Fund for World Mission legacies reach £779,000

Legacies to the Methodist Fund for World Mission reached£779,000 in the year to 31 August 2005, nearly double that totalfor the year before. The money left in legacies has offset a fallin donations from churches to take giving to the Fund to itshighest total for three years.

Dr. John Newton, Mission Support Worker, said, 'people's generosityis amazing. The money from legacies this year is equivalent to thecost of supporting 50 more mission partners for a year, building780 homes in Pakistan or providing over 38,000 Love Boxes to peoplein South Africa living with HIV/AIDS.'

Although the Fund for World Mission receives most of its incomefrom regular giving, legacies form an important part. 'Legacyincome is hard to predict,' says John Newton, 'and has varied inthe last decade from a low of £281,000 to a high of £1.8 million.Every penny counts in helping support important work around theworld. People leave very different amounts depending on theircircumstances, although a typical amount is about £5,000. Everylegacy is welcome, and every gift shows how much someonecares.'

A guide to leaving a legacy to one of the Methodist funds - forHome Mission, World Mission, Property or The Methodist Church Fund- was produced in 2004. No More Tears is available free of chargein English and Welsh from MPH or the Mission Educationdepartment.