FAITH PROMISE GIVING
What is Faith Promise Giving? Faith promise is a balanced approach to giving. It encourages people to commit to giving but at the same time provides financial guidelines for future ministry funding.
Faith promises are commitments to give a certain amount if the Lord provides it. With faith promise, people make commitments to give if the funds are or become available. It is understood that if God doesn’t provide the funds there is no obligation to give (Hebrews 11:1). Committing to a faith promise is scriptural and acceptable to the Lord.
How does one determine the amount of a Faith Promise?
♦ Pray for God’s direction
♦ Make a realistic assessment of your situation
♦ Obey God’s voice
♦ Trust God
♦ Look for God’s enablement to meet your Faith Promise commitment
♦ Be faithful to give as God enables you
Why Is Faith Promise Offering Better?
♦ Because it is based upon Faith
♦ Because it brings more people into the giving picture.
♦ Because there is invariably more money provided
♦ Because it brings more blessings to the giver
♦ Because it promotes spiritual growth
♦ Because it increases time spent in missions
A Faith Promise is not a pledge. A pledge is between the member and the church and is how we fund salaries, the building, apportionments, etc. That will not be changing. A Faith Promise is between the member and the Lord. This will be our avenue for supporting and growing the mission outreach of this church and how we fund the various projects that this church sponsors and controls. It will be the “above and beyond” efforts that are supported by the funds or apportionments that this church sends to the Oklahoma conference.
Faith Promise does not replace missions offering at Christmas and Easter. These special offerings will continue - they allow visitors to participate in missions and also those who chose not to make a Faith Promise but still want to support missions. For those who are participating in Faith Promise, it provides additional opportunities for giving as the Holy Spirit leads and circumstances allow.
Where does the gift (or promise) come from?
♦ Unusual or unexpected provision - a windfall, inheritance, insurance refund, overpayment of an account, rebate, raffle winnings, etc.
♦ Controlled lifestyle and spending habits - eat out less often, mow your own yard. How much do you spend a week on fast food or eating out? How about ordering water instead of a soft drink at dinner?
♦ Creative strategies for generating income (sell things you make, garage sale, babysitting)
A Faith Promise is not made on visible evidence. That would be a pledge (10%). No faith has been exercised until you have promised more than it is possible for you to give.
As I put my faith in God’s promise, He enables me to meet the commitment He as led me to make. That, in a sentence, is a Faith promise.
What if you don’t reach your Faith Promise amount? The fear of failure sometimes keeps Christians from venturing with God. Even if you don’t reach your Faith Promise, God will further his work in your life by taking such steps of Faith.
How are Faith Promises used? There are many things that we can do personally, such as Share Fest, Skyline, Grace Fellowship, Prison Ministry, and Whiz Kids that doesn’t take all that much cash. But to complete the Great Commission, sometimes it takes money. Supporting our “selected” missionary in Tanzania is a Conference requirement if we’re to meet our conference goals for Mission churches. But helping the kids in Mexico or Kenya is ‘above and beyond.’ Feeding in the park, Skyline, Circle of Care, Prison Ministry, Back to School, helping the homeless in Oklahoma City, various Christmas outreach projects, and opportunities unknown lie ahead. We’ll be blessed with how this affects general giving (pledges) and even the next building campaign.
Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
All ministries and churches need to have a sense of how much money they should expect in the coming year so they can establish a spending plan and financial accountability. Faith promises give ministries this ability. But no monies are spent before they are received.
Are there missions you would like to become involved in or have the church take a part in? Please share with Pastor David or your Missions team.
Everyone should have received the Faith Promise information in the mail. If you did not receive a letter in the mail, you may click HERE to print out the letter and Faith Promise card.
Fill out your Faith Promise and bring it with you to put in the Offering Plate on any Sunday. The Faith Promise does not have your name on it, only the amount. It will be given to the church treasurer for a tally of all the Faith Promises. We will keep you informed as the Faith Promises come in.
For questions or more information contact Margaret Robertson at 405-820-4330. |
