Mid-Cities

Questions for Online Giving:

What is the advantage of Online Giving?

It saves time! It saves work! It simplifies your life! You can avoid the hassle of writing and remembering checks! It can also help your consistency and faithfulness in giving.

Is Online Giving risky?

Online Giving is less risky than handwritten checks. It cannot be lost, stolen or destroyed in the mail. It has an extremely high rate of accuracy and, is easier for the church accounting office to process.

Can I schedule recurring donations?

Yes. You have the option of one-time, weekly, twice per month (1st and 16th), monthly, quarterly, or yearly gifts.

What if I change credit cards or want to adjust the date or amount of my gift?

You can edit or delete a scheduled contribution at anytime, including the credit card, date, frequency, and amount.

Can I review my donation history online?

Yes. By creating an account, you will have access to view all contributions made to Mid-Cities at anytime. You will also be able to view your giving record from the previous year.

Will I still receive a year end contribution statement?

Yes. Your Year-end giving statement will include all contributions made to the church, including your contributions made online. This statement will be mailed on or before January 31 to your home address on file for tax purposes.

When will my contribution be deducted from my account?

Your contribution will be deducted from your account on the date that you specify.

Can I give toward my “Offerings” commitment?

Yes. If you would like to give to the Building Fund, you may select the “Offerings” Campaign option in the drop-down selection menu.

Are there any fees associated with giving online?

No. Online giving costs you nothing and saves you time. The fee to the church is nominal.

Who do I talk to if I have more questions?

Should you have additional questions about your online gift or questions pertaining to your account information you may contact us at onlinegiving@midcities.org.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions about the Church and money:

Does God need my money?

The answer is no. However, God does want your heart. In Matthew 6:21 the Bible clearly states that where you put your treasure is where your heart will be.

If my gift is a donation, what is the difference between tithes and offerings?

In the Bible tithes and offerings are two separate gifts. The tithe is 10% of your first fruits that God wants all believers to give (Malachi 3:7-12) and offerings are gifts that you feel lead, or prompted, to give.

If tithe means 10%, should I figure it based on my gross or net salary?

The Bible tells us to tithe from our “first fruits”. Today our “first fruits” is what we get paid for working. Every month numerous bills need to be paid from our check in order to survive. This is actually true for all but one bill and that is taxes. Taxes are taken from our check before we even receive it. However, this does not change the fact that our “first fruits” is actually the gross pay before taxes.

Isn’t tithing an Old Testament law? Do I still have to tithe if I am no longer under the law but under grace?

Tithing is a precedent that predates Mosaic Law. You will see in scripture that Abraham tithed, gave a tenth, of everything that he had (Genesis 14:19). Jesus also affirms tithing in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42.

Does God ever mention money in the Bible?

The Bible talks about money more than 800 times. It will provide you with standards to live by in areas such as debt, savings, budgeting, investing, giving, receiving, etc. God is interested in how you manage your money because it affects every area of your life. A recent statistic from Financial Peace University stated that 37% of all marital problems are derived from financial situations.

What does the church do with the money that I give?

The Church is called to equip the saints for the work of the ministry as well as take care of the poor and needy. At Mid-Cities, we spend 58% of all money on ministry, missions, benevolence and staff to facilitate all of this. 34% of all money is spent on administration and facility needs. Mid-Cities is part of a larger group of Churches worldwide known as Every Nation Ministries. The final 8% of our budget goes to that organization.

Is my gift to another non-profit organization considered a tithe?

In Malachi 3:10, God is pretty clear that the tithe is to be brought to the church where the work of the ministry takes place.

Is money really the root of all evil?

This is a common misconception in the Bible. 1 Timothy 6:10 does not say that money is the root of all evil, but it does say that the love of money is. The Bible warns us over and over not to focus on getting rich (Proverbs 28:22).

Should I wait until I can afford it to tithe?

I think a better question would be, “Can you afford not to tithe?” With so many promises from God’s word associated with tithing, it should become a lifestyle to you. The promises include, but are not limited to, spiritual blessing, emotional blessings, financial blessings, etc.

Does Mid-Cities offer a class that will help me with my finances?

Yes we do. We regularly have a class called God’s Economy. In this class you will learn basic budgeting skills that will allow you to take the first step in becoming a good steward of what God has entrusted you with. For more information on this class, please email us at GodsEconomy@midcities.org.