Generosity describes the Christian’s unselfish willingness to give in order to make a positive difference for the purposes of Christ. Congregations that practice Extravagant Generosity provide ministries that address our spiritual need to give in ways that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected measures. Fruitful congregations thrive because of extraordinary sharing, willing sacrifice, and joyous giving out of love for God and neighbor.
Through the practice of Extravagant Generosity, we offer our material resources in a manner that supports the causes that transform life and relieve suffering and that enlarges the soul and sustains the spirit. God uses ougiving to reconfigure our interior lives and form us anew. We give back. (www.fivepractices.org)
3 Month Tithing Challenge
Tithing is the biblical practice of giving 10% of your income to God. If you have never tithed before and would like to experiment and see what it's like, we are offering the "3 Month Tithing Challenge." You will agree to tithe for three months and the church will keep that money. At the end of the three months, if you feel that God has not blessed you and provided for your needs and you need the money back, we will give it back! There is an agreement sheet signed by you and the church and this information is totally confidential. Throughout the years, many people have experienced the joys and blessings of tithing. It is an acknowledgment that the money is really God's in the first place. It helps us depend on God more. We also learn trust - trust that God and the church will use our money wisely to further the work of God in the world. Questions? Please ask.
If you have questions about our church budget or finances, please do not hesitate to ask. This information is freely available to our church members.
"You hear a lot of strange things about tithing. Some say it is a church tax, and they expect me to pay it and that is the end of it. Others say that when I give God one-tenth of my income, He blesses the nine-tenths that is left to the extent that the nine-tenths now goes as far as the whole thing used to go. This isn’t really true, is it? Suppose a farmer had 100 bushels of corn in the barn and he decides to plant 10 bushel in the ground. What multiplies? Is it the 90 bushels that he has left in the barn? Oh, no. All of us ‘farmers’ know it is the 10 bushels you put in the ground that multiplies. Similarly, it is the 10 percent you give to God that multiplies.”
— Stanley Tam (1915-), American businessman and philanthropist
