This is the time of year that most Grand Forks residents enjoy the most, but as summer comes, so do the financial woes of our area churches.

Attendance is naturally low for all churches during the summer, as families take vacations and enjoy the warm weather, which is entirely too short for us in North Dakota. So, understandably, families tend to leave the church for some time, but return to a financially neglected church. You didn’t realize? Most don’t.

Churches have a hard time coming before the congregation soliciting for financial help when needed. They rarely do it. Some churches have a hard time just explaining tithes and offerings, because somewhere down the line an outside perception of church greediness came into play. Some truly think the church is collecting money in some intended illusion that they are doing so in exchange for personal salvation… as if saying, “If you don’t purchase your ticket to heaven from our church, good luck getting in.”

Well, that is not the case at all. For those who are not well versed in tithes and offerings, here is a crash course to just give a very basic explanation of the responsibilities of a Christian:

– Tithing is worship

– God gives you all you have, 10% is all He asks in return

– “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” Deuteronomy 14:23

– To support your home church… and God’s people.

That said, a church in some ways is like a business. It has overhead, payroll, its own 10% tithes, advertising and so on. These things must be paid in order to operate, just like any other business in the city. The one difference is, the church doesn’t take a profit. Just as fast as the money comes in, the money goes out… to benefit the congregation. Are you supporting your church – so it can support you?

What type of support does your church provide?

Weekly spiritual guidance…

Communion…

Small Groups…

More?…

Over the past few weeks, I have heard that several churches were struggling financially – seriously struggling. Here is how you can help:

-Tithe ahead of your planned summer trip.

-Play catch-up.

-Tithe while away through a website or mail it in.

Most people won’t take these suggestions; maybe they’ll even scoff at the very idea of it. But remember that once your church is gone… it is gone.

… Give if you can.

If you have any comments, please email
Alicia-Hagen@hotmail.com.