Great question! Simply put, your giving makes mission and discipleship happen. Every dollar given fuels the training of believers, preaching of the word, and resourcing of gospel-centered ministries here in Converse, TX and all over the world.
JOYFUL
Giving is a matter of the heart. God cares ultimately about our hearts, for he has an infinite amount of resources at His disposal. When we give, we do so in response to what God has done, and with excitement around getting to play a role in God's word and love reaching the Converse TX community and abroad.
SACRIFICIAL
Can you point to something tangible in your life that you don't have/use/do because you've made a conscious decision to give to the church? Everything from the homes and cars we buy, to the vacations we take...these are all opportunities for us to live differently in light of our commitment to the Kingdom and identity as God's kids.
REGULAR
We ask our church family to give regularly. This can be weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly. This is both for the sake of your own discipleship and gospel rhythms, and for the sake of the church's ability to plan and allocate resources with wisdom and discernment.
As a young church, we've committed to a very transparent approach to our church finances. Here are a few of the ways we actively work towards financial responsibility and handling our resources with integrity:
- We provide a detailed financial report in our gatherings on the third Sunday of each month and welcome questions regarding how the budget is structured and how decisions are made around spending. In addition, covenant members have access to books and records upon request.
- HGCWC is committed to lay (unpaid) pastors being involved in all stages of financial management and specifically are responsible for setting the compensation for the paid staff.
- Typically after a church is around three years old, they are able to apply for accreditation with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, which requires high standards of biblical accountability, board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fund raising, and proper use of charity resources. HGCWC intends to join the ECFA after our ninth birthday.
Many people think about their giving as a percentage of their money coming in, but should you use gross or net income? The most common view is that gross earnings are the amount of God's provision, and the tithe should be based on one-tenth of God's provision. Taxes are generally considered payment for the privileges and services provided by the government. Though scripture doesn't necessarily use the literal terms "net" or "gross," it is important to note that the spirit in which we give is of greatest value to God. He tells us in 2 Corinthians 9 that "each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give; not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
At HGCWC we say, “the tithe is a tutor”, meaning that setting aside 10% of your gross earnings is a great place to start as a steward of God’s gifts. Giving to your church can be a daunting commitment! That said, if scripture tells us to honor Him with our first fruits and our blessings will be overflowing, we must learn to trust that He is faithful to provide. God wants us to trust Him. Seek His guidance in how much you should give, and he will honor your faithfulness and obedience.
Used within the parameters for which they were originally created, debit and credit cards can be an efficient tool for payments and purchases. Many people utilize them in place of checks or cash throughout the month, then pay off the balance in full. For these people, we offer the option of using a credit or debit card to tithe. We strongly discourage those who have ongoing credit card debt from exercising this option.
Cash contributions must be received or postmarked by December 31 to be included on your giving statement for that year. Online transactions must be initiated by December 31.
We’re here to help! Just contact us at: info@higherground-sa.org