Christian Estate Planning Family - Faith - Ministry Why is our congregation offering this service for you? Our mission comes to us from our Lord Jesus: “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last… “ John 15:16 There are many ways that our Lord can use you to bear fruit for Him as His disciple. One way is for the Holy Spirit to lead you to develop your own personal Christian Estate Plan. 1.Family – The Lord can use you to provide for your family after your death through your will or trust. 2.Faith - The Lord can use you to comfort your family at your death with a written confession of faith. 3.Ministry – The Lord can use you to support the mission of His church through a thank offering gift from your estate to your favorite ministries. I am offering to help you develop your Christian Estate Plan. Jim Schroeder Christian Estate Planning Counselor Iowa District West LCMS

Family 2 Here are some of the ways that I can assist you in providing for your family: 1.Helping you to get ready to meet with your attorney to write your will or trust. 2.Encouraging and helping you to review your current will or trust at least every two or three years. 3.Encouraging you to execute and regularly review your power of attorney for finances and health care. 4.Give you ideas for reducing income taxes on your IRA, 401k, and annuities. 5.Give you ideas for transferring your farmland to your family without arguments. 6.Give you ideas for spreading out some of the inheritance for your heirs.

Faith I am offering to help you write a statement of your Christian faith to witness to your family at the time of your death. Statement of Christian Faith Your Name Here In the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen. First, I want my loved ones to know that I place my full confidence and trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who promised: “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me shall never die.” John 11:25-26 Second, knowing that the wages of sin is death, I believe that Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, suffered and died, for the forgiveness of all of my sins; which I neither deserve nor merit, but I receive it as a free gift of God, who is rich in grace and mercy, Third, I ask all of my loved ones to remember and believe the words of our Savior found in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I leave those who survive me the comfort of knowing that I have died in this faith and now have joined the Lord in eternal glory in heaven. Fourth, I praise God for giving me a loving, caring, Christian helpmate in my (wife/husband) ___________. She/He has been a blessing from God to me, and a wonderful mother/father to our children. Knowing that we both share our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we will praise the Lord forever in Heaven. Fifth, I pray that the Lord would guard and protect my children and their spouses ______________. You are very special to me and I thank the Lord for you. Through your baptism you have been adopted into God’s family and received forgiveness for your sins. I urge you to trust in Jesus as your Savior and to remain faithful until you are called home to be with the Lord. I love you and I give you my blessing. I look forward to eternity with you in Heaven. Sixth, I pray that the Lord would shower His blessings on my grandchildren _______ May the Holy Spirit guide you along the narrow path of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior. I love you and give you my blessing! I look forward to eternity with you in Heaven. In Christ’s love, 3

4 Ministry What are your favorite LCMS ministries? I.LCMS CONGREGATION _____% ________________ Lutheran Church _____% Undesignated Gift – area of greatest need _____% Designated Gift – for ______________________________ ____ % Endowment Fund for ______________________________ II.LCMS MISSION MINISTRIES _____% Iowa District West – LCMS for missions _____% LCMS World Missions, Mission Central (Gary Thies) _____% The Lutheran Church Extension Fund _____% Lutheran Hour Ministries _____% LWML _____% Camp Okoboji III.LCMS MINISTRIES PREPARING FUTURE CHURCH WORKERS _____% Iowa District West – LCMS “Joy in Ministry” Scholarship Fund _____% Concordia Theological Seminary – Ft. Wayne, IN _____% Concordia Seminary – St. Louis, MO _____% Concordia University – Seward, NE _____% Concordia University – St. Paul, MN IV.LCMS HUMAN CARE AGENCIES _____% LCMS World Relief and Human Care _____% Lutheran Family Service _____% Lutherans for Life V. OTHER LCMS MINISTRIES OR OTHER CHARITIES Name Address _____% ______________________________________________________ 100 %. I can give you ideas on how to make the best tax-wise gift to these ministries your estate. Gift in your will or trust Life Insurance IRA - 401K - Annuity Charitable gift annuity Charitable trust Farmland

Christian Estate Planning Survey Family - Faith - Ministry Have you written a will or trust to provide for your family? _____ Yes _____ No If yes, how many years ago? ________ Have your written a confession of your faith to comfort your family at your death? _______ Yes _______ No Have you included a gift to your favorite ministries in your current estate plan? _______ Yes _______ No Yes, I would like you to visit me to help me with the following items: _____ Getting ready to write my will _____ Reviewing my current will _____ Power of attorney _____ Writing a statement of faith _____ Ideas for a gift to ministries _____ Reducing taxes on IRA,401k _____ Transfer plans for farmland _____ Spreading out inheritance _____ I will need to ask my spouse, please contact me. _____ I don’t want to schedule a visit at this time. Please Print Name _________________________________________ Spouse’s name__________________ Mailing/street address:_________________________________________________________ City:_____________________________________ State: _______ Zip: ___________________ Home Phone: (_____)____________________Cell Phone:(_____)______________________ Work Phone:(_____)_____________________Work Phone:(_____)_____________________ address _________________________________________________________________ Name of Congregation __________________________________________________________ Best month for our visit _________________________________________________________ 5