by Joanna Gray

FRESNO - It has been said that "where there's a will, there's a way." This rings true for long-time California Southern Baptists Ellis "Buddy" Camp and his wife, Mary.

Buddy served as a California Southern Baptist pastor for 25 years, and prior to retirement Mary traveled across the country training Sunday school teachers. Today, the Camps remain active in Southern Baptist ministry by teaching others about Christ and grooming new leaders in ministry.

This passion for training future leaders who will continue to share the gospel is something the Camps want to continue long after they leave this earth. After attending a California Baptist Foundation estate planning seminar at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, the Camps discovered that the way to ensure their legacy was through a carefully drafted will.

"You either will it or the state wills it for you," Mary said. "My aunt passed away a year ago and her estate is still in the court system. It's been an expensive process and much of her estate has been used to go through the process. I think it's vital for every family to have a will so they can decide where their estate goes and be able to provide for ministry."

In addition to drafting a will, the Camps created a charitable remainder trust (CRT) as part of their estate plan. A CRT allows them to give their estate twice; first to their six daughters, then to the ministries closest to their hearts - their church and California Baptist University's bachelor of applied theology program.

"There was a real sense of inner joy when we found out we could give our entire estate to ministry and help our children at the same time," Buddy said. "We got a double blessing out of that concept."

Navigating through the complicated estate planning process can be daunting. And, according to George Jacques, senior vice president and estate planning attorney for the Foundation, there is significant room for inconsistencies in legal documents that are not prepared by an attorney specializing in that area of law.

"All of us want what's best for our family, and to do what's best for them is more than assuming the legal system is going to do what is right for them," Jacques said. "We want to help you do what is right for your children by helping you protect and provide for them in a way that will truly leave a legacy that's going to go on long beyond your lifetime."

With 60 years of cumulative experience among its estate planning attorneys, the Foundation offers biblically based legal guidance to help California Southern Baptists provide for their families and identify opportunities for giving to ministry. Through careful planning, many people can do more than they ever thought possible.

"It's good stewardship to make good choices. I believe planning and stewardship go hand-in-hand," Mary Camp said. "You have to plan to be able to make the best use of what God has entrusted to you. And, through the Foundation's leadership, we have been able to do that."

Visit www.californiabf.org for more information.