Stan and Mary Phang, estate planning clients of The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, made the decision for their children’s future and education to move their family to the United States with the intention of becoming citizens of the United States.
“It took us five years to get a green card and then another five years before we could apply for citizenship,” Stan said.
Stan became a citizen in January, 2010, and Mary received her citizenship in February, 2010. “It’s unexplainable how happy, excited and relieved we are,” Stan said.
Their church, First Baptist Church, Broken Arrow, has become like family to the couple and their children, the Phangs said.
“We are truly brothers and sisters in Christ. Just like in our natural family, the more we spend time with our church family, the closer we get,” Mary said. “We pray for each other, study the Word together, encourage one another, laugh and grow together. We are strong in our walk with Christ because of our church family.
“There is a sweet fellowship that words cannot describe and the world cannot give us; a little taste of heaven, I should say.”
The couple began thinking about the importance of naming guardians for their children and wanted to know more about estate planning from the Foundation. Mary remembered reading in the Messenger an article about a family that created a revocable living trust through the Foundation.
“It caught our attention because it said that the Foundation helps out with the legal fee requirement if you give to the church or a Baptist ministry,” Mary said. “We wanted to give to our church anyway so we contacted Dan Allen.”
Allen, Foundation senior vice president of donor services, helped the Phangs, in conjunction with their attorney, begin and finalize the estate planning process.
“We would recommend the Foundation to our church friends and have been telling others,” Mary said. “Every family should have an estate plan in place—especially if you have children. It gives you peace of mind.”
To learn more about the Foundation’s estate planning services, select Wills Presentation or call 800.949.9988.