In Touch Legacy Gifts

Are ministries accountable for using bequests as intended?

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.

In Touch Ministries Headquarters in Doraville, Georgia / Photo by Robbye Thomas via Google Maps

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?

The Messenger is In Touch Ministries’ flagship solar-powered audio device pre-loaded with scripture and Dr. Stanley’s teachings. It is distributed in countries around the world.

At the probate hearing for Jose’s will on August 14, Hensley said Judge Alice Padgett indicated there is no guarantee Jose’s gift will be used for the Messenger devices. The hearing was not recorded or transcribed, according to Hensley.

In Touch Ministry’s Messenger Device

David Bea, an attorney who works in many areas of law involving nonprofit organizations, says a general clause like “for its corporate uses and purposes” generally overrides a more specific “Messenger Ministry” phrase in the will.

He suggested that sometimes general wording like that is used alongside a specific bequest so that if the initial purpose becomes impossible to fulfill for whatever reason, the ministry can still use the funds for something else.

Bea advises that anyone wanting to make a bequest to a ministry seek good counsel from their own qualified attorney to draft the language in a way that fulfills their desires.

“Everyone should seek legal advice for their specific situation,” Bea said.

While a ministry’s attorneys may want to be helpful, their job is to work in the best interest of said ministry, he said.

It’s also better for family members to sit down with the donor before they die to work out details of the gift and how they intend for it to be used, he says. This helps avoid ambiguity and enforcement issues. He has seen donors disappointed in the use of their gifts because of vague and imprecise wording.

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Bea is unaware of any federal reporting mandate requiring ministries to track the use of gifts donated through a will.

In Touch Foundation did not respond to multiple inquiries seeking information about how it advises those considering a bequest, whether it accepts gifts for a specific purpose, and how it ensures those gifts are used as intended.

In the MinistryWatch 1000 database, In Touch Ministries has a donor confidence score of 55 out of 100 and does not file a Form 990 with the IRS.

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