From the Pastor’s Desk (248)
January 26, 2020
Those of you who had the opportunity to serve on the Leadership Team with me in the past know how I am not too fond of online giving. I believe that giving is a very important part of our Sunday corporate worship service. As we set aside a portion of our income to prepare our offering in cash or check at home during the week and physically place it into an offering basket, I would like for us to use that moment to thank and worship God who has provided us with a job and allowed us to earn an income. But I feel that it is hard to do this with online giving.
However, times have changed. Many of us use various apps to make financial transactions nowadays. Some don’t even have checks or barely use them. Therefore, the Leadership Team has decided to make online giving possible for those who prefer it.
As we begin this new way of giving, please remember the following so that our giving will continue to be an act of worship:
- If possible, please give on a weekly basis. The early Christians practiced a weekly giving, a portion of their income to the place of their worship.
- During the offering time, please pray briefly, thanking God for His provision that has allowed you to earn an income and bring Him an offering.
(The following are the specific guidelines that Eric Huang, our Administration Team leader, has come up with.)
New Life has implemented a new system for receiving and recording offerings. As part of this process, online giving is now an option for the entire congregation, effective immediately.
In order to give online, you will need to be recorded in our Church Center database, and you will need to download the Church Center app onto your smartphone. Instructions on how to accomplish this will be sent to your shepherd. For any further questions about the church database or downloading the Church Center app, you can contact Eric Huang at eyhuang@gmail.com.
Many of you have already started to receive offering confirmations from the new system. From this point forward, the new offering system will send a confirmation of your Cash or Check offering, as long as you are in the Church Center Database, and have written down on the offering envelope
- your name and offering ID, or
- name, email address, and phone number,
If you have questions about your offering, please contact Lisa Bennett at lisa@nlfhouston.org
Some frequently asked questions regarding the online giving:
Will paying online by credit card be an option?
No. New Life does not want anyone to risk going into credit card debt in order to give an offering to God. Also, the online system charges a hefty 2.15% + $0.30 transaction fee per credit card/debit card transaction.
Can I give House Church Missionary support or pay for New Life classes through the new online system?
No. The online offering system isn’t suited for collecting anything other than offering. House Church missionary support and class fees are to be given through the normal process.
Can I set up a recurring offering within the system?
Yes. The offering system gives you the option of setting up a weekly, every other week, Monthly, and Bi-Monthly schedule.
Am I expected to cover the processing fee?
No.
Your pastor,
Eric
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