God calls parents to teach, encourage, and faithfully guide their children. They have been given a special trust to serve as stewards or managers of their children. Yet even with the biblical challenge of teaching and training children, parents are not responsible for the decisions their adult children make – each person is held accountable individually. Parents are accountable, however, for the guidance they provide to their children. Here are some basic principles to help you in this special calling:

1. Help adult children understand God’s principles. God can be trusted to take care of your child’s needs after they leave your home – that includes providing for them financially and showing them how to follow Him as they learn to handle money His way. “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18).

2. Continue to offer appropriate guidance to adult children. Although adult children are responsible to make their own decisions, offering wise counsel along the way is an important way to show love to your children as they navigate the joys and challenges of life. “For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father, the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 16:26).

3. Allow adult children to fail. Some of life’s most valuable lessons are learned because of trying and failing. Although it is difficult to watch children struggle, parents must sometimes love their children enough to allow them to fail so that they can learn from the failure. Many parents attempt to buffer their children financially, which often makes the problem worse.

4. Encourage dependence on God. More money won’t help adult children change their spending habits. Parents may have sincere motives for helping their children, but sometimes they encourage dependence on parents rather than God. If God is trying to teach the children discipline and parents step in, the children may have to go through the challenge all over again. Parents sometimes have do what God often does with His own people: allow problems to come into their lives and withhold finances to increase their dependence on Him.

5. Provide assistance with caution. There is nothing wrong with helping adult children if they are truly in need. If their income is adequate and it is being mismanaged, parents need to let their children know that although they love them, any financial help must be contingent on the children establishing a workable budget and getting good counsel to help implement it. Parents need to be cautious, however, and allow God to lead them in a manner that will not thwart His purposes in their children’s lives.

Selected concepts of the above content generated by Crown Financial Ministries. This information is broadly educational in nature. Please consult your own advisors.

For a FREE copy of “Questions and Answers about Giving to Children” simply check the box on the enclosed reply card or contact Steve Hilbrands from Grace Bible College at 616-538-2330 or  Steve Hilbrands

This is general information and is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please consult your own advisors.

For many Christians, a Will is an expression of their belief that God owns everything, and wants us to manage the resources He entrusts to us before and after we die. You may have read, however, that up to 70% of the population does not have an updated Will. Why is that? And what happens if you don’t have a Will?

You won’t get to decide who takes your children or your stuff.

A Will enables you to say how you wish to continue providing for your family. Without a Will, State law determines what happens to your assets. Some States, for example, provide that the surviving spouse receives as little as one-third of the estate. Without a Will, the court will name an administrator to settle your estate. If you have minor children, you certainly want a voice in naming their guardians. You can do that with a Will.

You won’t get to help your favorite charitable organizations.

Your support means a great deal to the ministries close to your heart, such as Grace Bible College. A Bequest in your Will allows you to continue that support. A Bequest can be a fixed percentage of your estate, a specific dollar amount, or it can specify that your favorite charity(ies) receive the balance of the estate after provisions for all other beneficiaries have been made.

You won’t have flexibility to adjust your wishes as changes occur.

Family circumstances change. For example, you may have additional children or grandchildren. Or, you may have recently acquired assets such as real estate or securities which need to be included in the assets you are distributing in your Will. If you are one of the many Americans who does not have a Will, we can provide you with resources to help you accomplish your family and ministry goals, confidentially and at no cost to you.

Your family will incur unnecessary costs.

A well-drafted Will can help you eliminate any unnecessary expenses in settling your estate. For example, by providing a clause in your Will, you can free your heirs from certain costs, such as a bond fee and other administrative charges. In addition, if you leave a Bequest to your favorite charity(ies), it will be exempt from any federal estate tax, state inheritance tax or death tax.

Want to learn more about planning for the future God’s way? Request a FREE copy of “Solid Answers to Common Questions About Wills” by simply contacting Steve Hilbrands from Grace Bible College at 616-538-2330 or  Steve Hilbrands

This is general information and is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please consult your own advisors.

Christians believe that God is their refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble and times of uncertainty (Psalm 46). This bold declaration is as true today as it was when it was written centuries ago, and is a great source of comfort and strength as younger and older workers alike observe several emerging retirement planning realities:

Demographics. As the members of the “baby boom” generation — people born between 1946 and 1964 — approach retirement, the demographic profile of the U.S. workforce will undergo a substantial shift: a large number of older workers will be joined by relatively few new entrants to the labor force.

Longevity. The number of senior citizens is skyrocketing. The United Nations reported that as recently as 2002, 10 percent of the world’s population was 60 or older. By 2050, that percentage is expected to increase to 22 percent (larger than the percentage of children ages 0 to 14).

Medical Advancements. Medical and Technological advancements such as better medicines, cell phones, and scooters have improved the mobility and activity of older people compared to previous generations.

Employer Needs. Companies are using more part-time and workers as well as independent contractors and consultants to reduce costs and maximize flexibility. These positions often fit the needs of both retirees who desire temporary work, but also suit the employers who value dependable, experienced help.

Lower incomes. Low yields on certificates of deposit made it challenging for seniors to live off the interest on their savings. Stock market fluctuations have also eroded the asset bases of many retirees, prompting many to return to work to supplement their incomes.

Source: Congressional Research Service and Faith-Based Family Finances.

Would you like some Christian perspective on your retirement planning? Request a FREE copy of “Let God Make your Retirement a Re-Firement” by simply contacting Steve Hilbrands from Grace Bible College at 616-538-2330 or Steve Hilbrands

This is general information and is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please consult your own advisors.

Did you realize that you can increase your income through a creative giving tool called a Charitable Gift Annuity?

A Charitable Gift Annuity pays you an income for life (or the lives of you and your spouse). The rate of return is based on your age at the time of your gift.  (See sample rates to the left)

* Rates are determined by the American Council on Gift Annuities (effective through July 1, 2010)

You receive a charitable deduction for a portion of the gift when you make the gift. Additionally, a portion of the income comes back to you tax-free. After your lifetime, the remainder of the gift goes to Grace Bible College (or any other charities you select).

A Charitable Gift Annuity offers several benefits, including:
• Increased Income
• Tax Deduction
• Annual Payments (partially tax-free)
• Increased Ministry Impact
• Legacy for Future Generations

For more information, ask for a FREE copy of “Questions & Answers about the Gift that Gives Back” by contacting Steve Hilbrands from Grace Bible College at 616-538-2330 or Steve Hilbrands.

This is general information and is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please consult your own advisors.

This sample illustration is for illustration purposes only. Please consult your own advisors or West Michigan Christian Foundation.