Online ACH Giving Form

February 2007 Newsletter Article Excerpt

Times are changing, again?.

Churches across the country are making 'online' giving available to their congregations.  Because of Visa/MasterCard ATM/Debit cards, our society is making it easier for people to carry less cash and making paper checks face extinction.  There are a lot of competing statistics but check fraud remains the number one financial crime, far surpassing credit card fraud, online fraud, and bank robberies.

Direct deposit payroll came to FBC in May of 2007.  With it came the option to receive tithes and offerings to the church 'online.'  There is a lot of technical blah-blah-blah to title and explain online giving but for FBC this means we have the ability to replace the traditional paper check that we receive with an electronic check.  And software does all of the work!

Some of our attendees have bank accounts that allow them to write a check and have it sent automatically to the church.  Several people give this way already and I want to encourage this method of giving as well.  When the check is received at the church, it is counted as a tithe and applied to the giving record at the next count.

The sign-up form is simple and yet offers a variety of choices to the giver.  The form is available on paper and can be picked up outside the sanctuary or it can be downloaded from our website as a .pdf file.  The money will come out of the giver's bank account on Mondays.  If one elects weekly or other periodic payment options, it may be cancelled by phone message, email, or in writing, until the end of the day Sunday.

At this time I have not been led through prayer to offer Visa/MasterCard acceptance here at the church.  I do not agree with paying the four or five percent kickback to the card companies and I haven't found a work-around for this yet.  The online giving that FBC uses would make use of the direct deposit system we already have and the cost would be nominal.

So, what do you do while the plate passes you by?  Take that opportunity to place your mind deep into the music and atmosphere of the service.  Be grateful to God for your life; pray for the comfort that God offers us in knowing that He will meet all of our needs.  Praise God for the opportunity to glorify Him with your tithe - give as you are led through prayer, as the New Testament commands, give generously, give cheerfully.

As with any financial questions you may have, please call or email me anytime.

Download the sign up form below (requires .pdf reader):

Online ACH Giving Form