How Do I Give

PLANNED GIVING

There are two ways you can participate in planned giving:

Standing instructions with your respective bank – This method minimises the administration and administrative expenses for the Church. It is also the most confidential way to give.

  • Account Name: St George’s Church, Bank name: Standard Chartered
  • Bank code: 7144, Branch code: 003, Account number: 03-083-0457-8

Monthly envelopes to put in the offering bag – If you want to use this method, we will send you a set of envelopes. This is also confidential but someone needs to do the counting and bookkeeping; therefore, if you want something with more confidentiality, direct debit would be more appropriate.

In ancient Israel, one tenth of the increase of the land, trees, herds and flocks was directed to be given to the Lord as His “tithe”. This was fundamental – the people were urged to consider freewill offerings over and above this.

For Christians under the New Covenant, there is no hard-and-fast rule. However, in the light of the general principles set out above, the New Testament provides guidelines and examples to help us see God’s perspective.

GIVE GENEROUSLY

The Apostle Paul commends the Macedonian churches because, out of their deep poverty, they showed great generosity in their giving for the support of fellow Christians (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). Paul then encourages the members of the Corinthian church in their giving, in these terms:

“Whoever sows generously will also reap generously” 2 Corinthians 9:6

 

Our primary motivation, however, surely comes from the generosity of God Himself!

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

GIVE FREELY

In his letter to the Corinthian believers, Paul makes the following point:

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

GIVE INTENTIONALLY

We should be intentional about our giving, rather than haphazard.

“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” 1 Corinthians 16:2

PLAN YOUR GIVING PRAYERFULLY

Thoughtfully and prayerfully identify missions and ministries that you have the opportunity to support financially, alongside the ministry of our church. Prayerfully decide how much you will commit to giving, to the church and to these other ministries.

You might decide to give a fixed percentage of your income … this can become a pattern for the future, automatically adjusting the amount of your giving with changes in your circumstances. Families with older children might consider including them in the decision-making process. Christian parents will want to model a godly attitude to money and giving. The amount of our giving is a matter between each of us and God. It’s true that the privilege of giving most belongs to those who have the most to give … but the principle is clear: we are to give from what God has given us. The size of our contribution is not the issue: what matters is our commitment!

DONATING YOUR TIME

It is important also to consider how we can give our time and talents. Make a conscious commitment to invest time and energy in personal growth and Christian service. We do this as we meet together regularly at church, take part with others in a small group, and participate in church programmes that help us grow spiritually.

Consider taking up opportunities to build up others within our church community in their faith; e.g. by teaching Sunday School or youth, joining a men’s or women’s ministries, and/or volunteering to help in one of the other ministries such as our weekly Mums & Tots ministry or our Sunday music teams or welcomer/usher roster.

Make a commitment to support the missions, by our prayer and personal involvement, as well as our financial giving.