Fall Newsletter Excerpt | Intentional Giving

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Written by Tym Berger, Finance & Facilities Elder

When Sharon and I were first married, we were living in Lethbridge, Alberta. If you have ever visited southern Alberta, you might notice a number of very attractive church buildings belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon). The Mormons even have one of their oldest, and architecturally impressive temples in Cardston, just south of Lethbridge, that was built in 1913.

While living in Lethbridge, I worked for a company that was owned by a Mormon family, and most of my co-workers were Mormon. I found out that if you were Mormon, 10 percent of your wages were taken off your paycheck and sent directly to the church you attended; they took tithing very seriously!

The idea of a tithe is not supposed to be a legalistic requirement. A tithe is a returning to the Lord a portion of what is His, and the 10 percent is a guideline. For some people that may be too much, and for others, not nearly enough.

I mention all of this because Living Hope operates based on the financial gifts of its members, and our collective giving is how our staff get paid, our facilities are managed, and our programs are run.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF WHERE OUR GIVING IS AT FOR THIS YEAR:

  • As of the end of July, we were approximately 60 percent of the way through this year, and we have collected about 41 percent of our budget. Put another way, we are approximately 20 percent short of where we should be at this point in the year.
  • To meet our budget, we should be collecting just over $54,000 per month. So far this year, we have averaged about $38,000 per month.
  • To fully meet our budget, we will need to give another $361,000 by the end of the year. That is $72,000 per month (which is almost double what our average monthly giving has been so far this year).

Our current pattern of giving is similar to other years for our congregation. For example, we were facing a substantial budget shortfall last year, and our membership responded by contributing an incredible amount in December. While we are grateful to God for the gifts of His people, it is very difficult for our church to operate this way.

There is a challenge in this for all of us. Can we be more intentional about giving in the next few months so that we can avoid the last-minute call to give in order to meet our budget expectations? I am not suggesting we garner ten percent from everyone’s wages and give it directly to the church like the Mormons of Southern Alberta (though the impact of that kind of giving would be amazing!). That type of forced giving takes the joy and intentionality out of something that is supposed to be celebratory worship. I am challenging all of us to be mindful of where we are at and respond in joyful, intentional giving.