The poetry of Ecclesiastes in Chapter 3 speaks of a shared experience in life: things come into being, serve a purpose, and then an ending happens. There is “a time to be born and a time to die” (3:2). This is the case for our human lives. This is the case for projects we work to advance. This is the case even for the life of congregations.

In June 2024, Central United Methodist Church of Lawrence, Kansas, gathered for its final worship service before discontinuing as a congregation. Central had served in ministry and mission with the Lawrence community for over 170 years. Pastor Amy Seifert, who shepherded them in this journey, stated, “The decision to close … was painful. However, as Ecclesiastes tells us, there is a season for everything, and the time had come for Central UMC to die so new things could be born.” The new things to be born are the focus of this story.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are a resurrection people, knowing that the end is not the final stop. The final breath is not the end of the whole story. We believe in the One who was raised to new life. Such is the situation for congregations that come to the end of the church’s lifecycle. A legacy of lives changed. Ministry that has made a lasting difference. It is a legacy that continues to bless others.

Key to the ministry of the Kansas Methodist Foundation is helping people be good stewards of the resources entrusted to them, to grow in generosity, and to leave a legacy for those who come behind us. More often, this is a ministry with people of faith regarding their lives and resources. However, our Kansas Methodist churches can also leave a legacy when an end comes.

Central UMC invested with KMF to support the church with restricted funds. When the end was in sight, a proposal was offered that the Kansas Methodist Foundation could create a Legacy Fund and the remainder of the resources could impact other ministries in the Lawrence Community. That is when the Lawrence Central UMC Legacy Fund was created. The remainder was placed into this fund. Now, annually, this fund makes charitable gifts to support the work of other Lawrence area ministries: Centenary UMC, First UMC, Indian UMC, Wesley KU, and Camp Chippewa.

If we are called to be good stewards of our lives, we live with the trust that God is at work through us and beyond us. We step out in faith, knowing that when an ending comes, God will bring new life beyond us for others.

The Kansas Methodist Foundation is honored to help support churches in being good stewards, providing investment and development services, and being asked to provide the long-term stewarding of legacy gifts. We can provide stability, hold to donor intent, and support the enduring work of the church beyond “a time to die”.

Thanks be to God for the work and ministry of Central UMC in Lawrence.

Phil and Carol Mattox are both natives of Georgia and attended rival high schools outside Atlanta. They met on a blind date arranged by common friends.  Fast forward 54 years later, they now have two children and six grandchildren.

And they needed an estate plan.

After high school, Phil knew he would be drafted and chose instead to enlist. He attended the University of North Georgia, a military college, where he majored in physical education. He later earned a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Virginia State University, where he was overseeing their ROTC program.

Though he didn’t initially have any interest in the military, his  career spanned 31-years of service, achieving the rank of Brigadier General for the US  Army. His career spanned numerous commands and two stints at the Leavenworth War College. Upon retirement from the US Army, Phil worked as a military contractor.

Carol worked outside the home as time allowed and served as a mother and the wife of a military officer.

After they heard about the Kansas Methodist Foundation’s program with Stewardship Counseling, LLC, they were connected with John Griffin, Jr., Esq. From there, a plan to care for their family was outlined and drafted.

Their son Christopher has special needs, so leaving him outright cash is not an option. Not only would that cash have to be spent down before his benefits would be reinstated, but he also needs help managing that money. Hence, a special needs trust was  created so that his inheritance will stay in tact for his support, but will not impact his disability benefits.

Phil and Carol are active in the Manhattan community and are avid sports fans. They have season tickets to several Kansas State University programs, and Phil serves as the Vice President of the K-STATE Catbackers. Phil serves the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, and he and Carol are both active members of Manhattan First United Methodist Church.

In his free time, Phil enjoys golf while Carol enjoys reading and playing games.

How do you take a next step to grow your generosity and your faith? For many, it comes from a vision for making a difference with the resources entrusted to us. It also takes a love of neighbor and stepping out in faith because of God’s generosity and grace.

