Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
“I touch the future, I teach. “ – Christa McAuliffe
All non-profits have some overhead associated with operations. Staffing, marketing, office space, technology and other costs are needed if the non-profit is to provide services to clients. Typically, 20 to 30% of a non-profit’s budget is spent on these costs. When you invest in the Trinity Lutheran Church Schrecengost Endowment the calculus is much different. Our endowment has no employees. The minimal costs associated with operations are covered by TLC. The Endowment is under the direction of our Church Council, but the day-to-day operations are handled by elected members of The Endowment Committee.
The Endowment Committee works with professional advisors from the Union Bank of Switzerland. The UBS management fees paid to our advisors amounts to .6%. That means that 99.4% of every dollar given is invested. The corpus of the Endowment appreciates and each year a draw is taken to support student scholarships, local non-profits and off island benevolences. In 2026, the Endowment will disburse $300,000 to causes you care about. The Endowment distributions are restricted and none of the money from the Endowment can be used for costs associated with the operations of the church. No money from the Endowment is used for a new roof, cinnamon rolls, or new staffing.
In 2011, when my mother died, she included the Trinity Endowment in her will. Her last statement in life was consistent with the values which she held dear in this world. Felicia and I have included the Trinity Lutheran Church Schrecengost Endowment in our wills. Taking care of business, we have our eternal resting place reserved in the columbarium and we want to leave a legacy gift that will live on once we are gone.
We have been blessed far beyond any expectations that we had when we exchanged wedding vows 44 years ago. Blessed, but never blessed in isolation, we are blessed to be a blessing. We hope that you will join us by including the Endowment of your church in your estate plan.
Pastor Jim & Felicia Lindus
For more information on creating a legacy gift, please contact Pastor Jim at
rvlindus@whidbey.com
