| A Legacy Christmas: Gifts That Last By Stephanie Burke and Rev. Keith Pearson, ELCA Foundation I always adored Christmas Eve as a child. I remember lying in my bed, fighting the sleep that pulled at my child’s eyes sleep as I stared up through the window hoping to see Santa’s sleigh cross the sky. The anticipation of him placing gifts beneath the Christmas tree – just feet from by bedroom! – was almost too much to bear. But no matter how wonderful the gift, or how much I’d begged for it beforehand, it wasn’t long until my mind wandered elsewhere. When I’m honest I count on one hand the gifts I received as a child that had a lasting impact or remained memorable. What if you could give a gift that is truly memorable – one that permanently shapes the life of the receiver? What if your gift never wore out or broke or got old? What if it kept giving year after year, even beyond your lifetime? It doesn’t take a Christmas miracle, and it’s very possible you have the means to give such an incredible gift. When you give to Novusway Ministries or one of our four ministry sites, Lutheridge, Lutherock, Lutheranch or Luther Springs, you give a gift that has the power to change someone’s life. Whether through an outright, one-time gift, or through a gift that supports and impacts the outdoor ministries of NovusWay for years and years to come your gift makes a difference in someone’s life. The possibilities are there, and it really doesn’t take a fortune. Imagine, in this season of giving, giving a gift that honors and celebrates a loved one forever. It’s not hard to do, it doesn’t take a fortune, and it truly can impact the lives of generations to come! If this sounds like something that you’d like to do, please give me a call. I’d be happy to help you think through the kind of gift that makes the most sense for you. My services are free to you, thanks to a partnership with NovusWay Ministries, your synod and other ministries. It would be my joy to help you find the right way to make this Christmas a Legacy Christmas. Stephanie Burke is the ELCA Foundation’s Regional Gift Planner for the Carolinas. Her services are available at no charge to congregations and related ministries interested in building and growing endowments and other planned gifts, and to individuals interested in creating estate plans that will provide legacy gifts to local congregations, other ministries of the ELCA, and to charitable causes important to them. She can be reached at 704-293-9436 or stephanie.burke@elca.org. | 
