The Roses: What are you doing for the Lord?

Sometimes, the path toward a deeper commitment to generosity begins with a simple question. And sometimes, it takes hearing it more than once.

For Wayne Rose, that question came from a man named Larry, whom he met while working in the campground business. Larry asked, “Wayne, what are you doing for the Lord?”

Wayne confidently responded that he attended church, tithed, and helped people. After all, wasn’t that what a good Christian was supposed to do?

Larry repeated his question, reminiscent of Jesus asking Peter three times whether he loved Him in John 21, ultimately restoring Peter after his three denials.

“That is what triggered me to move forward,” said Wayne.

He was now ready to make the most of all he had to give.

A Life Shaped by Generosity

Wayne and his wife, Lorene, have been married for 57 years and raised two sons.

“When we first met, we had no idea what God was going to do with us,” said Wayne.

Both were raised by families who modeled generosity and service to others. They carried those values into their own lives and the various spheres of influence God placed them in, which they refer to as “the four C’s”: cars, chocolate (Kilwins), campgrounds, and church.

That spirit of generosity was evident in the way they supported the small church they attended in Petoskey, Michigan, particularly when they recognized a need within its youth program. There were children who wanted to attend, but transportation posed a barrier.

Wayne and Lorene recognized that they were in a position to do more, which led them to purchase a van the church could use to pick up the children. They didn’t realize it at the time, but the van would become their first major gift.

Experiences like this, and their shared willingness to say “yes” to the opportunities God presented, gradually revealed just how He was working in their lives.

A Legacy That Keeps Giving

When thinking about their estate plan, they wanted to ensure their assets were entrusted to a Christian organization that would support the Lord’s work. Their advisors recommended establishing a Giving Fund through NCF South Florida and appointing an advisory committee, allowing them to fulfill that goal for generations to come.

“I want it [the fund] to go on forever, because I don’t think there’s any stopping of giving to the Lord,” said Wayne.

If you’re in the process of developing your estate plan or are soon approaching that juncture, Wayne’s first piece of advice isn’t legal or financial – it is rooted in the spiritual.

“You have to pray about it, and God will lead you.”

Looking back on his journey as a retired entrepreneur, he recommends that business owners reach out to NCF South Florida before selling to maximize their Kingdom impact.

Perhaps Wayne and Lorene’s story has you thinking about your own legacy. Our “How we help” webpage is a good place to start exploring what’s possible.

If you’re ready to begin a conversation with the NCF South Florida team about your own giving and estate-planning goals, email southflorida@ncfgiving.comopens in a new tab, or complete the inquiry form on this page. We’d be honored to help you explore how your resources can be stewarded wisely, faithfully, and with lasting impact.

More than the financial resources they leave behind, the Roses hope their legacy will be found in the lives they’ve touched, the love they’ve shared, and the generosity they’ve modeled – all made possible by the love the Lord has generously lavished upon them.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!...” —1 John 3:1

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