If you do not currently use envelopes, please consider participating in either our envelope program. or the EFT program. Our church needs your regular support.
Q. What is Electronic contribution?
A. Electronic contributions is an automatic transfer program which allows you to make contributions without writing checks.
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Q. What is the advantage of electronic contribution?
A. It saves time! It saves work! It simplifies your life! You also help the church stabilize its budget and save money.
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Q. How is my electronic contribution automatically deducted from my account?
A. Once you authorize the transfer, your specified contribution is electronically transferred directly from your checking or savings account to the church's account.
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Q. If I do not write checks, how do I keep my checkbook balance straight?
A. Since your contribution is made at the pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register on the appropriate date.
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Q. Without a canceled check, how can I prove I made my contribution?
A. Your bank statement gives you an itemized list of electronic transfers. It is your proof of contribution.
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Q. Is electronic contribution risky?
A. Electronic contribution is less risky than check contribution. It cannot be lost, stolen, or destroyed in the mail. It has an extremely high rate of accuracy.
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Q. What if I change bank accounts?
A. Notify the church office and you will be given a new authorization.
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Q. How much does electronic contribution cost?
A. It costs you nothing and saves you time.
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Q. When will my contribution be deducted from my account?
A. On its due date. You never have to worry about forgetting a contribution.
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Q. What if I try electronic contribution and don't like it?
A. You can cancel your authorization by notifying the church at any time. But, once you've enjoyed the convenience, time and money savings of electronic contribution, we doubt you will want to go back to making contributions the way you did before.
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Q. How do I sign up for electronic contributions?
A. Complete and sign the authorization form and return it to the church office along with a voided check or savings deposit slip.
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| We unashamedly preach and teach financial stewardship from a Christian perspective on a year-round basis. This philosophy is founded upon Jesus' teaching that our stewardship of money strongly shapes and influences our relationship with God and our neighbor. |
| "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart also be." (Matthew 6:19-21) |
| Sixteen of Jesus' thirty-eight parables refer to the faithful management of finances. He repeatedly portrayed our approach to money as a primary determiner of our heart's spiritual condition. |
| Divine Savior's financial stewardship is an intentional effort to encourage a biblical pattern of Christian giving in order to promote spiritual growth. |
| This is a conscious effort to separate from the approach of stewardship as fund raising, which focuses on the need of the congregation to receive. Our focus is the need of the giver to give, as Jesus consistently taught. |
| We have adopted this philosophy of financial giving as the official position of Divine Savior United Methodist Church. |
| If this philosophy is new to you and you would like more information or a personal and confidential visit with a stewardship staff member, please call the church office and a Stewardship Committee member will be put in touch with you. |
| 1. Why did Jesus link our spiritual lives so closely to financial matters? |
| Throughout the Bible, two actions are consistently portrayed as the primary sins of humans: idolatry and greed. Because the love of money is often central to both behaviors, Jesus regularly spoke of the relationship between our pocketbooks and the spiritual vitality of our hearts.
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| In our present-day culture, the issue of finances remains a key to our spiritual lives. Many individuals, families, organizations and businesses experience serious financial problems caused by idolatry and greed.
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| 2. Why should a Christian be financially generous?
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| First, Christian generosity is rooted in understanding that all we are and have belongs to God, the Creator (Psalm 24:1). He is the owner. We are God's managers commissioned to follow his guidelines for living. As owner, God has made it clear that he desires faithful managers to be generous. |
| Secondly, we are grateful for God's grace and forgiveness expressed through Christ's sacrificial death (I Cor. 6:20). Our gratitude is expressed through our faithful obedience to God's design for living which prescribes a generous heart and pocketbook. |
In the Bible, generosity is also linked to:- Growing............................Matthew 6:19-24
- Our Need to Give................Mark 8:35
- Worshipping God.................Exodus 35:4-5
- The Needs of Our Neighbor...Matthew 25:31-40
- Our Resulting Satisfaction....II Corinthians 9:11-12
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| 3. According to the Bible, how am I to give? |
The Bible details that our generosity is to be:- Regular...............I Corinthians 16:2
- Proportional.........II Corinthians 8:12
- Sacrificial............Mark 12:43-44
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| 4. How much should I give? |
| The teaching of the New Testament encourages giving in proportion to the material blessings one has received with special attention and commendation for sacrificial giving. Divine Savior recognizes the tithe (10% of one's gross earnings) as the biblical standard for giving. |
| Additionally, in response to Christ's abundant giving to us, we should increasingly seek to submit our personal resources to his lordship, displaying a spirit of generosity and cheerfulness. (Matthew 6:19-21 & 33, Matthew 23:23, Luke 6:38, Luke 21:1-4, Malachi 3:8-10, II Corinthians 8 & 9, Proverbs 3: 9-10). |
| 5. Where should I give my tithe? |
| First, Divine Savior believes that a Christian's primary giving is to be directed to the local church. In both the Old and New Testament, offerings were regularly collected to maintain the ongoing work of God in the world. Today, this means giving to the Church which Christ established. |
| Secondly, we believe it is fitting and proper that Christians financially support organizations which are engaged in Christian ministry outside the local church. |
| 6. Where do I learn more about Christian Stewardship? |
| We strongly encourage the personal reading and study of the many biblical teachings about stewardship. Also, we strongly believe that Christian stewardship should be regularly communicated throughout the year. As an indication of our commitment to this principle, stewardship messages and stewardship sermons will be preached throughout the year. |
| 7. Are members expected to make a financial commitment? |
| Absolutely! In fact, congregational members are challenged to grow toward the biblical standard of tithing (10%) by one percent on income each year. For example, if you are currently giving 2% of your income to the church, you would increase your giving to 3%. |
| This "Grow One" philosophy seeks to encourage disciples to take their next step of faith and to live life as Christ prescribed. It is also a realistic strategy by which many have faithfully strengthened their financial stewardship. If you have never made a financial commitment, begin with a reasonable objective and plan to increase your giving annually. |
| Each Fall, Estimate of Giving cards will be used by members to communicate their commitment for the coming calendar year. This estimate may be increased or decreased at any time during the year as well as a helpful planning tool for the church's leadership.
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