GIFT of LIFT Special Offering
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GOAL: $10,000
GIFT of LIFT
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2018 Outreach Marketing ❘ LIFT Curriculum ❘ Permanent Space
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7
Dear LIFT Church Family, I’m excited to share with you the following information regarding the GIFT of LIFT Special Offering that runs from now until January 31, 2018. Last year, we raised over $8,000 to enable us to purchase chairs for our current meeting space, renovate the LIFT Kidz Room, and invest in Tribe Outreach for 2017. Thanks to your giving, we were able to accomplish all three of those goals. It’s been a great year too! It’s been exciting to see some new faces and some new members join LIFT Church. And now, it’s time to dream again and invest in some new goals that will strengthen LIFT Church and give us the opportunity to grow, both spiritually and numerically. There are three things that will help us accomplish that at our current stage: 1. Outreach Marketing ($3600). We want to invest more than we currently do in our outreach marketing, particularly in the area of social media. It would appear that social media has become the most influential form of marketing in our day, so we would be wise to invest more into this powerful resource for growth. Hitting this goal would allow us to invest an additional $300/month. 2. LIFT Curriculum ($400). We want to develop and produce professional quality discipleship materials so that our LIFT Groups can be better focused on our mission of “learning the real meaning of God’s Word” combined with a focus on our values of love, integrity, freedom, and truth. We have some exciting ideas in mind that will take our LIFT Groups to a whole new level! This is a low-cost goal. 3. Permanent Meeting Space ($6000). We want to set the stage for a permanent meeting space. Obviously, securing a permanent meeting space will be a challenge that won’t be resolved by one-time giving during this GIFT of LIFT Special Offering. However, achieving our financial goal during this GIFT of LIFT Special Offering will demonstrate to us that we think it is an important goal and will give us the funds for a down-payment (and perhaps a month or two of payments) on wherever we choose to lease. There seems to be a common agreement amongst all of us LIFTers that a permanent meeting space is the right next step for us. This would… a. Eliminate weekly setup and teardown b. Allow us to use the space during the week as often as we’d like c. Be more attractive to potential guests who are looking for a church (since a permanent meeting space communicates stability) d. Give our children’s ministry a better environment that is conducive to teaching children at various ages and stages of development e. Enable us to have a flex-space where we can adjust the size as needed while we grow.
The good news about a setting a goal for a permanent meeting space is that we are not at a point of desperation. We can methodically seek the right place for us and jump on it when the time is right. But it is important that we begin giving towards this goal so that we can keep it in the forefront of our minds. This year's GIFT of LIFT Special Offering is certainly a lofty goal, but it will help us take these amazing steps forward as a church. Will you pray now about what God would have you give, over and above your regular giving, to this Special Offering? Ask God to stretch your faith! I know we can do it. I still believe that God has a great plan for LIFT Church to affect our world, so I plan on giving big to this year’s special offering. Will you join me? Let’s give the GIFT of LIFT together, Alan Bondar Lead Pastor
2
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GOAL: $10,000
GIFT of LIFT
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2018 Outreach Marketing ❘ LIFT Curriculum ❘ Permanent Space
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The GIFT of LIFT Special Offering is a call to sacrificial giving with a goal of $10,000 for three important ministry initiatives: • Outreach Marketing to share the LIFT Effect with more people: $3600. • LIFT Curriculum to empower people to live out God’s Word: $400. • Permanent Meeting Space to use for whatever we want: $6000. This Special Offering will be received now through January 31, 2018. To give to the GIFT of LIFT Special Offering, use an offering envelope on Sunday and write the amount designated to GIFT of LIFT on the "Special Offering" line. Then, either mail the envelope (postage-paid) or drop it in the offering bucket on Sunday. You can also give anytime to the GIFT of LIFT Special Offering through our online giving at myliftchurch.com/give. Just select GIFT of LIFT from the drop-down menu. Of course, text giving is always an option as well: 239-206-1700. Text the amount with the words GIFT of LIFT (ex. 50 gift of lift). The enclosed documents will give you an overview of the Special Offering and answer many common questions. However, if you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (239) 898-5388 or [email protected].
