Donor Advised Fund

Making money came naturally to real estate developer Pat McKinney. By all outward appearances, he was living the American dream with his beautiful wife and children. But he knew something was missing. "My wife Pam and I had been married for about 15 years," Pat remembers. "She was pulling me closer and closer to God because of the strength of her own walk." As a young child, Pat accepted Christ but had drifted away as an adult. Now his wife had rededicated her life and was urging him to do the same.

During his daily commute, Pat usually listened to Don Imus on talk radio. But his heart was telling him to look elsewhere for information. Switching stations, he found Turning Point and was instantly attracted to Dr. Jeremiah's teaching. After a few weeks of listening, Pat and Pam had a conversation that went something like this:

Pam: "Sweetheart, you won't believe this new Bible teacher I've been listening to on the radio. He's really wonderful. I think you should listen to him."

Pat: "David Jeremiah."

Pam: "Yes! How did you know?"

Pat: "I've been listening to him for the last month."

The McKinneys talked excitedly about the messages they had listened to. Listening to Turning Point had been their divine appointment with God as individuals, and now as a couple.

"For the first time in my adult life, I was enthusiastic about Bible study and being taught," remembers Pat. Dr. Jeremiah's series Investing for Eternity and Stewardship is Lordship had the greatest impact on Pat and Pam. "Success is very seductive in terms of how it grabs us and rules our lives. You have to fight it all the time," says Pat. "The real key to my ability to worship God was to get the financial side of my life under control. That put everything else in perspective." According to Pat, one of the problems in many churches today is the absence of solid Biblical teaching about money. Ministers don't want to offend congregation members so they remain silent. Yet learning how to give to God leads to a life well spent.

"We are the managers while we are here, not the owners," says Pam. "The more we give, the more we seem to have to give. And even better, giving has given us tremendous joy."

An important part of that joy has come through partnering with Turning Point. The McKinneys have made a lifetime pledge to Turning Point. Whatever amount they gift during their life will be applied to the pledge and any amount remaining will be honored through their estate plan. The McKinneys set up a Donor Advised Fund through the National Christian Foundation. By establishing such a fund, you can time the gifts you make (for investment or tax reasons) and select the charities you wish to benefit. The McKinneys have given generously to Turning Point so others may be changed as they were by Dr. Jeremiah's teaching. "The vision that we have, whether it's radio, television or Turning Point rallies, is that somebody is going to be touched. Somehow that is tied back to the small contributions we've made," says Pat. "It's not up to us to decide whether our contributions are big or small. We're just supposed to be faithful and give what's on our hearts. It's up to God to use it."

Through the years, the McKinneys have involved their two daughters in giving, participating in family meetings to prayerfully decide where to give. Now as young adults, their daughters are very familiar with the ministry of Turning Point and have accompanied their parents on a ministry cruise. "About four years ago, one of our daughters gave me a very thoughtful birthday card," says Pat. "The best part was her handwritten note that said, 'You taught me the joy of giving.'"