Back in the spring, I covered the importance of beneficiary designation here. Naming a beneficiary for your traditional IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan may be one of the most important financial decisions you ever make. The beneficiary (or beneficiaries) you name will receive the funds remaining in your IRA or plan after you die, so you should certainly consider your loved ones' future needs. However, choosing the right beneficiary is often more complicated than that. 

In 2013, the leadership of Valleyview Alliance Church in Vestal, New York, began fervently praying for God to show them a way they could be used more effectively to do Kingdom ministry within their own community. Their desire was to begin a non-traditional ministry that would meet off-campus from the church and stretch their faith as a congregation. They were tired of being comfortable and complacent.

We have been hearing for a very long time that interest rates will be rising. As you know, rates are now on the move. The Fed Funds rate, which applies to funds that banks lend to and borrow from each other through the Federal Reserve, has been raised to a target level of 1%-1.25%.

I still remember getting the call back in 1981 at Ivory Coast Academy in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, that my mom was involved in a near-death car accident. God spared her life and has used her mightily, but she never imagined being confined to a wheelchair for the next 36 years. Even with today's medical miracles, it is a real possibility that you, your spouse, or a loved one could experience difficulty with handling your own medical or financial affairs and need help. A serious illness or accident can happen suddenly at any age. 

Here in the U.S. Alliance we hear much about Acts 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Have you ever thought about the fact that the greater Alliance family around the world also shares that vision?

In my last article, I included the following quote, which bears repeating: “The Church is God’s instrument to reach the lost. That’s why our energies and resources are poured into creating healthy, vibrant, communities of faith in the United States and around the world.” (The Alliance website, U.S. Ministries)

A beneficiary designation is one form of a will substitute. It allows you to transfer certain assets, such as the proceeds of a life insurance policy or a retirement plan (e.g., an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b)), without going through probate. The person or entity you choose to receive the proceeds is called a beneficiary. If you're single, you can choose anyone you wish as the beneficiary. If you're married, the law may restrict your choice. You can also name a charitable institution, your estate, or a trust as the beneficiary of many retirement plans.

“Dream bigger!” said the Native American Association when Pastor Joe Boeringa first considered updating Vineland Native American Chapel, in Onamia, Minnesota. The North Central District and other Alliance leadership agreed and suggested they bulldoze the whole structure and start fresh. Now their ministry to the Native American people of Central Minnesota has a bigger vision and new life.

“The Church is God’s instrument to reach the lost. That’s why our energies and resources are poured into creating healthy, vibrant, communities of faith in the United States and around the world.” (The Alliance website, U.S. Ministries)

As a supporting ministry of The Alliance, ADF is fully committed to this endeavor.

Alliance District Superintendent David Linn recently wrote a piece that I really liked entitled, “Smart Farming.” He describes how the farmer must be smart and diligent in preparing the soil by cultivating and watering, but in the end has no idea how plants actually grow: “he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know.” (Mark 4:27, NASB) Linn applies this thought to church plants, and church and Kingdom growth.

Joint ownership is an arrangement where two or more persons share ownership of property. This arrangement allows someone else to have immediate access to your property and to use it to care for you if you become incapacitated.

An outward focus has long been emphasized at CrossPoint Alliance Church in Akron, Ohio, especially with Tim Feather at the helm, former Alliance missionary to Thailand. However, when the church’s Dream Incentive Grant proposal was accepted to boost outreach to local internationals, the harvest came right to their front door.

My last article for Builders explored the idea of starting with the fact that God owns 100% of everything, and then determining what He wants us to do with what He has entrusted to us. This time, I’d like to propose a few ideas to guide our thinking as we work at discerning our individual responses.

”How much can I safely withdraw?” It’s a question I hear a fair amount. During your working years, you most likely set aside funds in retirement accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, or other workplace savings plans, as well as in taxable accounts. Your challenge now is to convert those savings into an ongoing income stream that will provide adequate income throughout your retirement years.

I recently listened to a presentation by three CPAs, one was a former FBI agent and another who was also an attorney. The subject was elder fraud and financial abuse. Whether considering your own status or those of your loved ones, I thought a few key takeaways could be helpful to you.

In a book written by my coworker, Guy Burgo, entitled, Free to Give as God Intended, I recently read the following: “…the tendency of our human nature is to assume that if 10% belongs to God, the rest belongs to us. I think this line of thinking can really hinder generosity.” I had not considered this point before, at least not in this way, but I have to say I agree.

At several key moments during their years of ministry, Mark and Lori Welch have seen a rainbow in the sky — almost like a confirmation of the direction they were heading. When they started The Pointe, an Alliance church in Antelope/West Roseville, California, there it was again.

Most of us know that Medicare is the federal health insurance program primarily for people who are 65 or older and certain younger people with disabilities. There are several parts lettered A through D that cover everything from hospital and hospice care, to doctor services and prescription drugs. A great source of information and tools is located at www.medicare.gov.

Over the last six years, I have done a seminar for our returning missionaries to help start a conversation between adult children and their parents on the topic of elder care based on a collection of resources and using the cross-cultural context. When I look ahead to retirement, I find myself in the “sandwich generation” – a group loosely defined as people in their 40s to 60s who are “sandwiched” between caring for both children and aging parents.

You may recall a previous article of mine, “The Battle for God’s Resources.” I wrote about the spiritual battle surrounding the funding of Christian ministry and described how the battle strategy of limiting ministry resources not only means limited impact, but also limiting Christians’ growth in their wholehearted devotion to God.