Over the past several months, the Investment in Ministries Committee has been asked many questions.  We’d like to share them with you here.

What is the IMF? IMF stands for Investment in Ministries Fund, IMF, for short.  It is an endowment fund established to reach beyond our walls to offer financial support to those in need in our community, our nation, and our world.

When was it established? The IMF was officially established on May 15, 2022 with a strong vote of support from the congregation of BLC to adopt the Bylaws outlining our purpose and practices.

Why was it created? The IMF was created to accomplish three goals: 1) to have a designated account to receive memorial gifts, 2) to establish a perpetual account that will grow over time, and 3) to create an account specifically supporting missions and ministries beyond our walls.

How can I participate? The IMF’s 100 Anniversary Goal is to give each member of BLC the opportunity to leave a legacy to our church to commemorate our first 100 Years.  The best way to do this is to make a current contribution to the IMF by cash, check, debit or credit card, or Tithe.ly. In addition, we are looking forward to the NEXT 100 Years by encouraging each BLC member to include BLC in your estate plan.  There are many tax saving strategies available for charitable bequests so we strongly encourage you to seek professional guidance from your own estate lawyer or financial advisor or from our ELCA Regional Gift Planner, Ryan Ebner.  Click the “Ways to Give” button for further information.

Who will it serve? Each year the IMF will distribute up to 4% of the fund’s value to ministries locally, nationally and worldwide.  Anyone may submit a request for a donation to their favorite charity.  All requests will be reviewed by the Missions and Social Concerns Committee and their recommendations will be submitted to Council for final approval.

If you have any further questions or would like to discuss your personal circumstances, please contact any member of the IMF Committee.  We are always here to help.

Mark Gaul, Roger Kolker, Paulette Costanza, John Costanza, John Panko
Ryan Ebner   [email protected]   phone 814-823-3285