A Good Faith Report!
Leaning into Change through Giving
STEVE NICHOLS
Director of Gift Planning ARP Foundation
• This spring the Foundation board began assisting churches that needed an online alternative for weekly giving during Covid. The online system has already helped churches process over $100,000. For details please see
http://arpchurch.org/no-cost-online-giving-set-up-for-arp-churches/.
• The Dunlap Adoption Assistance fund had the joy of seeing its sixth completed adoption placement to a wonderful couple in North Carolina! Welcome to the ARP family!
ingly some businesses and investments are thriving financially, and the ARP Foundation is having some of our best success ever. It feels counterintuitive, but there is much good news for the Faith- ful despite the overload of discouraging news reported by the media. Under ‘normal’ circumstances, it is
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one thing to know by faith that God is in control and that we can trust Him to provide for our financial needs. In these strange times it’s exciting to see the tan- gible evidence of faith in action by the creative and increased giving to ARPC ministries. Generous gifts, small and big are the practical proof that we can trust Him with our finances when we use our resources to sustain and support ministry opportunities open to us.
• At a Synod level, giving to Denomi- national Ministry Fund (DMF) through the spring and summer continues to be consistent and above previous years. This fund provides resources needed by the agencies that serve our 265 church- es through specialized programs, professional services, and ministry outreach initiatives.
n spite of Covid disruptions, we have reports of regular giving going up as our churches work to adjust. Surpris-
• Under the recent CARES act, defined contribution retirement plans and IRAs will waive the required minimum distribution (RMD) for retirees in 2020. Donors have shared with me that regardless of the waiver, they are giving from their IRAs or retirement plans directly to the church with the tax advantage of reducing gross income. The CARES act also allows for a $300 deductible gift even for donors who don’t itemize providing additional funds that the taxpayer can use for ministries.
• Current gifts of assets resulting from the estate design process are remarkable. To offset tax on gains, the Foundation proposed a “Zero Tax Sale” to donors. First a donor gifts a percentage of appreciated commercial property to a “Donor Advised Fund” or personal giving account with the Foundation. Amid the Covid financial chaos, only the Lord can be credited with the sale of the property that converted the generous gift of land to a cash gift designated to supporting ministries.
Whatever the circumstance, we see the Lord honoring our faith when we choose to
embrace challenges faithfully, go to work on a plan in the power of the Holy Spirit, and trust Him for the results; He is showing us that He can do far above what we cannot within our own power. So whether in person, by Zoom or YouTube, the Foundation is “pivoting” to new de-
livery methods energized to serve you with a full menu of charitable financial services and creative estate planning solutions to meet family needs, lower taxes and make gifts of assets to the ministries you love!?
Visit the ARP Foundation website (
www.thearpfoundation.org) for an overview of
the no-cost services available to members of the ARPC and customized programs for ARP churches. Or you are welcome to contact me directly: Steve Nichols, Director of Gift Planning;
snichols@arpsynod.org; 918 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607 864.232.8298 ext. 250 Cell: 720.218.3786
Stewardship Resources for the Kingdom September/October 2020 23
ARP Foundation
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