Try it before you schedule your congregation!
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (February 17, 2026)—Faith communities walk with people through some of life’s most meaningful—and most vulnerable—moments: births, baptisms, illnesses, deaths, and funerals. Questions about legacy, family, faith, and stewardship surface naturally in those spaces, too… yet many clergy feel under-resourced to address them fully.
Planning a Legacy (PAL) from the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas is designed to help—and this pre-Annual Conference presentation lets you experience it firsthand before you schedule a PAL for your church.
Why attend this preview?
These are the real questions your people are already asking:
- “Am I too young—or do I have enough—to need a will?”
- “What would happen to my children if something happened to me?”
- “How can my faith shape what I leave behind?”
- “What makes a funeral meaningful, hopeful, and God-honoring?”
- “Is it really possible to give generously and still care for my family?”
More than 60% of people die without a will, leaving the state—not the individual—to decide how assets are distributed. Many don’t realize that estate planning also includes naming guardians for children, planning a funeral or memorial service, and creating opportunities to support ministries they love. PAL educates participants and provides them with tools to get started.
What you’ll experience
This presentation walks through:
- Why having a will matters—at every age and stage of life
- How estate planning protects children and loved ones
- How thoughtful funeral planning can be a final act of faith and witness
- How tools like Charitable Gift Annuities can provide lifetime income for the giver and support the church’s future
All shared in a pastoral, accessible, and non-technical way—the same way it would be offered to your congregation.
No pressure. Just perspective.
This is not a sales seminar (PAL is offered at no cost to congregations—we will even reimburse participating churches for staffing childcare!). It’s an opportunity to see the content, hear the language, and discern whether it’s right for your people—before ever inviting them to attend.
Come preview Planning a Legacy and decide if it’s a resource that could bless your congregation, ease pastoral conversations, and help ensure the future of your church’s ministry.
When: Sunday, June 14, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Where: First UMC of Hot Springs
What: Dinner will be provided along with all the materials included in this presentation.
Cost: This program and meal are free of charge, but reservations are required as we have a limit of 35 people. Please register today to reserve your spot.
