A Call to Legacy Preparation By Jennifer David

Faithful Stewards Engage in Legacy Planning

Planning a legacy requires intentional preparation. Throughout history, wise voices like Benjamin Franklin have reminded us of life’s fundamental certainties. His timeless adage about death and taxes should prompt deeper reflection for those in ministry leadership: What legacy are we building? How will our mission continue? While we naturally prepare our families for life’s uncertainties through insurance and estate planning, have we given equal attention to preparing our ministries for faithful transition?

As Christians, we are to be good stewards of our time, resources, and calling. Viewed in that context, legacy planning represents far more than organizational continuity for faith-driven leaders—it embodies faithful stewardship of the mission God has entrusted to each of us. When leaders fail to plan for the ministry’s transition following their death, it can leave entire communities of staff, donors, and constituents without clear direction for the future.

The Stewardship Imperative of Legacy Planning

Discussing our own mortality remains uncomfortable, yet Scripture calls us to number our days and gain wisdom (Psalm 90:12). For ministry leaders, avoiding legacy planning becomes an act of poor stewardship. The spotlight that naturally follows a leader’s or founder’s death represents a unique, dual opportunity to honor the legacy and cast vision for the organization’s continued mission.

This process requires a delicate balance: honoring God while celebrating a leader’s life and testimony, clearly communicating the future vision, demonstrating the organization’s strength beyond any single individual, and outlining the pathway for new leadership.

Legacy planning serves as a gift to multiple constituencies. Families find peace knowing their loved one’s death will be communicated clearly and intentionally. Organizations establish the foundation needed to thrive in new seasons under future leadership. Most importantly, the ministry work itself continues seamlessly, ensuring uninterrupted efforts toward the shared mission and purpose.

Building Your Legacy Framework

From direct involvement in legacy communications and observations of other organizational transitions, I’ve found that several principles consistently emerge as critical for faithful legacy planning.

1. Start earlier than you think necessary.
   Time remains your greatest asset in legacy planning. Beginning early allows thorough consideration of every aspect, from memorial arrangements and donor communications to interim leadership and long-term vision casting. You can address challenging questions now that become overwhelming when emotions are high: How will memorial services honor the leader while reinforcing organizational mission? What messages will maintain donor confidence during transition? Who can provide interim leadership while you search for permanent successors? How will you communicate the future vision without diminishing the past legacy? Early planning transforms potentially chaotic transitions into opportunities for ministry growth.
   
   
2. Align your mission with your message.
   Every decision your organization makes today contributes to your future effectiveness and your leader’s legacy. Ensuring your ministry’s brand, messaging, and public presence align with your long-term vision will underscore consistency during transition periods. When the spotlight inevitably comes, your organization should reflect the same values and clarity that will guide its future.
   
   
3. Craft your communication strategy.
   How you tell your story matters immensely. Staff members, donors, and the broader public all deserve clear, consistent communication about celebrating the leader’s legacy and advancing the organization. This narrative should honor the past while also inspiring confidence in what lies ahead.

Moving Forward in Faith

Thoughtful legacy planning honors grieving families and staff while protecting a leader’s legacy and ensuring organizational viability. Most importantly, it glorifies God by demonstrating our commitment to faithful stewardship of the ministries and lives He has entrusted to us.

The complexity of effective legacy planning requires significant time and attention to detail, but the investment pays eternal dividends. Consider beginning this crucial conversation with your board, senior staff, and the families of your leaders. Your ministry’s tomorrow depends on the decisions you make now.

Christian leaders serve as temporary stewards of eternal purposes. Legacy planning ensures those purposes continue long after our individual seasons of service conclude.

With more than 20 years of experience serving mission-focused nonprofits through communications, creative assets, and comprehensive event management, Jennifer David leads much of Guardian’s legacy communications work. This strategic communications agency exists to serve people and organizations driven by faith. Alongside her teammates, she has been involved in communications work surrounding the passing/leadership transitions of notable Christian leaders, including Timothy Keller, Billy Graham, Bill Bright, Chuck Colson, and Chick-fil-A Founder Truett Cathy.

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