Bret and Laura Henderson and their three children are actively involved in College Avenue United Methodist Church in Manhattan, KS. In 2024, they took a next step in growing their generosity to make a difference.

Bret has served both on the Stewardship & Finance and Endowment Committees, which opened his eyes to ways other people were fulfilling their giving pledges each year. As their giving grew and tax laws changed, they used that knowledge to start donating appreciated stock through the Kansas Methodist Foundation (KMF) as part of their giving plan. KMF would sell the appreciated stock gifts and make distributions as directed to fulfill Bret & Laura’s giving to their church. This process allowed them to avoid capital gains on their investments and fulfill their giving to the church.

Then in 2024, they took the next step in their generosity. Bret and Laura decided to compound their giving with the creation of a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). When asked what motivated them to use a Donor Advised Fund, they said, “Connection – to our faith, our church, and our family.

In one of those God moments, Rev. Dr. Dustin Petz reached out around the time we were beginning to research ways to be more efficient with our giving. I [Bret] grew up in the same small town as Dustin and had conversed on church matters before, but this personal connection started our journey to choosing the KMF as the trusted partner for our fund.  It would have been very easy to use our brokerage for the DAF, but we were looking for an organization that shared our values and could provide the personal touch we desired.

Having seen the ease of working with the staff through both church committees and personal giving, the KMF checked all the boxes.”

A Donor Advised Fund is a charitable account established between a donor and a charity, where cash or appreciated assets are given. The resources are invested within the DAF, until the donor makes a charitable request for distribution.

Bret & Laura were able to load up the Donor Advised Fund and  make the most tax-efficient gifts possible in one year. with the expectation that the DAF will facilitate their giving for the coming few years. By using the DAF, they can avoid capital gains tax on their appreciated stock, as well as reduce their federal and state income tax by clumping their giving.

Bret and Laura can add to their DAF whenever they choose. They can also give advisement about distributions as they see fit, to support the causes that they care about.

“One of my favorite things about Bret and Laura,” said Dustin Petz, “is their commitment to living out their discipleship and raising their children with the values of faith, stewardship, service, and generosity.”

Bret and Laura said, “Growing up, our parents set an amazing example of faithfully giving back through both service and giving to their church and community. This is something we both continue to value and know it is our privilege to be stewards of what God has given to us. We want our children to continue this and understand they have been given the great gift of life and should desire to give back.  We want them to be the salt and the light!”  Kansas Methodist Foundation is honored to partner with the Hendersons to help support them in growing in their faith through their stewardship and generosity.

Together, we can make the most of our resources, knowing that they come from God. God is the

ultimate generous giver. We are called to be people of gratitude and to be fruitful with the whole of our lives: our resources, our time, our prayer, and our service. If you would like to learn about how you can set up a stock gift transfer or a DAF, please contact the Foundation.

“With three kids and very busy lives, trying to plan and execute a bunching strategy to make the most of our charitable giving was becoming time-consuming. We wanted something that would be more effective for those we support as well as ourselves. The DAF is a perfect fit that allows our giving to have more impact when it is needed by the charitable organizations we support, along with simplifying our planning and lives as well!”

Ashley Prescott Barlow-Thompson and Adam Barlow-Thompson both serve in ministries in the Wichita area. They are one of hundreds of families who have benefited from partnering with the Kansas Methodist Foundation to plan their estate, provide for their family, and support the charitable causes they value most.

College Avenue United Methodist Church in Manhattan is one of many churches that partners with the Kansas Methodist Foundation to manage investments and ensure the church has a bright financial future. As a financial steward independent of church membership, KMF adds value as the church grows resources in a way that reflects United Methodist values.  

United Methodist Open Door in Wichita shares how their partnership with the Kansas Methodist Foundation adds value as they fulfill their mission to provide for basic human needs, promote positive life changes, and restore hope and protect dignity. As a steward of their investments and a partner in inspiring people to give, UM Open Door and KMF are a winning combination in alignment with the United Methodist Book of Discipline.