George and Betty were with friends last Friday, playing cards. During the evening, one of the couples began talking about the estate plans they had just put together. They bragged about the 120-page living trust their attorney had given them, saying, “With a document that long we must have a really great plan.”

Betty asked, “So tell me about what is in your plan. Does it meet your family goals? Does it include a gift to support the ministry of our congregation that we all love?” The couple sat very quiet for an uncomfortable pause. Finally they said, “We really don’t know, but we have a great plan.”

The “plan” is the culmination of a lot of thinking and putting together goals that you want to accomplish. Those broad goals are the focus well before you ever dig into the intricate details of a full, complete estate plan. Without that planning, your “plan” will be empty. With planning, you will express your faith and look to bless others with the blessings God has blessed you. That is the simple core. All the details build on that.

Have you thought about your core values?

Jason Jones, CGP, CDE, is Saint John’s Gift Planning Counselor. Jason works with individuals in our congregation who want to discover the lifetime plan that God has planted in their heart. He will help them to use this plan to Transfer the Blessings God has given them to their family and the ministries they love. This service comes to you at no cost as a member of Saint John’s. To schedule a free meeting with Jason or ask questions about this special opportunity, visit www.StJohnsFC.org/transfer-the-blessings, call (970) 988-0305 or email Jason.Jones@lfnd.org.