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We’ve all heard the lie on the image for this article, haven’t we?  It would be easy,  though deceptive,  to tell you that God will give you unlimited wealth if you’ll just commit to supporting the church financially,  or if you’ll consider increasing your current support.  I won’t do that.  I never will.  What I will do is tell you what our needs are,  and what scriptures say about giving,  and leave the rest between you and the Lord.  

First,  here’s a true,  transparent,  no-frills statement on giving and the needs of the church: 

We need your prayerful attention in the area of financial giving.  

Each month,  we need about $6200 to cover expenses,  from rent to utilities,  from outreach to missions,  from ministry to miscellaneous expenses,  and everything in between.  

This season of pandemic has been especially challenging for us because most of us usually associate giving with something we do when we are physically at church.  Giving is an expression of worship,  and something we do during our physical time of worship together.   So, if some of us aren’t meeting together physically with the body,  it’s easy to understand how giving might decrease,  since there’s no reminder or opportunities to give as an element of our in-person worship experience.

Simply stated:

If we aren’t physically meeting together at the church building, we don’t always remember to give financially.  

While this makes sense, the reality is that the expenses of the church continue fully each month.  Whether we have 5 or 50 people in attendance,  we still must meet our monthly rental obligation.  We must still pay for the utilities we need,  such as power and internet.  The important ministries we support,  like Calvary Chapel Peru and Out of Darkness,  still have obligations they must meet as they serve others.  

Sadly,  over the past few months,  we’ve found ourselves using our reserves to meet these monthly obligations because giving has been down in correlation to decreased attendance.   

With this in mind,  I’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider your financial support to Byron City Church.   I’m not asking you to begin giving, or to even increase giving.  I’m only asking you to seek the Lord in this area.

Whether you meet in person,  virtually,  or neither,  as a member of the Byron City family,  would you take this issue before the Lord and ask the Lord to direct you regarding what part,  if any,  you should play in helping the church meet its financial obligations each month without depleting reserves.  

There’ll be no hype, nor any guilt-laden rhetoric – only a request that you seek the Lord,  and then follow His leading in this important area so that we can continue to serve our community and operate efficiently as the Body of Christ.  

Remember that giving is an expression of faith,  not a means to fortune.  We don’t give because of the financial benefits that might come out of our giving.  We don’t even give because there are needs in the church or budget shortfalls. 

We give simply because the Bible challenges us in this area and because the Spirit confirms in our hearts that it’s what we should do as God’s children and members of the household of faith.  We give because the Lord has first given to us,  abundantly and exceedingly more than we could have ever hoped or imagined.

We are truly blessed people,  and our giving should reflect that.  As Proverbs 3:9 says,  "Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase."  

Thank you for your prayerful attention to this matter!

Pastor Myke