Imagine If: How Legacy Giving Could Become Part of Your Church’s Discipleship Strategy

As church leaders, we regularly encourage people to grow in their faith, live generously, and invest in what matters most. We disciple them through prayer, service, and financial stewardship—but what if there was another opportunity to help believers see their resources as a tool for lasting kingdom impact?

For many churches, legacy giving has not been a focus of discipleship conversations. But as the world undergoes one of the largest wealth transfers in history — an estimated $84 trillion over the next 20 years — perhaps now is the time to explore how this could fit within a church’s broader discipleship strategy.

A New Way to Think About Generosity

Most people already consider estate planning for their families, and many direct gifts to causes they care about—universities, hospitals, and global nonprofits. But what if churches also became part of that conversation?

Imagine if…
 ✅ Church members saw legacy giving as an extension of their discipleship journey.
 ✅ Families found peace and purpose knowing their resources were stewarded well beyond their lifetime.
 ✅ Churches had a new avenue to sustain and expand their ministry—not as a replacement for annual giving, but as an additional opportunity for those who feel led to give in this way.

Legacy Giving as a Piece of the Puzzle

Legacy giving isn’t about replacing traditional giving or solving every financial challenge a church faces. Instead, it’s one potential way to invite people into a deeper conversation about generosity.

If introduced with care, legacy giving could:

• Expand generosity conversations beyond day-to-day giving – Some members may be in a season where they can give more significantly through their stored resources rather than their income.
• Strengthen discipleship through financial stewardship – Many people have never considered how their estate reflects their faith. Legacy conversations can help them make intentional decisions aligned with their values.
• Provide long-term ministry opportunities – While weekly tithes sustain current ministry, occasional legacy gifts could allow churches to dream bigger—renovating facilities, launching new outreach programs, or supporting future generations in unexpected ways.

A Conversation Worth Exploring

Not every church will choose to build a formal legacy giving initiative, and not every church member will feel called to participate. But what if simply starting the conversation allowed some to engage in a new way?

For those who already desire to make a lasting impact, legacy giving provides a path to do so. And for churches committed to helping people steward their resources as part of their faith journey, this could be an opportunity worth exploring.

At Generis, we help churches consider how legacy giving might fit within their broader discipleship and generosity strategies—not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as an invitation to imagine new possibilities.

📩 If you’re curious about what this could look like for your church, let’s start the conversation. We’d love to explore it with you.