FA Memphis Connection: What Is Legacy Giving? How Your Generosity Can Impact Memphis for Generations

Most of us spend our lives working hard to provide for our families, but have you ever considered what happens to the resources God has entrusted to you once your time on earth is finished?

Legacy giving is the intentional act of planning a gift from your assets, such as a will, trust, or life insurance, to support the work of the Kingdom after your lifetime. It is a final, powerful act of stewardship that ensures the Gospel continues to reach future generations in Memphis and beyond.

Beyond the Tithe: A Final Act of Worship

At First Assembly Memphis, we believe that everything we have is a gift from God. While our weekly tithes and offerings support the immediate needs of our church and community in the 901, legacy giving looks toward the horizon. It is not about how much you leave behind, but the impact of what you leave.

Whether you call Cordova, Bartlett, Arlington, or downtown Memphis home, legacy giving allows you to plant a seed today that will provide shade for those you may never even meet.

Stewardship vs. Ownership

In the Assemblies of God tradition, we hold firmly to the principle of Biblical Stewardship. This is the understanding that God is the owner of all things, and we are merely managers (stewards) of His resources.

• Ownership says, "This is my house, my bank account, and my estate."

• Stewardship says, "This is God's house, God's wealth, and I am responsible for directing it where it will do the most good for His glory."

Legacy giving is the ultimate expression of stewardship. It moves our focus from our own comfort to the long-term health of our families and our church family.

Why Legacy Giving Matters to the 901

Memphis is a city with a rich history and a bright future, but that future depends on the strength of our local ministries. When you include First Assembly Memphis in your estate planning, you are directly investing in:

1. Strengthening Families: Ensuring our children’s and youth ministries have the resources to equip the next generation of leaders in Shelby County.

2. Serving Our City: Supporting local outreach initiatives that provide food, care, and the hope of Jesus to our neighbors in need.

3. Local Church Stability: Creating a firm financial foundation that allows our physical campus to remain a "Lighthouse in the 901" for decades to come.

A Global Reach through Boundless Online Church

Your legacy isn't restricted by geography. Through Boundless Online Church, our digital reach extends far beyond Tennessee. Legacy gifts help fund the technology, translation services, and digital discipleship tools needed to reach the homebound, the isolated, and the spiritually curious around the world.

By planning a legacy gift, you are helping us reach the person in a remote village or a busy city who is searching for truth on their phone. You are making digital missions a reality.

Practical Ways to Leave a Legacy

You don’t have to be wealthy to practice legacy giving. In fact, most legacy gifts come from everyday people who simply want to make their final "statement" one of faith. Here are common ways to participate:

• Bequests in a Will: A simple statement in your will or living trust that leaves a specific amount or a percentage of your estate to the church.

• Retirement Plans: Naming the church as a beneficiary of your 401(k) or IRA.

• Life Insurance: Designating a portion of a life insurance policy to support ministry.

• Endowments: Gifts that are invested to provide ongoing income for a specific ministry area.

Legacy Tool	How It Works	Immediate Benefit
Will Bequest	A gift specified in your legal will.	Full control of assets during your life.
Beneficiary Designation	Naming FA Memphis on an account (IRA, Life Insurance).	Simple to set up without a lawyer.
Charitable Trust	A legal structure for larger assets.	Potential tax benefits for heirs.

Key Definitions for Your Journey

To help you understand the heart behind these decisions, let's look at a few core biblical concepts:

• Stewardship: The lifestyle of managing God’s property for His purposes.

• Sanctification: The lifelong process of being set apart by the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus in our character and our generosity.

• Repentance: A change of mind and heart that leads to a change of direction, moving from self-centered living to Kingdom-centered living.

• Divine Healing: The belief that God still heals the broken, physically, emotionally, and financially, restoring us to a place of wholeness.

5 Steps to Start Your Legacy Plan

1. Pray for Discernment: Ask God how He wants you to steward the remainder of what He has given you.

2. Talk to Your Family: Share your heart and your values with your children and heirs so they understand why Kingdom giving is important to you.

3. Inventory Your Assets: Look at what God has entrusted to you, including property, accounts, and insurance.

4. Consult a Professional: Talk to an estate attorney or financial planner. Organizations like AG Financial can provide AG-aligned guidance.

5. Notify the Church: If you have included FA Memphis or Boundless in your plans, let us know! We would love to thank you and ensure your gift is used according to your wishes.

Your Faith, Continued

Proverbs 13:22 tells us that "a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children." While this certainly includes financial support for our families, the greatest inheritance we can leave is a vibrant, healthy church that continues to preach the Gospel long after we are gone.

Whether you are part of our physical community in Cordova or our global community at Boundless, your generosity is a bridge. It bridges the gap between where we are today and the revival we believe is coming to the next generation.

Will your final act of stewardship be one that changes lives for eternity?

We'd love to connect with you. Visit www.boundlessonlinechurch.org to join our community from anywhere, or if you're in the Memphis area, find us at www.famemphis.org.

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.)