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View our most recent 990 Report.
SELLING STOCK OR PUTTING FAMILY SHIELD INTO YOUR ESTATE
To receive help in selling stocks or putting Family Shield Ministries into your estate call The LCMS Foundation at 1-800-325-7912, x 3230.
The following are program and ministry funding needs that donors can support with a gift:
RADIO OUTREACH
Family Shield Radio Program in St. Louis
The program has been aired in St. Louis on AM 850 KFUO since January of 1999. Airtime and production expenses: $12,000 annually.
Family Shield Radio Program in Central IL District
The CID District, LWML CID, individuals, and congregations have covered much of the cost for this program on five radio stations throughout Central IL through donations and grants. This includes five stations. Airtime and production expenses: $3,000 annually.
Family Shield Radio Program in Chicago
The program is currently aired on WCGN 89.5 FM in Chicago. Cost: $2,000 annually.
Family Shield Radio Program in Gary, Indiana
Churches in Gary, Indiana are helping us cover the first year’s expense for this program. The program also airs into the Chicago area. Cost: $1,000 annually.
Family Shield Radio Program in McCook, Nebraska
This is a small station that airs in Nebraska and Kansas. Cost: $2,000 annually.
Family Shield is interested in expanding into new markets. To do so we seek a grant for the first three years of airtime expenses. After three years, many of our listeners are supporting the program or other agencies, like LWML Districts are supporting the outreach. To learn how you can help bring the program into your community call the office.
Other expenses related to the radio outreach:
Radio Program Producer. Family Shield outsources its radio production to Duncan Media Services. This agency records, copies, supplies CD’s, and distributes the programs through its website to all the other stations throughout the United States. Cost: $5,000 annually.
Family Shield Response Center
The FSM Response Center is coordinated by Lutheran Hour Ministries. FSM 800 telephone number is pointed to their offices. Cost for the telephone and related expenses: $3,000 per year.
CULT OUTREACH MINISTRY
Production of a new booklet about the Cult Outreach Ministry
Kay Meyer was recently interviewed about the Cult Outreach Ministry and an article was prepared. Family Shield would like to produce this article into a new booklet that can be given away when churches, individuals, and families contact us for assistance. It includes suggestions for families with loved ones involved in Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormonism and suggestions for congregations and zones to reach out to families with loved ones involved. Cost: $850.
Wish List: A director for this area of ministry.
NEW BOOK IN 2008
Witnessing—A Lifestyle. Family Shield received a grant from the NID LWML District to help cover most of the cost to produce the new book that will be available in the fall of 2008. It is designed to help Christians learn witness in their daily life. The grant allows us to print 1,000 books. Family Shield would like to print additional books. Each 1,000 books costs an additional $3,500.
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
Witnessing—A Lifestyle Seminars and Workshops
Family Shield offers seminars, but many churches/schools cannot afford to pay expenses related to these ˝ day and one day seminars. Your support can help a district, congregation or school equip their members to witness in their daily life. Seminars include a complimentary copy of the newly produced book Witnessing—A Lifestyle. Cost: $500, plus travel expenses.
Families—Use God’s Shield
Seminars that help parents and grandparents nurture children in the home, learn to implement the six traits for healthy families, and share their faith with children and grandchildren. Cost: $500, plus travel expenses
THE FAMILY SHIELD SUCCESSION—TRANSITIONAL PLAN
The new Balanced Focus Plan has been completed. The Succession—Transitional Plan, approved by the Board of Directors in the summer of 2007, includes hiring a management and development consultant to help us build capacity. Much of this has been donated by new Board member, David Vaughn, President of Core Concepts. The succession plan also includes hiring an executive director to work with the president over a three year period. Phase One will allow us to hire a development consultant who will work with the Board of Directors to build capacity for two years. Phase One Cost: $75,000. After this is completed we will begin raising three years of support for the new executive director.
PROMOTE FAMILY SHIELD AT YOUR CHURCH OR ORGANIZATION
A great way to support Family Shield Ministries is to place the ad that is attached in your church or bulletin or newsletter! Just download this PDF file and email it to the person in charge of your church or organization's publications and ask them to include the ad in their next layout.
