What is the Smoke
A Forever Fund
In Genesis, we read, Issac returned to the wells that Abraham prepared. It is a simple story, but also an important reminder. All of us draw water from wells we have not dug. We have enjoyed the shade of trees we never planted. If we are wise and gracious, we will give for those who will come after us. The Smoke Rise Endowment is our opportunity to plant a seed near wells that have nourished us, with faith that it will bear fruit for years and years to come.
The Smoke Rise Baptist Endowment consists of gifts and bequests from faithful members. The Endowment is a “forever fund” because gifts to the Endowment grow into the indefinite future. The Endowment employs a conservative investment strategy to preserve principal and produce revenues. It is protected by established rules and guidelines with the oversight of Endowment trustees elected by the church.
Income generated by investments can be used to maintain the integrity and beauty of Smoke Rise facilities and grounds, and also to fund new ministry and mission efforts. We have the opportunity to give a gift that will impact lives beyond our own. The Endowment is an expression of our belief that we are not ultimately proprietors or owners during our earthly sojourn, but only stewards entrusted by God to use wisely the gifts that God has given.
The Fund offers us the opportunity to partner in God’s gracious future. When we make an endowment gift to the church, it declares to present and future generations the importance of faithful stewardship and trust in God’s vision for our world. Through the Endowment, we build on the gifts of those who dug the first well of faith, even as we partner with those who will carry on in service and love after us.
The Endowment Funds
The Wellspring Fund
The largest fund in the Endowment is the Wellspring Fund. The Endowment trustees encourage using the Wellspring Fund as a preferred fund for future giving. Money given to this fund may be used for the upkeep and beautification of church facilities and grounds, as well as new ministry and missions projects. The Wellspring Fund casts the widest net of support for the church, both now and into the future.
Smoke Rise Endowment Fund?
Guidelines for Investment and Distribution
All funds in the Endowment are managed consistently with rules set forth in The Endowment Charter and according to established guidelines followed by the Endowment trustees.
Requests for funds from the Endowment are submitted in the following manner:
• Request originates from an existing standing committee, the Administrative Council, or the Fellowship of Deacons.
• Request will be reviewed and approved by trustees.
• Request will be reviewed for comment and advice by the Finance Committee.
• Request will be shared and submitted for a vote of approval by the Church in Conference.
The Endowment trustees are committed to transparency and openness with respect to the investment, management, and distribution of all money in the Endowment. Copies of The Endowment Charter and the most recent Endowment Trustee Guidelines may be provided to any member who requests more information.
Because every gift and bequest to the Endowment is added to principal, your gift to the Endowment will produce income in perpetuity. And because every request for distribution is reviewed and approved by the Church in Conference, you have the assurance that income generated by your gift will always be used consistently with the mission and purpose of Smoke Rise Baptist Church.
Other Funds
The Endowment also includes the Gannon Fund, Building/Maintenance Fund, Music Fund, Missions Fund, Youth Fund and Children’s Fund. Under current rules and guidelines of the Endowment trustees, gifts of $25,000 dollars or more may be used to establish a new fund subject to approval by the Endowment trustees.
The Impact of the Endowment
We celebrate the many ways the Smoke Rise Endowment has empowered us to enhance and preserve our church campus, support new ministries, and expand our worship over the last several years.
Our worship has been enriched by the return of our handbell players to the music program during special seasons of worship. Smoke Rise owns a five-octave set of Malmark Handbells, with a replacement value approaching $40,000. Thanks to endowment funds, the handbells were professionally serviced and polished after nearly two years of sitting unused. Additionally, new carpeting and ceiling fans were installed in our handbell practice room. This investment in our handbell ministry was made at a small fraction of the replacement cost of the bells.
Our weekday school and nursery areas needed updated flooring on the main level, including the hallway outside the fellowship hall. Along with other special gifts and shared revenue from the weekday school, the Endowment Fund contributed earnings from the Children’s Fund and the Wellspring Fund to install new luxury vinyl tile in these areas.
Generous members of Smoke Rise Baptist Church pledged matching funds to support the capital campaign of Developmental Disability Ministries (DDM), a ministry that provides forever homes for developmentally disabled adults in the greater Atlanta area. Toward this matching fund commitment, the Missions Fund of the Endowment contributed nearly $25,000 to DDM. In recognition of this special gift, Smoke Rise was honored as Church of the Year by DDM.
Ways to Give
to
the Endowment Fund
• Retirement plan assets
• Life insurance proceeds
• Gifts in memory
• Gifts in honor
Endowment
In addition to these special gifts, the Endowment has played a vital role in the care and improvement of our campus. It contributed to the repair, topcoat, and striping of a section of the parking lot; invested in the ongoing development of our youth ministry leadership team; offset nearly half the cost of essential elevator upgrades required to meet new building code regulations; and contributed to the purchase of our Godly Play resources for the renewal of Children’s worship.
