When I was a young girl, my aunt Mags moved to the east coast for a job, far away from the family. Before she left, she gave me her entire Nancy Drew mystery book collection: over 50 hardcover books for me to pore over and enjoy. She was delighted to be able to pass on her love of reading and mysteries to me, and I knew how special this gift was. These books were something she not only loved, but she had purchased them with her own money when she was growing up. I still have all the books, displayed prominently in our living room. And while it’s been years since I read one, every time I catch sight of the books, I think of her.
The preciousness of the gift, and of her care for me, was evident the day she gave the books. And although that job kept her far away for my whole childhood, I see now how she showed her continued love for me over the years. And I continue to look forward to reconnecting with her every so often at family events. Life may have taken us on very different paths, but the legacy of that gift remains.
We don’t often talk of legacies in our everyday lives. The Bible, however, is filled with conversations about inheritances: how people get them, how people give them up, who is eligible for them, and how we who claim Jesus now are heirs to an eternal inheritance, “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us” (1 Peter 1:4 CSB). We hope that the legacy of Outpost is similar to that last one, as we walk with people out of the darkness of sexual confusion into the light of freedom in Christ. For almost 50 years now, we count our legacy in lives changed and hearts healed.
To provide this legacy, however, requires ongoing prayer and financial support. We are so grateful to how God provides financially for us year in and year out. We are blessed and encouraged by your partnership with us through regular gifts and events like this month’s fundraising banquet. We’d like to invite you now to consider continuing your legacy through a gift in your will or trust. Planned giving is a powerful way to ensure that your generosity continues to make a difference long into the future here at Outpost.
There are a number of ways to plan ahead and provide a legacy gift to our ministry. First, you can include us in your will or designate Outpost as one of your life insurance or retirement account beneficiaries. During your lifetime, you could establish a charitable trust or donate directly to the ministry through the annual minimum distribution of your retirement account. We’ve set up a page on our website with more details, or you can call the office and talk to me, Wendy, about how to get started. There are already a handful of people who have started giving in these ways. We would love to add you to our list of legacy partners.
As the world continues to embrace and promote identities and behaviors that draw people away from the light and life of Christ, the message of Outpost becomes more needed. We invite you to use planned giving as a way to ensure your legacy of partnership in ministry continues on for many years to come.
