During this time of global uncertainty, finances for the church are a natural concern. I would implore you to not be worried. Please remember the words of our Lord, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33)
This is a time to be wise, not worried about money. Your motivation needs to be about missional opportunities, not primarily budget downfall. This is about an opportunity to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
I am encouraged by the Blackaby quote that Mark Clifton often references, “God is under no obligation to resource your plans, but he will spare nothing to resource His plans.”
While we may not have for some time the opportunity to gather physically, it is important to give your people an opportunity to continue in their faithful and generous giving to the Lord through their offering.
This short article will give you three ways you could think through giving for your church during this season.
First, as Mark Clifton encouraged us in a recent “Mondays with Mark” video, you can send out a weekly newsletter via “snail mail” and enclose an offering envelope that is already stamped and addressed.
Second, if you do not already have online giving, you may want to check with your Church Management System (such as ACS, Fellowship One, CCB, etc.) first to see what they offer.
If your current database system does not already offer a good solution, I would recommend you research companies like tithe.ly in order to get set up for online and text-giving. There are other options, but we chose to go with them after researching many of those options. We chose the $19 a month option that gave us access to text-to-give and some online options.
The church I pastor already had online giving going into this season, but we decided we wanted to add text to give as an option. There were a few bumps in the road but their customer service department was quick and courteous and we were able to get set up and operational in under an hour.
To speed up the process be ready with:
- A jpeg or png image of your ID
- Your church’s EIN number
- A PDF copy of your church’s most recent bank statement
- The routing number and account number for your church’s bank account
Third, and most importantly, remember that we are not to be driven by fear. Do not allow your financial concerns to drive you more than your mission. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” (2 Tim. 1:7) You have everything you need in the power of the Holy Spirit and the Resurrected Christ to accomplish the Father’s mission. Love your people well and operate in sound judgment.,
Published April 15, 2020
