Legacy

A Legacy of Giving

Dan and Lois Serns saw firsthand how families and ministry can benefit from a charitable estate plan. Many years ago, Dan’s grandparents, Frank and Evelyn Moran, inherited property near where the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is now located. They wanted to create a charitable gift from the inheritance, so they set up a plan that directed a large portion of the proceeds from the sale of the property to be used to establish a nursing program at Southwestern Adventist University. Huguley Hospital had recently been built, and they wanted to be able to help train nurses to staff the hospital. Some of the remaining portion of the proceeds were used to establish Educational Trusts to help their grandchildren attend college. Believing that you appreciate most the things that you work for, they stipulated that the grandchildren would have to work to help pay their tuition and that they would assist them with up to 25% of the tuition fees for up to five years. Most of the funds that were left in the Educational Trust at the end of that time were given to other charitable projects.

Dan still remembers a trip taken with his parents and grandparents when he was about 15-years-old. They traveled throughout much of Central America, and as they traveled they would write checks to assist wherever they saw a need.

Lois’s parents also saw the benefit of charitable estate planning. Her dad, Pastor Norman Martin, had spent several years working as an engineer before serving as a minister, ending his career at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church. He understood the need to have everything in order and have a plan in place, as did his wife, Dickie. They chose to set up a Family Trust Agreement that will, ultimately, benefit both the family that they love, and the ministries they support.

It was only natural then, that the Serns chose to continue the legacy of giving by setting up their own Family Trust with the help of the Texas Conference Department of Planned Giving and Trust Services, and they encourage everyone to do the same.

If you would like information on how to create, or continue, your own family’s legacy of giving, get in touch with a Texas Conference Planned Giving consultant today or visit texasgiving.org.