3
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GIFT of LIFT
THE PURPOSES OF THIS OFFERING
1. To REACH more people so they can experience the LIFT Effect.
Your giving to GIFT of LIFT will give us the funds to utilize social media marketing to reach more people!
LIFT Church is unique in its ability to share the LIFT Effect. We want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to come experience the LIFT Effect with us. Social media marketing will help us do that. This investment is $3600.
2. To EMPOWER you to live out God’s Word. Your giving to GIFT of LIFT will help us invest in producing professional quality curriculum for our LIFT Groups.
Since LIFT Church has the unique ability to teach the real meaning of God’s Word, it is important that we begin to develop curriculum that will empower people to live out God’s Word. This is a small, but important investment set at $400.
3. To ENABLE us to look for a permanent meeting space.
Your giving to GIFT of LIFT will help us set the stage for a permanent meeting space.
While our goal of $6000 for a permanent meeting space will not enable us to purchase a space, it will set the tone for a search. This will enable us to know the commitment that our church has towards finding our own space and will allow us to search for a space that fits our budget. We’ll be able to place a down-payment and possibly even a first and second-month payment. It’s time for us to seek a permanent home in which to grow, both spiritually and numerically.
4
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GIFT of LIFT
Q
uestions
&A
nswers
Why a Special Offering? As part of God’s plan to grow the faith of the people in His Church, He calls us to sacrificial giving from time to time. This Special Offering is an opportunity for us to grow in our faith and to prepare us for what God wants to do through our church in 2018. This offering is not because we’re behind on budget, but rather is meant to position us to make a greater impact in our community and in our church in 2018.
What’s the difference between the regular offering and this Special Offering? The regular LIFT Church offering is the proportional amount (the full tithe of 10%) that we set apart on a systematic basis and give throughout the year. From time to time there are opportunities to give in a sacrificial way. This Special Offering is one of those sacrificial occasions that stretch us to grow in our faith. The Special Offering should be over and above what you regularly give.
How much should I give? Since the goal is $10,000, this Special Offering will involve everyone. Please prayerfully consider a sacrificial gift that will stretch your faith. The precise amount you give is between you and God. Some in our church can give a $200, $500, or even $1,000 gift. Others will be able to give between $50 and $100. The issue is not equal giving, but equal sacrifice.
Based on 40 people, if every person were to give $250 towards this offering, we would accomplish our goal. If you split $250 over November, December, and January, each person would give $84/month beyond their regular giving. Not everyone can give that much, but some can give more. The point is that together, we can do this!
What amount can you give that will stretch your faith?
When should I give? The best time to give will be the first Sunday after you receive this packet. Please pray about making your best gift on that day. However, you can continue to give until January 31, 2018. Please write the designated amount of your gift on the "Special Offering" line on your offering envelope or include a note designating that your gift is for the Special Offering. Remember, consistent gifts over time add up: a person giving $50 per week over a twelve-week period will give $600 to this Special Offering.
Can I give online via bank check or through auto-debit? Yes. When you give at www.myliftchurch.com/give, simply select the “GIFT of LIFT” Special Offering under the “Fund” drop-down menu. Likewise, you can use your bank online payment option to send a check directly to the church. Again, simply mark in the memo area that your gift is for the “GIFT of LIFT” Special Offering. If you would like to make a special, one-time auto-debit over and above your regular giving, simply call (239) 220-8921 and speak with Wanda (our bookkeeper) — it’s simple and easy. 5
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GIFT of LIFT
Q
uestions
&A
nswers
Can I give to GIFT of LIFT through text giving? Yes. To give to GIFT of LIFT through text giving, just text the amount followed by the words, GIFT of LIFT to 239-206-1700 (ex. 50 gift of lift).
Is there app for that?
Yes. The name of the app is "Easy Tithe." Just find it in your app store and you can set up a giving account through the app. It's as easy as ABC.
Are my gifts tax-deductible?
