One of the initial incentives for the formation of The Idlewild Foundation was the fact that many members of Idlewild were leaving significant amounts of money to family, universities, hospitals, and charities but not to God. While the hospital where your life was saved or the university where you were educated is a good cause, leaving God out of your life and legacy is an unwise choice. One focus of the Foundation is to promote planned giving and encourage people to include donations for the benefit of the kingdom of God.

Making a bequest to Idlewild should not be difficult and it is not. The reason people were not making a bequest to Idlewild was not difficulty. They just didn’t think of it or think it mattered. However, giving to the kingdom always matters!

How can you make a bequest? How you do it depends on the asset you are trying to give. Here are the options:

  • Retirement accounts, investment accounts [traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.], bank accounts and life insurance policies can be donated by making Idlewild the beneficiary. At the time the account or policy was created, you had an opportunity to designate a beneficiary. You also have the right to change the beneficiary and there is no cost to such a change. Often it can be as simple as contacting the plan or policy administrator and requesting a form to be signed and returned.
  • Leaving a bequest in your will is also easy. Leaving real estate to Idlewild can be done through your will or alternatively there are means to deed real estate or even your home to the church using what is commonly referred to as a Lady Bird deed. Unlike a regular life estate, a Lady Bird deed gives the donor the power to retain control of the property during his or her life, including the right to use the property for profit or to sell the property. Deeding real estate should be done through a skilled attorney because of the technical requirements of a deed in Florida (and other states as well).
  • There are other creative ways to put God into your estate plan, but they are more complex than this short article can address. Look for future articles on charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts which are only two of the many ways you can creatively include God and Idlewild Church in your plans.

Interested? You should be interested in having the opportunity to join with God in His plan to draw all people to Him.

2 Peter 3:9
9      The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Don’t forget God as you make your final plans: He is worthy. Give us a call at The Idlewild Foundation. (813) 264-8713. We would love to help with your plans.

About the Author

John Campbell has retired from a 40-year legal practice as a trial attorney in Tampa. He has served in multiple volunteer roles at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, where he met Jesus.  He began serving as the Executive Director of the Idlewild Foundation in 2016.  He has been married to the love of his life, Mona Puckett Campbell, since 1972.