This November, your local solicitor will write basic Wills for clients introduced by Will Aid. Then, instead of paying the solicitor a fee, they are invited to make a donation to Will Aid. The suggested voluntary donation is £95 for a single basic Will or £150 for a pair of mirror wills. Will Aid will then share the donations between nine much-loved charities, including Christian Aid.
I caught up with Gordon Randall, Stewardship Advisor in the Diocese of Winchester, to find out why he is taking part in Will Aid this November.
My name is Gordon Randall and I’m a regular sort of bloke, married to someone called Ruth with two children both in their twenties. I’m a self supporting minister at a church called Christ Church in Basingstoke.
Since 2000 I’ve been employed by the Diocese of Winchester as their Stewardship Adviser. It’s a challenging but often rewarding role that involves me encouraging folk to embrace a spirit of generosity in response to a loving, gracious and merciful God. This often includes helping people to grow and develop in their Christian financial giving and see this as a normal and natural outworking of their discipleship.
As well as encouraging regular committed giving I also believe it’s important people recognise the opportunity of leaving a final gift at the end of their life to further the mission of Jesus Christ.
In short… to leave a legacy to their local church and/or other Christian mission agencies. This is something I feel passionate about which is probably why I chair the National Good Practice Group on legacy giving.
Q: Why is the Diocese of Winchester supporting Will Aid this year?
When we die the worst legacy anyone can leave a loved one is NOT to make a Will. That is primarily why it is so important we support Will Aid. It offers all churches an opportunity to encourage their folk to make a Will with the added incentive that the fee they’d normally pay goes towards a charitable cause.
Even if just one person in your church writes a Will you’ll have done them and their loved ones a huge favour. Will Aid also provides churches an opportunity to encourage people to leave a gift in their Will to their local church and/or other Christian agencies.
Q: What do Wills and gifts in Wills have to do with the Church?
Writing a Will and leaving a gift in your Will simply represents good Christian Stewardship. It is a way of planning what we will do at the end of our lives with all the resources God has entrusted to us. Making a Will saves time, energy and money for your loved ones at a time when they will probably be struggling with bereavement.
Leaving a gift in your Will furthers God’s mission and provides a final response to all that He has done for us in the shape of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Q: Why should we consider leaving a gift in our Will?
As followers of Jesus we should all consider leaving a gift in our Will. After all throughout our Christian lives we are called to grow in God image. I was recently reminded of a poignant quote from a Baptist Minister called Johnny Hunt, “You’re never more like Jesus than when you’re giving”.
As we live out our Christian discipleship each of as hopefully grows in a spirit of generosity and indeed becomes more like Jesus. What better way then to end our life here on earth by leaving a gift in our Will to further God’s mission. A final act of generosity before meeting with Jesus face to face and living eternally with Him!
Thanks Gordon!
To find out more about Will Aid and how you can get involved, please click here