Meet Scott and Linda Arant
If you want to meet two active retirees at St. Luke's, you need to meet Scott and Linda Arant. Soon after retirement they became involved in several small groups at the church, which eventually led to Disciple Bible Study. They took each Disciple class I-IV and then they became Disciple class leaders. They continue to facilitate a Thursday morning class, Bible Study and Beyond. They also lead a small group on Sunday evenings, where they discuss the sermons and sometimes meet for dinner.
You will find Linda (and often Scott) at the Connections Center outside Robertson Chapel two Sunday mornings a month. Linda also helps with Vacation Bible School when possible. Scott volunteers two mornings each week at Crooked Creek Food Pantry and serves on the church's planned giving and endowment committee. They both try to help out with other activities at the church whenever they are asked.
Linda's involvement with St. Luke's goes back many years. "I have been a member of St. Luke's from its beginning," she notes. "I was baptized at Central Avenue Methodist Church at 12th & Central in Indianapolis, and my parents were among those who left there in 1953 to start the church on 86th street."
Scott also grew up in a Christian home. "My parents were hard-working, churchgoing people who set a good example of practical Christian living. I try to live up to their example every day." He came to St. Luke's after getting divorced in 1989. At that time St. Luke's had a large singles group with more than 100 people attending gatherings each week. "From that start I began to attend Sunday services, and after about two years I met Linda and we got married in 1992," he said. Over time they became involved in couples groups, book study groups, and more.
Scott worked in sales for most of his adult life and then in workforce development for the last five years of his career. He retired at the end of 2015. Linda taught 5 th grade for three years in Washington Township, Indianapolis, and 2 nd grade for 23 years in Zionsville. Education has always been important to her, so in addition to her many activities at St. Luke's, she volunteers in a classroom at Nora Elementary School in Indianapolis. She also devoted about 10 years to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as the Walk Coach, raising funds and walking marathons.
When they aren't volunteering at St. Luke's and elsewhere, they enjoy traveling and getting together with friends and family. They have four children and four grandchildren.
When asked what inspired them to include St. Luke's in their estate planning, Scott replied, "The opportunity to make a difference far into the future, helping people of our grandchildren's generation and even beyond that." Linda added, "I must say that the memory of my wonderful parents and their inspiration made me want to 'pay it forward,' so to speak. I sincerely feel like I'm doing this for Mom and Dad, in their memory, and the example they set for me."
What do they hope their estate gifts will accomplish? "My hope is that there will continue to be St. Luke's United Methodist Church for another 75 years, and beyond," declared Linda. Scott added, "Along with the gifts of others, I hope that my gift will help to ensure that resources will be available to support the many outreach ministries of St. Luke's."
Indeed, they hope that St. Luke's outreach will continue to grow, reaching more people in Indianapolis, In other areas of the U.S., and in other countries as well. Linda sums it up well when she states, "My hope for our church is that we can continue to meet the spiritual needs of everyone who comes through our doors. But it depends on all of us to do our part, to make everyone feel welcome, and to show God's love to all."
Scott and Linda recognize that the challenge is to make people aware that planned gifts are an important way to build the church's endowment so it can continue its ministries well into the future-and a wonderful way to leave a legacy that reflects one's values. St. Luke's is grateful for the many ways Scott and Linda share their time, talents, and treasure, and for their thoughtful estate planning. The church is pleased to recognize them as members of St. Luke's Legacy Society. If you would like more information on how you too can become a member of St. Luke's Legacy Society, contact David Heetland, pastor of planned giving, at [email protected] or 317.399.6202.
