Prayerfully Considering Your Gift
A Personal Commitment Guide
Your financial commitment should be the result of a meaningful, spiritual journey. This personal commitment guide will help you take your first steps. Use this guide to connect with God by discovering God’s will and by offering your full potential to fulfill God’s desire.
Deliberate with God
Prayerfully seek God’s leadership. Ask God to shape your decisions. Walk through the doors God opens for you!
Discover God’s purpose for your church and God’s will for you
What is God calling this church to do and to be? How is God working through your church to affect people’s lives/ How would God work through you to make a difference in ministry?
Discuss what you are learning with others
Include your family in the discovery and decision-making process. Talk with and learn from the experience and example of others.
Define a sense of sacrifice in your life
What decisions and priorities could you make in your life to further invest yourself in your church? How can you give in ways that make a difference to you?
Determine your potential for giving
Think outside the income-stream box. Capital giving may include new strategies for giving. Inventory your blessings and your potential for increased giving.
Decide on a personal giving plan
There are multiple methods for giving in a capital program. Capital giving might include any combination of weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, one-time, and/or asset transfer gifts. Put together your own personal giving plan for the next three years to help you follow through with your commitment.
Opportunities for Giving
Income & Sacrifice
- Income Stream Giving: Giving as you receive income — from your regular income, bonuses, and/or through your personal business.
- Sacrifice: Changing your lifestyle/priorities can create additional resources for giving.
- Delaying Expenditures: Postponing anticipated purchases can free resources for giving.
- Freedom from Debt: After a debt is retired, the resources that were applied to that debt are now available for giving.
- Income Producing Assets: Interest earned, income from rental properties, or monies from other income producing assets can be given.
Giving Assets
- Giving Appreciated Assets: Consider transferring appreciated assets (stocks, real estate, etc.) as a way to increase giving.
- Sale of Assets: Money resulting from the sale of personal assets, or from personally owned business assets, could be given.
- Savings & Investments: You may be able to give some portion of accumulated assets without significantly affecting your future security. The “returns” from investing in ministry may be more significant to you than simply accumulating more market returns.
Time & Talent
- Additional Income: Using your skills and talents, taking on additional work, or delaying retirement could produce additional income to use as a gift.
- Gifts in Kind: Donating specific services and/or materials, either personally or through your business, provides a unique opportunity for increased giving.