UMFA encourages churches to schedule valuable Provide & Protect seminars

BY JESSICA SZENHER, UMFA Contributor

Provide & Protect seminars are a valuable resource in planning for the family’s distributions of personal property and financial assets, discussing estate matters and charitable giving opportunities,” said Janet Marshall, United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas Vice President of Development. “Making important life and death decisions is part of being a faithful Christian disciple.”

Free Provide & Protect seminars are available to local United Methodist Churches or groups of churches. These informative seminars familiarize congregation members with the tools needed to plan for their legacy, and provide resources needed to complete those plans. Each participant receives the book, “Provide & Protect” by Charles Schulz, as well as a free Wills Guide from the Foundation.

At the seminars, the UMFA works with a local attorney to present information on important options about estate planning. Participants learn how essential it is to make or update a will so that the decisions for sharing their assets are known. It is also important to plan now, to determine if any inheritance tax might be avoided later for the family.

“UMFA and Central have worked together on Provide and Protect events for several years, and they have been well attended,” said Brian Swain, Executive Director at Central UMC in Fayetteville. “Many people don’t have a plan. This is an excellent way to help our members with their Christian stewardship.”

“The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas wants to make sure United Methodists in our state have access to the most up-to-date and understandable will planning tools,” Marshall said.

To set up a seminar, contact Janet Marshall at 501-664-8632 or email her at jmarshall@umfa.org.