Stewardship Ministries: Tools for opportunities

Alf Huebert

Stewardship Funds

MB Stewardship Ministries provides tools for your use in responding to God's opportunities. Individuals, churches and agencies are invited to invest money in various funds operated by MB Stewardship Ministries. Those funds have two primary purposes.

Some funds are used to fund ministry-related loans. We have funds available to lend to churches, pastors and Conference agencies. These funds include:

* RRSP/RRIF Program--

Retirement funds are invested until withdrawn for personal use.

* Deposit Fund Program--

Money is invested in ministry until the investor requests it. Interest is paid to investors at reasonable rates.

Other Stewardship funds have as a primary purpose to provide gifts to ministry. These include:

* Endowment Fund--

This fund generates a funding stream paid over time. Gifts are invested by the Canadian MB Conference and paid out to the ministry of your choice as you instruct in the Endowment Application. Endowments can be set up during your lifetime or by will as an estate gift.

* Annuities--

These provide an income to you for life and a gift to the ministry of your choice upon death.

In 1997, our Stewardship funds reached an all-time high of $40,353,000. We ended the year with a surplus, after payment of earnings to investors and all operating expenses, of $373,777.

Wills and Estate Planning Program

This program provides free will preparation and estate planning to members and adherents of Mennonite Brethren churches. It continues to meet an important personal stewardship need in our churches. It promotes faithfulness in our family responsibilities and encourages charitable giving when circumstances make that an option.

In the last fiscal year, we processed over 900 wills. Of these, approximately 47% named an MB church or ministry as a beneficiary.

Estate gifts are becoming a significant and increasing source of funding for MB churches and ministries.

Alf Huebert, Stewardship director

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