The legacy of those who entrusted funds to our Endowment abides with us in countless ways— whether we gather in the Chapel each year for Yonder, share a meal at Wednesday Night Dinner, hear the pipes of our organ resound, worship through streaming, or connect remotely with one another in Sunday school or other learning opportunities. As we continue to grow our Endowment, the power of our collective faithfulness will ensure that these blessings enrich our family of faith for generations to come.
A Growing Fund
Below is a review of the annual Endowment balance and growth over the last several years.
$1,717,676 $1,724,364 $1,994,803 $2,391,031
• Real estate and gifts in kind (subject to trustee approval)
• Bequests by will or testamentary gift
• Publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds, funds)
• Charitable remainder trusts
• Charitable lead trusts
• Special or recurring donations at any time above regular tithe
What is the Legacy Society?
The Smoke Rise Legacy Society is composed of faithful stewards united by a shared commitment to designate the Smoke Rise Baptist Church Endowment as a named beneficiary of a will, trust, life insurance policy, stock holding, or other investment account.
Each year, the Smoke Rise Legacy Society hosts a luncheon to express appreciation to our donors, to learn about ministry enabled by the Legacy Society gifts, and to celebrate God’s good work at Smoke Rise Baptist Church. Membership in the Legacy Society is not based on the size of the gift or estate, but on notice of your commitment to leave a legacy gift to the church beyond your lifetime. Prospective members of the Legacy Society are encouraged to give generously after prayerful consideration under the Spirit’s leadership.
If you have any questions about The Legacy Society, please contact the church office to make an appointment with the pastor, associate pastor or an Endowment trustee.
Become a Member
The Smoke Rise Baptist Endowment has grown over the years and is poised to form a sure foundation for our church’s future. If you are committed to leaving a gift or bequest to the Smoke Rise Baptist Endowment by will or other beneficiary designation, submit your inquiry to the Smoke Rise Legacy Society through our church office.
Discerning Giving Options
As the Legacy Society grows across generations, a spiritual heritage of wise stewardship and accountability grows with it. As you and your family discern what the Spirit is leading you to give, consider a variety of options:
• In the biblical tradition of tithing, leaving 10 percent or more of your estate to Smoke Rise Endowment is one way of bearing witness to the importance of lifelong stewardship and impacting others beyond your lifetime through our church.
• Because the Endowment is managed to preserve principal and earn revenue, you might also consider leaving a gift or bequest that would ensure that the amount of money you give each month or year to the church in your lifetime will continue to be given in perpetuity through your gift to the Endowment.
• Retirement accounts, stock accounts, and life insurance policies offer the option of leaving percentages of value through designated beneficiary forms. Designating a percentage or specific amount of these assets would be a wonderful way to give as part of the Legacy Society.
Sample Bequest Language for a Will
Bequest as Percentage of Estate
I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to The Smoke Rise Baptist Church Endowment Fund, located at 5901 Hugh Howell Road, Stone Mountain, Georgia, 30087 for any use consistent with the rules and guidelines of The Smoke Rise Baptist Church Endowment Fund.
Bequest of Specific Amount
I hereby give, devise and bequeath ______________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to The Smoke Rise Baptist Church Endowment Fund, located at 5901 Hugh Howell Road, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087 for any use consistent with the rules and guidelines of The Smoke Rise Baptist Church Endowment Fund.
Bequest of a Contingent Remainder
In addition to the amounts already bequeathed to The Smoke Rise Baptist Church Endowment Fund herein, if _____________ does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath that designated gift or portion of my estate that would have gone to _______________ to The Smoke Rise Baptist Church Endowment Fund, located at 5901 Hugh Howell Road, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087 for any use consistent with the rules and guidelines of The Smoke Rise Baptist Church Endowment Fund.
From the Pastor
A Special Charge from Our Pastor
I have listened as people from this church talked about their love for Smoke Rise. I have heard the stories of those early days, when we met at the elementary school. I watched tears come to the eyes of those who remember the first Sunday in our Chapel. Some of us were there on that first Sunday. Many of us were not. We came later. Someone else built this church; we simply get to enjoy it.
We have the opportunity to give a gift that will enable ministry at Smoke Rise for years to come—for children and grandchildren; for neighbors yet unknown; for people who will need to know God’s love in good and bad times; for those who will struggle to overcome poverty and injustice; for those who will take up the calling to be the presence of Christ in the world.
Rev. Dr. Chris George, senior pastor
