What is the Planned Giving Initiative (PGI)?


Because we love our church, PGI encourages and empowers Redeemer members to leave a meaningful faith legacy--both to our biological family and our church family--so that our church remains healthy, vibrant, and growing for decades to come.


How does PGI work?


Drawing from expert practitioners, PGI employs educational and awareness strategies to encourage RLC member to consider:

1) how to prepare and or revise their will, estate, trust, and other legal documents, including a Christian Preamble

2) how to name beneficiaries from their estate

3) how to employ "Giving While Living"--a way to leverage tax-advantaged donations from one's will, trust, or estate prior to death

NOTE: PGI is NOT a capital campaign or fund raiser. PGI also does NOT substitute for legal counsel.


PGI: Funding Real Ministry Today


Donations made through PGI can be directed to the following ministry-related categories:

  • Enhanced and Special Music
  • RLC Staff Appreciation
  • Capital Improvements
  • General Memorial Fund
  • Audio-Visual Improvements
  • Land Acquisition and Development

Questions about PGI?


Speak to our team: Alan Behnke, Ray Birk, Willie Corbett, Connie Fillmore, Bill Friedery, Hope Larson, Bill Nau, Jan Schroeder, or Sam Weidman

What difference has PGI made so far?


Key Accomplishments:

  • More than 50 households have attended three PGI seminars
  • A fourth PGI seminar planned for October 15, 2025
  • Members have made pledges exceeding $750,000 to RLC from their estates
  • Actual cash gifts (“Giving While Living”) 2023 - 2025 exceed $300,000

The PGI Difference (made possible by “Giving While Living"):

  • Significant advances in Enhanced Worship Music
  • Staff Appreciation in recognition of exemplary accomplishments
  • New cabinetry provided by PGI Capital Improvements
  • PGI General Memorial funds for additional cabinetry and needs
  • Significant Audio - Visual upgrades in sanctuary
  • Purchased 3.64 acres of land with PGI gifts; no loan required (including clearing of land, installation of fence, and other improvements).  This exciting opportunity gives RLC options for our future ministry endeavor!

Testimonials

"The Planned Giving Initiative workshop helped me realize that with intentional foresight, the resources God has given me to steward can be used not only for the benefit of my family, but also in powerful ways to grow His Kingdom. I met with an LCMS Foundation representative to personally hone a plan which would channel my funds at my life's end into ministries which I care about and already support. I appreciated also being encouraged to create a statement of faith to pass along to my children, along with a financial legacy."

Margaret Clikeman

"I wanted to make sure I commented on PGI and the presentation last year regarding it . The presentation was very informative , the speakers were compelling . It was a wakeup call for Karen and I to get in gear with respect to our need to get our “arrangements “out of discussion and into a tangible form with respect to decisions on our resources and goals at our future end of days . We chose to work with an attorney shortly thereafter to develop our will ,medical instructions and a trust in order to provide efficient and thoughtful instructions to benefit our heirs and other organizations . Redeemer has been and continues to be an important part of our lives and we wanted to make sure that we were able to support God’s work in the future."

Andy & Karen Scherzer