Every day, people all around us experience radical life transformation through various God-honoring ministries. Perhaps you have experienced a similar transformation yourself. On your spiritual journey, you may have discovered that the Lord placed a particular church or ministry on your path. The intersection of the two inspired within you a vision and passion to do more for the Kingdom of Christ. Now, imagine how many other people’s live were just as radically changed as yours through the faithful work of that ministry. So often, these changed lives go on to be catalysts for spiritual growth in other people’s lives which go on to inspire the same passion in those lives. We do not always have the privilege of fully seeing just how far and wide the rippling effect of that faithful, Christ-centered ministry extends. Nevertheless, it continues, and the Kingdom grows.

Such a church or ministry invariably has an extensive and continuous testimony. Its testimony is embedded in the hearts and minds of each person who has been touched by the Lord through its work. In fact, many times these ministries will continue to impact millions of lives long after your own personal involvement comes to an end – even well beyond your lifetime.

Bill Brown had a deep understanding of this when he decided to leave a significant portion of his estate to his church upon his passing. In 2009, when Mr. Brown passed away, the leadership of his church, Lyons First Baptist in Lyons, Georgia, was astonished to discover Mr. Brown had gifted five million dollars of his estate to the church. His one desire was that the church use this gift to continue to spread the gospel from Lyons, Georgia to the ends of the earth. Through the management of these funds by the Georgia Baptist Foundation, the church has been able to impact countless numbers of people for the Kingdom of God. According to Pastor Danny Williams, the impact the church has had on local and global missions has been far more than the church could have accomplished without the generous gift of Mr. Brown.

“It was a huge transition from what we had been able to do with what we had,” Williams states, “to, all-of-a-sudden we’ve got way more to give.”

Like Brown, your estate can be used to continue and even expand the work of your church or a ministry that you are passionate about. By donating an estate gift to your church or a ministry, you are supporting the long-term sustainability and growth of that church or ministry you love. Your gift can be an integral part of continuous Kingdom expansion long after you are gone.

Williams further explains just how Brown’s estate gift not only grew new and additional ministry opportunities locally, but also made possible international missions opportunities the church had long prayed for.

“We have in excess of 25 church plants we support, and we’ve just come back from a mission trip in India where 9,000 people came to know Christ,”

Taking the gospel to the world is a matter Lyons First Baptist takes seriously. Yet, like many local churches, access to resources can often limit the scope of just how much can be done. However, that didn’t stop Lyons First Baptist Church from praying and trusting the Lord to provide. Just as faithful as ever, the Lord used one man’s generosity and passion, to equip this rural south-Georgia church to be able to do more for the Lord than they had ever dreamed was possible.

Williams tells the difference this estate gift is continuing to make, nearly 10 years after Brown’s death, “Thank God for people like Bill Brown.”

We believe a biblically planned estate is an important part of stewarding well the blessings God has given us throughout our lifetimes. By leaving an estate gift, you have the opportunity to broaden the impact of a church or ministry that has already touched so many lives and to grow the Kingdom of God even more. The Georgia Baptist Foundation is here to answer any questions you may have.

Want to learn more about how you can expand Kingdom opportunities?