8. Leaving a Lasting Legacy – Last Will and Testament

Within most of us there is a deep desire to leave a legacy, both for our loved ones and to organizations that are important to us. We dream of making the world a better place and making a lasting contribution for God’s kingdom in the world. One approach to doing that is by remembering to include Manly Memorial in our wills.

A bequest by will (or trust) is one of the easiest ways we can leave a lasting impact on Manly Memorial Baptist Church. Your Last Will and Testament is your final expression of love for your family and God. 

If you have not done so, consider naming Manly Memorial Baptist Church Endowment Fund in your will or trust.

Such a bequest can be made in several ways:

Specific Bequest – A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, a car, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount.

Percentage Bequest – Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to a charity of your choice.

Residual Bequest – A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests.  A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to the charity.

Contingent Bequest – A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met.  For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to the Endowment Fund.

Your attorney can help you draft appropriate language in your will for each of these approaches.  The Virginia Baptist Foundation is also staffed to assist you in this.

Your Last Will and Testament is often referred to as “The Cornerstone of An Estate Plan.”  It reflects your love for your family and your desire to ensure their well-being after your death.  It may also reflect your love of God and your desire to ensure that Manly Memorial will continue to provide a vital witness of Christ for generations to come.

Click here to return to the Endowment Fund's main page.