People often catch the dream of mission service while very young. In fact, ages 8-12 are the prime years when children decide to serve as missionaries. Beginning with Samuel in the temple and the little captive maid who ministered to Naaman, children are often more open to God’s calling than adults. And does God not entreat us to become like little children, spiritually speaking? “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus said, inviting us to pause and reflect (Matthew 18:3).

Many children follow their dreams of mission service into adulthood, serving as short-term, student or career missionaries. In turn, they store up a treasure in heaven of precious souls saved, becoming heroes of faith. For eternity, their crowns will be resplendent with jewels representing the fruit of their ministry.

There is another way to become a hero of faith, allowing those who dream of mission service but who, for whatever reason, cannot live among the unreached to get involved in the heroism and sacrifice of frontline missions. You can become a hero of faith through gifts of assets, bequests, trusts, Charitable Gift Annuities, or Qualified Charitable Distributions. With your sacrificial gift, one day in Heaven, we will all meet those precious souls saved for eternity because we answered the call to participate in the greatest story ever told!

For more information on becoming a financial mission hero, please contact James Petty at
269-473-4250 or by email at jpetty@afmonline.org

Heroic Giving Opportunities

GIFTS OF ASSETS
• Homes, real property, personal assets or appreciated stock can become a mission legacy gift, potentially shielding the donor from capital gains tax.

BEQUESTS
• A gift (possibly to a charity) made through your will that leaves you in full control of your assets or monies throughout your life.

TRUSTS
• A living trust is much like a will, except it’s not subject to probate, and like all trusts, your final wishes remain private.

• A remainder trust pays you for life or a term of years, with the remainder going to the chosen charity.
• A lead trust pays the charity for life or a term of years, and the potentially tax-free remainder goes to whomever you have chosen.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY
• Similar to a remainder trust, donors/annuitants (up to two) get paid an annuity for life with a significant tax-free income component.

QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION
• A tax-free gift from your IRA available to donors 70 ½ years or older, it applies toward your required minimum distribution when applicable.

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