“Wisdom for Wealth. For Life.” Episode 33: Building a Legacy of Giving

Choosing to give sacrificially can be challenging, especially in times of uncertainty. Yet, it is possible to adopt a mindset about money that frees you to give abundantly with the knowledge that God owns everything and will provide the resources you need.

Blue Trust clients Chris and Kim Patton have built a strategy for generosity that shapes how they view their finances, as well as how they’ve taught their children to handle money. The Pattons recently talked with Kerry Mallory, Blue Trust national managing director and senior private wealth advisor about how they learned to give despite their circumstances, and specifically how they’ve instructed their children about giving.

Chris was born into a family automobile dealership business started by his grandfather in 1962. He learned to work hard and could often be found washing cars, painting curbs, and picking weeds at age 10, eventually working his way up to the parts department as a teenager. By the late 1990s, he was the CEO of the family business. Yet, his convictions about work and worldly achievements changed when he began reading scripture and spending quiet time in prayer every day.

“Even though I enjoyed many perks in my role, I came to realize that this was actually God’s business,” Chris says. “Applying scripture to my job changed everything, and I began to look at the business from an eternal perspective. It became my platform for ministry and planting the seeds of the gospel, as I would care for the employees and their families.”

Answering a Call

While he never thought he would leave the family business, Chris received a call from a mentor that led to a new job with a nonprofit called His Way at Work, requiring a move from Georgia to South Carolina.

Despite a significant lifestyle change, the Pattons remained steadfast about their giving commitments. Having pledged money to a church campaign over the course of several years, they were determined to keep their promise. “We were already tithing 10%, so we said, ‘Okay, we're going to give another 10%,” they explain. They went on to commit to giving their tax refund each year. Later, as their income sources diversified, they decided to give 100% from a passive income source.

The Pattons acknowledge that there were times when it felt like they could have used the money for household expenses and supporting their family, which had grown to include three children. However, Kim says that they held tight to their convictions. “After a lot of prayer and fasting, we knew that moving to South Carolina for this new venture was what God intended for us,” she says.