By Kim Roberts - Posted at MinistryWatch:
Are ministries accountable for using bequests as intended?Published August 26, 2025
Iris Hensley knew that her aunt, Merle Jose, planned to leave her estate to In Touch Ministries, the ministry founded and led by Charles Stanley until his death in 2023.
Jose had lived in the same neighborhood as Stanley and joined his church, First Baptist Atlanta. Jose also volunteered her time at In Touch Ministries.
She wrote in her will that she was giving all of her residual estate to the “Messenger Ministry of In Touch Foundation Inc…for its corporate uses and purposes.”
It’s not uncommon for ministries to advertise that they accept legacy gifts, or for them to have legacy giving departments that provide sample language for donors to use in their will.
On its website, In Touch suggests language to use in making a bequest. That language was reflected almost exactly in Jose’s will. Hensley is concerned that In Touch exercised undue influence on Jose when she wrote her will in 2023 while living in a care home after being ill.
After Jose died in March 2025, Hensley grew concerned her aunt’s intentions wouldn’t be honored, and she’s questioning who will hold the ministry accountable to use the designated funds as intended.
In other words, will Jose’s gift fund the distribution of Messenger devices—or will it be used at In Touch’s discretion toward whatever it deems appropriate?