Things to Know

We have researched an online giving option that we believe is the safest and most cost-effective solution for your offerings. There are a number of things you should know about it.

• Frequency: You can specify the frequency of your giving and set it up to make weekly donations just as you would in person.

• Funds: If you want to give to multiple funds, go through the donation process for each fund for which you want to make a contribution.

• Amount: Please note that the church incurs a transaction fee of $0.30 plus 1.6% of the total amount of your contribution. If you can help offset this cost, it would be appreciated.

• PayPal or Card: Once you press the “Donate Now” button, you will be asked to choose whether you will donate using a PayPal account or directly using a card. Setting up a PayPal account will give you the added benefit of being able to go in and see a list of your transactions and make modifications in the future.

• Card Options: Whether you give through a PayPal account or directly by card, you can use either a credit or debit card. The only restriction on the debit card is that it has a MasterCard or Visa logo on it.

PayPal offers industry-leading security for your transactions and online giving has the added benefit of reducing the manual data entry performed by our tellers each week.

If you’re still unsure about the process or want more detail, click here to follow our step-by-step instructions.

Why?

The Bible teaches us to give for a variety of reasons.

• God commands it. In the Old Testament, holding back from God financially is considered robbery (Malachi 3:8). Jesus commanded people to give (Matthew 6:19-20) and said that “with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). The early church called believers to set aside money for offerings each week (1 Corinthians 16:2).

• God blesses it. The Old Testament promises that God will pour out blessing in response to people’s faithfulness in giving tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:10). Jesus taught that, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) and Paul promised that, “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

• God’s mission multiplies it. The work of God in this world has always progressed by the generous giving of God’s people. In 2 Corinthians 9:12, Paul wrote of the people’s giving, “the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”

At Grace, your giving supports a movement impacting children, youth, adults and seniors as well immigrants in our community and missionaries around the world. Without your contributions we wouldn’t be able to maintain our building, equipment or personnel.

What?

The Bible approaches giving differently than we typically think of donations to other charities. It addresses what to give from three perspectives.

• Tithes: Many verses throughout the Old Testament command believers to give the first 10%, or tithe, of their income to God (e.g. Leviticus 27:30). Jesus commended tithing also (Matthew 23:23).

• Offerings: Even in the Old Testament, believers gave over and above the tithe in order to express their gratitude or respond to compassionate needs. This spirit is multiplied in the early church as believers are moved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and respond dramatically (Acts 2:45, 4:34-35).

• Heart: The Bible calls for “a willing gift” (2 Corinthians 9:5) and it says that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The point is that God wants us to treat our tithes and offerings as an expression of love and gratefulness not as a mere duty or obligation.