Bernie and Joyce McNickle: A Legacy of Generosity
Anyone who ever met Bernie or Joyce McNickle knows they were true Disciples in every sense of the word. They were generous stewards and dedicated volunteers. Their spiritual, family and social lives were grounded in the church.
Upon moving to Tulsa, OK in 1949, the McNickles became members of Rogers Heights Christian Church where they were active in the life of the congregation. In the 1960s, they joined Harvard Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa where they volunteered and raised their two children in the Disciples' community. In 1984, they moved to Oklahoma City where they became members of First Christian Church in Edmond. This became their church home for nearly four decades.
Over their lives, they joyously served four Disciples churches assuming multiple leadership roles - from youth sponsors to board members to elders to congregational moderator, and Elders Emeriti. According to the McNickles, the outreach programs of their church homes - together with the mission-orientation of the ministers - had a tremendous influence in shaping their commitments to how they believe Christ would have them live and serve.
Bernie and Joyce grew up on farms near small towns in western Oklahoma and were high school sweethearts. Just after the end of World War II, they married and moved to Oklahoma City, where Bernie began working as a clerk for a company the couple would later acquire. They opened a branch in Tulsa in 1949, where they lived and raised their family until 1984. Their acquisition of the business and expansion led them back to Oklahoma City and the business headquarters.
In 1999, they met with an estate-planning attorney and designated 10% of their estate (after final costs) to establish a fund for the benefit of First Christian Church in Edmond (FCC Edmond). Although a state-of-the-art plan at the time, the McNickles subsequently realized they needed to update their plan.
In early 2014, FCC Edmond developed a program, Disciples4Water, to send mission teams to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to drill wells and train the local citizens how to drill and maintain additional wells. Bernie said he and Joyce observed not only changes in the lives of those who went on the mission trip, but also an increased spirit of generosity among the entire congregation. Inspired by their participation in the funding of that first mission trip, Bernie and Joyce believed Christ was working through FCC Edmond to effect positive change. Bernie and Joyce committed to continue using their resources to allow such mission work to endure.
With that in mind, in late 2014 the McNickles updated their estate plan to a revocable trust and placed $200,000 with the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation to establish an endowment fund. The newly established First Christian Church Edmond Mission Endowment Fund benefits the church for the planning and execution of mission trips similar to Disciples4Water as well as assisting the people those communities. Bernie and Joyce's revocable trust calls for the balance of 10% of their estate to be contributed to that endowment. The endowment fund does not bear their names, as the McNickles hoped others will recognize the broad scope of their intent and be motivated to help grow the endowment and support missions. In addition, they hoped others will emulate their designation of 10% of their estate to provide income for the church's mission trips in perpetuity.
Their son and daughter, Norman McNickle and Vicki McNickle Jenner, have made many gifts to the FCC Mission Endowment Fund in honor of their parents in celebration of Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, anniversaries and other notable occasions. Also, in recognition of their parents' family focus and to encourage legacy giving, donations have been made on behalf of "the children and grandchildren of Bernie and Joyce McNickle."
Vicki, longtime Director of Operations for the Foundation, noted her parents' decreased need for and interest in personal gifts, cards, flowers and plants.
"Mother and Dad have always been all about their family, their faith and giving back, and our intention is to honor their legacy," she said.
In 2015, Bernie said goodbye to his partner and the love of his life. Through his great sense of faith and desire to honor Joyce's memory, he continued his commitment serving and giving through the church and his love of raising cattle and vegetables. He was well-known for delivering boxes of spectacular fruits and vegetables to his family, friends and church family.
On Ash Wednesday 2023, Bernie passed away, leaving a wonderful legacy he and Joyce were committed to wholeheartedly.
"In every congregation there are always a handful of quiet, steady leaders. People who are asked to serve the church because they are trusted and respected. People who have influence regardless of the positions they hold. These leaders get things done. They are faithful in Christ's service. Bernie and Joyce are two of those people. Leading by example, their generosity has and will, in perpetuity, change lives around the world." - Eric S. Gray, Executive Director, Oklahoma Disciples Foundation