here are a few simple definitions of common legacy giving tools:
Bequest: A specific gift of assets (cash, stocks, or property) named in your will or living trust.
Beneficiary Designation: Naming the church as the recipient of a percentage of your Life Insurance policy or Retirement Account (like an IRA or 401k).
Charitable Gift Annuity: A way to give to the church while receiving a fixed income for life.
Endowment: A fund where the principal remains intact, and only the interest is used for ministry, providing a permanent stream of support.
Practical Ways to Leave Your Impact
You don’t have to be "wealthy" to leave a legacy. Legacy giving is for everyone who loves Jesus and wants to see His Kingdom expand. Here are four practical ways you can get started:
1. Include a Bequest in Your Will
This is the most common way to give. You can leave a specific dollar amount, a piece of property, or a percentage of your total estate. Many people choose to treat the church as an "additional child" in their will, giving the church an equal share alongside their heirs.
2. Retirement Account Designations
Retirement accounts are often the most tax-efficient assets to give to a church. If you leave an IRA to an individual, they may have to pay significant income taxes on it. However, if you name First Assembly Memphis as a beneficiary, 100% of those funds go directly to ministry, tax-free.
3. Life Insurance Policies
If you have a life insurance policy that is no longer needed to provide for your family (perhaps your children are grown and your home is paid off), you can name the church as the beneficiary. This allows you to make a much larger gift than you might be able to afford during your lifetime.
4. Real Estate and Appreciated Assets
In the Memphis area, from Arlington to Germantown, property values have shifted significantly over the years. Giving appreciated real estate or stocks can provide you with significant tax benefits while providing the church with a substantial resource for future missionary updates and campus improvements.
A Legacy That Reaches the Nations: Boundless Online Church
We are a local church with a global heartbeat. While your legacy gift might physically support our campus in Memphis, its digital impact is boundless. Through Boundless Online Church, we are taking the Gospel to the "ends of the earth" via digital discipleship.
Your estate gift could be the reason a person in a closed country hears the name of Jesus for the first time via a live-streamed service. It could be the reason a homebound believer in West Memphis feels connected to a community. This is the power of a "dual-pathway" legacy, investing in the physical home of FA Memphis while expanding the digital borders of the Kingdom.
Getting Started: Your Next Steps
Planning your legacy can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. We are here to help walk you through the process with pastoral care and practical resources.
Pray: Ask the Lord how He would have you steward the assets He has entrusted to you.
Consult: Talk with your family and your financial advisor or attorney. We often recommend working with AG Financial for AG-aligned estate planning.
Connect: Reach out to our office to let us know you are considering a legacy gift. We would love to pray with you and ensure your gift is directed toward the area of ministry closest to your heart.
A Final Thought
Generosity isn't about the amount on the check; it’s about the posture of the heart. Whether you are in your 30s just starting to build your home in Bartlett or in your 80s looking back on a lifetime of service in Memphis, it is never too early or too late to think about your legacy.
What do you want to be remembered for? Let your final act of stewardship be one that echoes in eternity.
Want to go deeper?
If you're in Memphis, Cordova, Arlington, Bartlett, or the 901, we would love to welcome you in person to discuss how you can partner with us: 🌐 www.famemphis.org
If you're outside our area or unable to attend locally, join our global community and learn more about digital discipleship: 🌐 www.boundlessonlinechurch.org
Need prayer or guidance on stewardship? 📞 Phone: (901) 213-7341 🙏 Prayer Line: Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341. (Note: This line is for prayer and pastoral support, not emergency services. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, please call 911.)
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