Giving

Your giving is what allows this community of faith to be a welcome place where all people can encounter God’s love and grow in God’s grace. 

Here are ways you can partner with us through giving:

• Give Now
• 3 Giving Options
• 6 Habits of Biblical Givers
• 3 Types of Giving

3 GIVING OPTIONS [back to top]

1. Weekend Services: Simply place cash or checks in offering basket during any of the weekend services. Be sure to include name and address on check or envelope in order to receive credit for tax purposes.
2. Mail:  Mail your donation to 14719 w 163rd St., Homer Glen, IL 60491.  Be sure to include name and address on check or envelope so that donation credit may be provided for tax purposes.
3. Online Giving:  Online giving allows for a specific dollar amount to be automatically deducted from a checking or savings account.  You can set this up as a one-time or recurring gift. Online giving is not only easy, but safe and secure.

6 HABITS OF BIBLICAL GIVERS [back to top]

In his book “Ask, Thank, Tell,” Charles Lane identifies six habits of biblical givers:

1. Cheerful – They give in joyful response to God’s generousity and grace.
2. Intentional – They have a giving plan.
3. Regular – They follow a regular pattern of giving.
4. Generous – They are generous.
5. First – They give first to God from all they receive.
6. Proportional – They give in proportion to what they receive.  (see below) 

• The guideline of the tithe — In the Old Testament, believers were required to give a tenth of their income to the support of the ministry and the needs of the poor. Although the New Testament does not specifically mention the tithe, we assume that the principle of giving is even richer and fuller, being one of liberality and generosity. Thus the tithe (10% annual gift of income) is a kind of minimum guideline for giving, growing in proportion to what God gives to us.
• The guideline of sacrifice — Paul says about the Macedonians, “they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability” (2 Cor. 8:3). That means they gave until it meant a sacrifice in their lifestyle. Lifestyle maintenance is not a criterion for the level of our giving. Biblical giving involves cost (2 Sam. 24:24).
• The guideline of responsibility — Christians are also to give “according to their ability” (Acts 11:29). There are seasons to economic life. There are economic responsibilities to our families and to our debts. In many cases, good planning over time will be necessary to move our giving into biblical proportions without reneging on legal and personal financial obligations.

3 TYPES OF GIVING [back to top]

Your giving to the church often takes three different forms: Regular, Special, and Planned.  Like three legs of a stool, all three are essential for God’s work.  These gifts are a reflection of generous living and an expression of joy.

1. Regular giving: ongoing, everyday financial giving that funds the work of Christ’s Church.  It is made up of tithes and offerings that we bring each week to our congregation.  These gifts serve to resource the congregation.
2. Special giving: special offerings over and above our regular giving.  These gifts find expression through capital appeals for special projects, building renovations, mission trips, and offerings for world hunger and disaster relief.  For many people, these gifts come from savings, stock accumulations, and sacrificial giving over and above regular giving.  People respond to special requests when presented with special needs because they realize God’s abundant blessings have enabled them to accumulate savings and investments in addition to regular income.
3. Planned giving: includes financial gifts to the church through wills, estate gifts, and planned giving instruments such as annuities, trusts, and endowments.  These gifts are absolutely vital to funding both current and future ministries.  How satisfying is it to know that at the end of one’s life, and sometimes even before, assets for ministry can be passed on to our children and loved ones.