Three Things Church Donors Can Do to Support Churches
The local church has a chance to change the face of its local community for good. As Bill Hybels once said, “The local church is the hope of the world.” It’s clear that church donations make a difference, but sometimes generous individuals aren’t sure how to help their local church through church donations. There are three simple ways that church donors can help their local church.
1. Give Regularly
The most important way you can support your local church is to give regularly. The Bible speaks about tithing or setting aside a certain amount for giving each month. The very word tithe means “tenth”, so individuals in the Old Testament were expected to dedicate a tenth of their income to the Lord. In the New Testament Jesus emphasized the concept of “generosity” over specifically giving a tenth of one’s income. Giving a tenth is a good goal or a good place to start, but the ultimate challenge is to continually increase in joyful generosity.
If you are concerned that your monthly church donations would be too much, speak with your pastor. Your church donations will serve to help the church cover their yearly budget, but you want to make sure everyone in the church has a chance to contribute towards the mission of the church. Giving financially to the church is a blessing and helps people feel connected to the mission of the church. If people know you will cover most of the budget, then they’ll be less apt to give generously themselves.
3. Donate to Specific Large Church Events
Every church will hold special events throughout the year. Consider setting aside a certain amount of money to contribute towards these events. For example, if there’s an upcoming service project, consider donating $1,000 towards any supplies needed for that service project. If there’s an upcoming youth trip, consider sponsoring 10 students to go on the trip. You could also offer to pay for Sunday morning donuts, flowers, or some other way the church spends money on an ongoing basis.
One note of caution in this area. Monetary church donations should be made out of humility, with a heart to help the church, not as a tool to manipulate for selfish gain. Humbly ask your pastor what is needed, but don’t demand that he/she do something you want to be done. By law, only the receiving organization has the right to designate how church donations are used, so the church donors are not able to determine how their donation is ultimately spent.
3. Gift the Church Something It Could Use That’s Not in the Budget
Sometimes there are things a church could use or even needs that it simply can’t afford. This is when they need church donors the most. For example, many churches could use a new soundboard or video camera but can’t afford the update. Many pastors could use a new computer or even a vacation, but seldom have the money to afford one. All churches could benefit from the expertise of church consulting, but few can afford the price. If you are looking for a way to support your local church through a church donation, consider gifting your church an opportunity for consulting. Consulting could focus on strategy, budget, personnel, team health, church growth, or even online presence.
Church Web Fund and Church Grants
Church Web Fund believes the internet is the next great mission field for the gospel of Jesus. If you are looking for a charitable non-profit that supports the local church, consider giving to the Church Web Fund. We help under-resourced churches increase their online presence with the truth of God’s love. We hope to help bring the gospel to every corner of the internet. Consider gifting your church, and others with the opportunity to evaluate and upgrade their online presence. A church’s ability to navigate this new world of technology may make the difference between their ability to thrive or even survive in the coming decade.
If you’d like to learn more about ideas for giving or talk through an opportunity to support the local church through Church Web Fund, contact us.