Faith Promise Offering

Faith Promise Offering is a way of funding our missions program. The main mission of our church is that we would all be "Growing in God's Word, and then Sowing it in our World." An important way in which we do that is by fulfilling one of our key purposes, which is to be Extending God's Word through our efforts to reach our state, nation, and world for the Lord Jesus Christ. This purpose obviously has to do with our church missions program. And any church missions program includes finances to support the missionaries and the ministries that assist us in Extending God's Word through the world.       An important part of how we finance our missions outreach is through our Faith Promise for missions giving. This provides about half our overall missions giving (the balance is from our general fund). We are grateful for how well this program has been, and many have testified to how God has blessed their lives because of it. For those of you who may not know what Faith Promise is, please read the description below.        In His Service, Pastor Don Workman

What is the Faith Promise Offering for Missions?

The Faith Promise Offering for Missions is the amount you promise to give by faith above and beyond your tithes during the coming year to the world - evangelization program of your church. The Faith Promise Offering is a Biblical plan or method of giving. FAITH is surely Biblical. We are saved by faith. We live by faith. We walk by faith. And without faith it is impossible to place God. Whatever is not of faith is sin. (Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23) PROMISE definitely has Biblical support. "Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared." (Psalm 76:11) OFFERINGS are certainly Biblical. Offerings were required under the law and are expected of believers in the age of grace. Israel was told that they had robbed God by not paying their tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:8-10) Missions is at the very heart of our Faith Promise Offering. What is closer to the heart of God than missions? (John 3:16; Romans 10:1) Christ died for the whole world. It isn't his will that any should perish. They need to be told of Christ's provision for their salvation. They cannot hear without a preacher. The preachers must be sent. We, the local church, are the senders. Sending means more than praying - It means providing financial support. The Faith Promise Offering is over and above your tithes. (Malachi 3:8-10) The Faith Promise Offering is based upon faith. It means that you will trust the Lord to enable you to give it. (2 Corinthians 9:8-10)

Why is the Faith Promise Plan a Superior Plan of Giving?

Because it is based upon faith. God says: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7) Because it exalts the Lord. (2 Corinthians 9:13) God is glorified when His power and love are demonstrated. Thus as He supplies the means for giving, He is glorified. The more we depend on God, the more He is glorified. Because the potential is greater Obviously, one can give more if there is more to give. And God supplies the gift from His limitless resources. (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19) Because it brings more people into the giving picture. Often, only one member of the family does the giving. But in the Faith Promise Plan, children and young people are encouraged to make a Faith Promise Offering in consultation with their parents. However, parents are discouraged from paying their children's Faith Promise Offering. It is important that the children learn to trust the Lord. Why not teach them both the importance and blessing of giving! Testimonies abound from children and young people who have experienced God's supply for their Faith Promise Offerings. Because there is invariably more money with which to carry on God's work. There is usually a substantial increase in missionary support over the percentage method. In addition, there is also more general fund giving, as many realize the importance of giving both tithes and offerings. Because it brings more blessings to the giver. Since the Faith Promise Offering encourages generosity on the part of the giver, the result will be greater blessings on the givers. "But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6)

But I Don't Believe in Pledges.

Many have come out of denominational churches which raised money for the church budget through pledges. Members were usually expected, if not required, to make a pledge and were often visited in their homes to get and/or collect their pledge. How does the Faith Promise Offering differ from a pledge system? A pledge is between the member and the church. It is a legal and binding agreement to pay. Churches have actually gone to court to try to collect pledges. The Faith Promise Offering differs substantially in that: It is between the believer and the Lord. It is not a legal and binding agreement. The believer is never asked for the offering. It is dependent on the Lord's supply. A pledge is more a matter of coercion or necessity. But the Faith Promise Offering is totally voluntary and is based upon what the believer purposes in his heart to give. (2 Corinthians 9:7) If it is not a pledge, why do many churches use signed Faith Promise Cards? The best reason is that the Faith Promise Offering total is more reliable. The writer helped one church receive their Faith Promise Offering where signed cards were used, and a card was turned in by a small child for $20.00 per week. Of course, it was not counted in the total. Another card came in for more that $260.00 per week and was genuine. But in another conference where unsigned cards were used, a bogus card for $250.00 per week was counted and the total Faith Promise Offering was off by $13,000! Sometimes privacy is the motive for using unsigned cards, but normally only the treasurer and finance committee see the cards. They know the amount of one's Faith Promise Offering, with or without signatures, if giving by envelope or check. Whereas the Faith Promise Offering is a vertical agreement between the believer and the Lord, a pledge is a horizontal agreement between men. For example, a pledge is what one signs when purchasing an item on credit. It has legal implications, and the results of not paying can be very critical, even to the loss of the item purchased and damage to one's credit rating. You can easily see, upon careful observation and comparison, that the Faith Promise Offering bears very little resemblance to a pledge system.

Why Should I Make a Faith Promise Offering?

Every Christian from age seven or so and up is encouraged to make a Faith Promise Offering to missions. But why? Without considering the numerous testimonies of those who have experienced the blessings of Faith Promise Giving to missions, think about the following Biblical reasons for making a Faith Promise Offering. To prove or demonstrate my love for God. "I speak not by commandment, but ... to prove the sincerity of your love." (2 Corinthians 8:8) To help with the carrying out of the Great Commission. The last commandment of Jesus was to evangelize the entire world (Matthew 28:19-20). This is yet to be fulfilled. Each one of us who are Christ's disciples are responsible for its fulfillment. Missionaries are desperately trying to raise their support so they can go to their fields. My Faith Promise Offering will help provide the money with which to send them. "And how shall they preach except they are sent?" (Romans 10:15). To put faith into practice. "For we walk by faith, not by sight," (2 Corinthians 5:7); "...so faith without works is dead also," (James 2:26). To abound in the grace of giving. "Therefore, as ye abound in everything... see that ye abound in this grace also," (2 Corinthians 8:7). To follow the many Biblical examples of faith giving, eg., the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16); the Macedonian Christians (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). To follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ in giving. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (2 Corinthians 8:9). To follow the inspired advice of Paul who said it is expedient, not only to give, but to make a commitment to give. "...for this is expedient for you..." (2 Corinthians 8:10). To experience the blessings of the Lord Jesus, who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," (Acts 20:35). See. also (Luke 6:38) To encourage others in the grace of giving. "...and your zeal hath provoked very many," (2 Corinthians 9:2). To reap a bountiful spiritual harvest in my own life. "But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully," (2 Corinthians 9:6). To experience the love of God in all its fullness. "...for God loveth a cheerful [hilarious] giver," (2 Corinthians 9:7). To prove God and thus build my faith. "Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts..." (Malachi 3:10). To bring glory to God. "Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men," (2 Corinthians 9:13). To build up my account in heaven. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." (Matthew 6:20). "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account," (Philippians 4:17). To please God. "...an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God," (Philippians 4:18).