I worship in different congregations on a regular basis, and one of my favorite things is spending time in our rural churches during the summer. Almost without exception, somewhere near the front door is a basket or a table overflowing with fresh produce. Tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, sweet corn—parishioners have brought the bounty from their gardens to share.
One gentleman laughed as he pointed to the table and said, “I have to bring them to church. I’ve got tomatoes coming out of my ears!”
We laughed, but his comment also revealed something beautiful about generosity.
What God has entrusted
When we are blessed with an abundance—more than we can possibly use ourselves—the natural response is to share it with others. Rather than staying in one person’s pantry, the harvest becomes a blessing when it is given away.
That same spirit of generosity can shape the future of a congregation through legacy giving.
Many faithful members spend a lifetime nurturing what God has entrusted to them. Through careful stewardship, they prioritize giving while also building savings, investments, property, or other assets that may one day exceed what they need. A legacy gift is one way to share that abundance.
Churches demonstrate good stewardship of legacy gifts by structuring them into an endowment, ensuring that the blessings God has provided continue to bear fruit for generations.
(Below: a table with free produce sits in front of Webster UMC in Jackson County).
An enduring harvest
In an endowment, gifts are invested for long-term growth, and a portion of the earnings are used each year for ministry while the principal remains to serve future generations. A single legacy gift can become a perpetual source of support for worship, outreach, Christian formation, missions, and the many ways a congregation serves God’s people.
Beyond an annual gift that meets today’s needs, an endowment is designed to provide lasting support that will outlive all of us.
The people who leave tomatoes on the table simply want someone else to enjoy some of what they have. Legacy giving flows from the same heart. It is an act of faith that says, “God has blessed me, and I want those blessings to continue long after I am gone.”
None of us knows what harvest the future will bring. But we can plant seeds today that provide nourishment for tomorrow. By remembering the church’s endowment in a will, trust, beneficiary designation, or other planned gift, we create a lasting legacy of faith and generosity.
While the tomatoes are eventually eaten, the spirit behind the gift lives on. What a wonderful witness for the generosity we practice today to bless our congregation for generations to come—an enduring harvest that never runs out.
Rev. A.J. Thomas, the Foundation’s Director of Client Relations, leads gift planning workshops for churches and related organizations. Reach A.J. at 888-450-1956 or [email protected].
Click here to access The 7 Principles of Stewardship, a Foundation study resource designed for small groups, Sunday School classes, and congregation-wide readings.
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