A 'Love Gift'

Carol Barton and her husband, Jim, have supported LCEF through investments and shared with others the importance of empowering ministries through LCEF. They even gave gifts of LCEF investments to others for graduations, birthdays, weddings and other special events. So it was natural then for Carol to ask that memorial gifts be given to LCEF in Jim's memory when he passed away in 2009.

"I just knew that as much as we had our hearts in Church Extension ministry that there was no question about it," Carol said. "I knew that would have pleased him. And if I would have died first, he would have done the same thing."

Carol carried on her support and advocacy of LCEF as an LCEF Silver Eagle. She and Jim were named charter members of the Silver Eagles, an advisory group to LCEF leadership begun in 2001. Silver Eagles members include Arthur C. Haake Leadership Award winners, past and present LCEF Board chairs, and former LCEF presidents. Jim served as an LCEF district vice president for the North Wisconsin District and Carol was the district's LCEF promotions director.

"Jim was the financial and organizational brains, and I was the people-motivator," Carol said. "Our gifts matched. We just got so much joy from serving."

She said that she is an enthusiastic supporter of LCEF because she appreciates anything that continues to keep on giving to the ministry of the overall church. Memorial gifts to LCEF were the perfect expression of her partnership with Jim: in life, vocation and spirit.

"What a perfect 'love gift.' It continues the ministry."