At age 92, former catcher, Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe could still tell you baseball stories you would love to hear…even if you didn’t particularly love baseball. He says he wore “Thou Shalt Not Steal” on his catcher’s chest-protector the time he threw out Ty Cobb trying to steal second. He recalls catching for Satchel Paige when the legendary pitcher sent all his outfielders into the dugout for an inning and then proceeded to strike out the entire team. ¹

Now that’s confidence! Perhaps, a little over-confident? Let me share some information that may help to assure your continued confidence in Wisconsin Conference’s Planned Giving & Trust Department. This ministry provides assistance to our church members and friends of the Church with free estate planning tools such as a wills, trusts, and Power of Attorney for Health Care or Finances.

Every three years, the Planned Giving and Trust Department for our Conference is audited by the North American Division Planned Giving & Trust Services Certification & Accreditation (C&A) Committee (now that’s a spoonful). Their responsibility is to assure a high level of professionalism, care and integrity and to give direction in areas that may need attention. This is done so our Wisconsin Conference members can have confidence in this ministry, as assistance is given to channel your charitable giving to the areas most important to you. Our Trust program recently received from the NAD, C & A Committee the highest accreditation level given, A3. Praise the Lord! With God’s help, we will continually strive to earn your confidence in this Planned Giving & Trust ministry.

Now, at the risk of undermining all that I just wrote, I commend you to the One who alone deserves our full and complete confidence. Scripture says “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence…” ²

Bill Ochs, Planned Giving and Trust Services Director

1 Today in the Word, November 3, 1995, p. 8
2 Proverbs 14:26 ESV