Legacy in Action: Why I Choose to Invest in the UCC’s Plan and Community

“I was awestruck with what a wonderful program [FreeWill] is. It gets to the point of all things…you may not have thought about in your will.

Charitable giving was very important to me, and I’ve [left planned gifts] to The Christmas Fund, the church here, the medical school in South Dakota (my education and my career), the Gunnerson Foundation, and I added Church Camp out in South Dakota Conference because it was such an important part of my faith formation throughout my youth…[FreeWill] has a comprehensive and easy-to-use listing of the ways you can donate to the church, to the conference, to the United Church of Christ, [and] to The Christmas Fund.

[I chose to give to The Christmas Fund] for Ernie Hershoff. He developed my faith…and was one of the most important people who made me who I am. He was our minister the whole time I was growing up in high school and into college. He served the South Dakota Conference…and when he retired, he moved back here. Having lived in parsonages all his life, my dad helped [with his] finances—he needed financial help just to live.”

“For people of faith, planned giving is a natural expression of stewardship and legacy. It allows individuals to care for loved ones while also supporting the ministries and causes that have shaped their spiritual journey. Through planned giving, faith becomes something we pass on—blessing future generations and sustaining God’s work for years to come.”

“Asking for help is always difficult. As a minister, asking for help is even harder…My emergency grant from The Christmas Fund enabled me to see that no one is reduced in the eyes of God. If there is a need, reach out to those who can help. I am forever grateful for the United Church of Christ and The Christmas Fund Community, and to my conference, Conference Minister, and association.”

“In my experience, one of the greatest challenges churches face today is adapting to a rapidly changing world. The expectations placed on ministers have grown exponentially; no longer are they just preachers and pastoral caregivers, they are expected to be organizational leaders, community advocates, tech-savvy communicators, and cultural interpreters. This widening scope, often without the corresponding support or compensation, has contributed to burnout and attrition. And this reality is not limited to church leaders. At CHHSM, the leaders of our outreach ministries are similarly navigating expanding roles and deepening community needs—and doing so often with flat or decreasing resources.”

“In early 2022, as I neared the end of a call as a local Interim Minister, an unexpected and very serious medical crisis put me in the hospital for 11 days, followed by a month of medical leave and outpatient treatment. With a pile of medical bills and uncertainty about my professional future, the support I received from The Christmas Fund was vital to enabling some personal and financial stability when I truly needed it most. Like many pastors, I was not the best at asking for help, but knowing this established fund exists explicitly to serve us all was a most welcome balm, and helped me embrace the ‘togetherness’ of our church and accept that my needs matter too if I am going to continue striving to help meet those of others.”

“We need a cultural shift: We must stop viewing ministry as a sacrificial calling where the reward is spiritual, and the labor is unpaid or underpaid. Churches must learn to budget from a place of value, not scarcity. Compensation should reflect the cost of living and the complexity of the work.”

“Giving is an act of loving kindness. It’s about caring for pastors and church workers who have served faithfully. Unlike many jobs where retirement means you’re on your own, the church community steps in to say, ‘We’ve got your back.’ Supporting The Christmas Fund reflects our responsibility to care for the wider church community…The Christmas Fund is more than an offering—it’s a lifeline for retired clergy and church workers who face financial challenges. When we give, we affirm that ministry is a shared calling and that no one should be left behind after years of service.”