A COMPLIMENTARY CD ABOUT FAMILY SHIELD
Congregations and church group leaders can request the three-minute CD that shares information about Family Shield Ministries to show at congregational services or church group meetings. It was produced for FSM by the LCMS World Missions. There is no cost to receive it.
You can also find sample programs on the Family Shield homepage at www.familyshieldministries.com.
FAMILY SHIELD SUPPORT AND MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
Stewardship Estate Plan:
Estate plans distribute a person’s accumulated assets when God calls them to Heaven.
Estate plan documents allocate estate assets --- as per each respective document. These instruments or distribution methods include Last Will and Testaments; revocable living trusts; joint accounts or deeds; and beneficiary designations for insurance policies and retirement funds.
Most estate plans are secular, that is, without consideration for the needs of God’s Kingdom. These tactics contain no Christian preamble to testify to survivors of belief in Christ, and no testimony of God’s blessings on their life. Generally all of the estate goes to the surviving spouse, and thereafter to heirs outright to spend as desired.
Family Shield recommends consideration of a “Stewardship Estate Plan.” Such a plan does contain an opening paragraph on one’s testimony---knows as a “Christian Preamble”. These words from the deceased help to spread the Gospel even when the testator is already in Heaven, the good Lord-willing!
Also the Christian estate plan distributes all of the estate to the surviving spouse. But thereafter, the heirs receive outright a percentage of the estate ---such as half or 50%.
The other percentage ---the other half or 50% of all estate assets in this example--- flows into an irrevocable charitable trust which accomplishes two goals: first 5 or 10 years of quarterly income checks paid to heirs (10 years is 40 checks from Mom and Dad); and second the trust principle then goes to named charities.
This half of the estate then does double duty --- years of income for heirs; then charitable trust assets to help Family Shield, and other favorite charities---such as congregation, missions, or education. For more information on Stewardship estate planning ideas contact Family Shield at 314-772-6070. There is no fee or obligation for confidential information.
Life Insurance and Charitable Giving:
Looking for a way to make a significant gift to a charitable organization, but financially don't think it's possible? If you have a life insurance policy, you might be able to give that donation on a tax favored basis.
Most people have some form of life insurance. Many of us purchased this insurance when we were young. Now that we're older, the need for this insurance may not apply. If this describes your situation, let us suggest another use of that insurance policy. You can use it to make a significant charitable gift to Family Shield Ministries, Inc. or another charitable organization of your choice.
Here's how it works:
Life insurance is an asset that allows a donor who doesn't have large estate assets to make a significant gift. If you'd like more information about how it works, we will be glad to discuss the options for your particular situation. Let Family Shield charitable giving people review this with you.
To learn more call the office at (314) 772-6070.
A Memorial, Tribute, or Special Occasion Donation:
Special events in the lives of family and friends may be recognized in a memorable way through a donation to Family Shield Ministries. Consider memorials for the death of a loved one or friend, ordinations, baptism, confirmation, valentine's day, mother's day, father's day, Easter, births, anniversaries, get well wish, birthday, secretary's day, retirement, graduation, wedding, Christmas, promotion, or Thanksgiving. These gifts are tax-deductible. Your gifts will be acknowledged through a letter that will be sent to the person being honored or the bereaved family. The gift amount will not be disclosed.
To make a memorial gift, tribute or special occasion donation, please send your contribution with a note that shares what it is for to: Family Shield Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 230015, St. Louis, MO 63l23. Also include a note stating the name of the person the memorial, tribute, or special occasion is for and to whom the acknowledgement should be sent.
The organization is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, incorporated in the State of Missouri. Your gift is tax-deductible.
To learn more about ministries, services, or resources:
Phone: (314) 772-6070/(866) 370-6070 Email: familyshield@familyshieldministries.com
Write: Family Shield Ministries, Inc., P. O. Box 230015, St. Louis, MO 63123