Our History

    The South Gate United Methodist Church property became vacant prior to the arrival of District Superintendent Rev. Lily Villamin (2002-2008).

Under District Superintendent Villamin’s leadership the Long Beach District Union sold the South Gate property. She assembled a grant task force which submitted a proposal to the Long Beach District Union (LBDU), who held the “urban funds” from the sale of the South Gate property to set aside a fund for this future ministry foundation.

    At the same time, Zaferia Shalom Zone, a 501(c)3 public social service out of the Wesley United Methodist Church Long Beach, was closing. The Board of Directors for Zaferia Shalom Zone approved, under the leadership of Doris Shigahara, Gloria Jackson and Rev. Mary Walton, the name change to Living Into the Future Foundation and registered this change with the Secretary of State, California (March 2006).

    It was decided that the Living Into the Future Foundation Board membership should represent laity and clergy. The Board members are nominated from the 13 West District Mission Areas and two appointed by the District Superintendent.

    The investment of the funds from a portion of the South Gate property provided the initial corpus for LITFF. In 2012, the California-Pacific districts were realigned from eight to five districts. The Santa Ana, Long Beach and Los Angeles Districts were merged to form the West District. The former Los Angeles District Union known as United Methodist Ministries – Los Angeles District (UMM-LAD), matched the amount in the LITFF corpus to grow the LITFF fund to over $1,000,000.00. As LITFF grew to over $1,000,000.00, there became two financial managers, Merrill Lynch and Charles Swab are the current investment managers.  The Board is committed to socially responsible investments.

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At the October 2014 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the name change from Living Into the Future Foundation to United Methodist – Living Into the Future Foundation.  On Saturday, June 6, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the following Mission Statement and on April 27, 2019 the word “resources” replaced the word “funds” reflecting the Foundations commitment to developing strategies to build the outreach capacity of the ministry of our churches, beyond the monetary support the organization is known for through its grant awards. 

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Mission Statement

The United Methodist - Living Into The Future Foundation is a 501(c)3 public social service organization providing resources for programs and individuals in the development and nurture of leaders and community services which promote the well-being of people so that all may experience God’s life-giving love.