The beauty of being uniquely designed by The Creator is that we all have individual talents, gifts, and passions. God has shaped each one of us to enjoy, pursue, and invest in many areas of interest. This is one thing that gives us a sense of wonder and joy as we experience the world, and for which we can glorify the Lord.

Paul writes in Romans 12:4, "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness" (Romans 12:4-8, English Standard Version).

God places different passions in each person’s heart. If we listen to, and obey Him, our desire will be to pursue these passions for his glory. By nature, we become interested and invested in certain ministries because they speak to those passions and our experiences. These ministries that align with your passions can be greatly advanced not only in your daily life and work, but also in the context of planning your estate.

When you establish an estate gift to a church or ministry about which you feel strongly, you are supporting the passion God has placed in you. Through your gift, that ministry can continue to serve the Lord in greater ways. The blessings he has given you can continue to be a blessing long after your time here on earth is complete.

The Dream Center in Vidalia, Georgia is a faith-based rehabilitation center for women fighting drug or alcohol addiction. This vital ministry was born out of this kind of passion. Peggy NeeSmith, founder of the Vidalia center, came from a background of drug and alcohol abuse herself. Once NeeSmith truly encountered Christ, her life was dramatically changed. From that transformation, Christ gave NeeSmith a passion to help women leave addictions and come to Christ.

“I knew in my heart He called me to this. You can know your calling by what excites your passion and incites your anger,” says NeeSmith.

Thanks to the generosity of the community, the church, and estate gifts, The Dream Center has expanded and grown exponentially. Recently, they were able to build a new $350,000 facility, completely debt-free. Using funds from an estate gift, Peggy’s church has been a huge blessing to the center. The ministry is free to continue to bring the gospel to the lives of many hurting women.

It may seem complicated or confusing to set up a biblical estate plan or designate an estate gift. But the truth is, it is much easier than you would expect. It can be as easy and simple as designating a percentage of your estate to your church or a ministry you are passionate about.

We believe that as Christians, we are called to be good stewards of the gifts and the passions God has given us. By establishing a biblical estate plan, you are doing both. You are being intentional about what will ultimately happen to the blessings God has given you. You are also gifting those blessings back to the Lord to be used to expand His kingdom for many years beyond your lifetime. The Georgia Baptist Foundation is here to serve you in any way as you prayerfully decide what God would have you leave to His Kingdom work.

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