All gifts to LIFT Church, whether via the regular offering or this Special Offering, are completely tax-deductible. Your gift will be deductible in the tax year given (i.e., gifts given in 2017 will be deductible on your 2017 taxes). Please be sure to include your name and address when you give so that a receipt can be sent to you for your tax preparations. You’re not required to utilize a tax deduction for your gift, but it’s available for all gifts.
How did we arrive at a $10,000 goal? Over a series of discussions with our Leadership Team, the two goals that kept coming up as next steps for LIFT Church were 1) more marketing to reach more people and 2) a permanent meeting space. Beyond that, developing our own LIFT Group curriculum will help us to better focus on accomplishing our vision and mission at LIFT Church. These appear to be three of the most important things we needed to focus on in 2018. The $10,000 is the amount necessary to accomplish those three ministry initiatives. While this is a goal that will certainly challenge us as a church, it is a goal that can be accomplished through 100% participation and sacrificial giving by our members, regular attenders, and non-local supporters. Since we’re expecting God to bless this Special Offering, it’s been determined that any amount over and above our goal will go towards reaching our community so we can introduce more people to Christ.
How will I know if we reach our goal? Please pray for God’s guidance as we all give sacrificially. You’ll be updated on our giving progress through our weekly email updates and during the Sunday services. Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what we can do together as we stretch our faith under God’s leadership. Have additional questions? Please contact Pastor Alan. [email protected] or (239) 898-5388.
6
GOAL: $10,000
GIFT of LIFT
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2018 Outreach Marketing ❘ LIFT Curriculum ❘ Permanent Space
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7
Dear LIFT Church Family, I’m excited to share with you the following information regarding the GIFT of LIFT Special Offering that runs from now until January 31, 2018. Last year, we raised over $8,000 to enable us to purchase chairs for our current meeting space, renovate the LIFT Kidz Room, and invest in Tribe Outreach for 2017. Thanks to your giving, we were able to accomplish all three of those goals. It’s been a great year too! It’s been exciting to see some new faces and some new members join LIFT Church. And now, it’s time to dream again and invest in some new goals that will strengthen LIFT Church and give us the opportunity to grow, both spiritually and numerically. There are three things that will help us accomplish that at our current stage: 1. Outreach Marketing ($3600). We want to invest more than we currently do in our outreach marketing, particularly in the area of social media. It would appear that social media has become the most influential form of marketing in our day, so we would be wise to invest more into this powerful resource for growth. Hitting this goal would allow us to invest an additional $300/month. 2. LIFT Curriculum ($400). We want to develop and produce professional quality discipleship materials so that our LIFT Groups can be better focused on our mission of “learning the real meaning of God’s Word” combined with a focus on our values of love, integrity, freedom, and truth. We have some exciting ideas in mind that will take our LIFT Groups to a whole new level! This is a low-cost goal. 3. Permanent Meeting Space ($6000). We want to set the stage for a permanent meeting space. Obviously, securing a permanent meeting space will be a challenge that won’t be resolved by one-time giving during this GIFT of LIFT Special Offering. However, achieving our financial goal during this GIFT of LIFT Special Offering will demonstrate to us that we think it is an important goal and will give us the funds for a down-payment (and perhaps a month or two of payments) on wherever we choose to lease. There seems to be a common agreement amongst all of us LIFTers that a permanent meeting space is the right next step for us. This would… a. Eliminate weekly setup and teardown b. Allow us to use the space during the week as often as we’d like c. Be more attractive to potential guests who are looking for a church (since a permanent meeting space communicates stability) d. Give our children’s ministry a better environment that is conducive to teaching children at various ages and stages of development e. Enable us to have a flex-space where we can adjust the size as needed while we grow.
The good news about a setting a goal for a permanent meeting space is that we are not at a point of desperation. We can methodically seek the right place for us and jump on it when the time is right. But it is important that we begin giving towards this goal so that we can keep it in the forefront of our minds. This year's GIFT of LIFT Special Offering is certainly a lofty goal, but it will help us take these amazing steps forward as a church. Will you pray now about what God would have you give, over and above your regular giving, to this Special Offering? Ask God to stretch your faith! I know we can do it. I still believe that God has a great plan for LIFT Church to affect our world, so I plan on giving big to this year’s special offering. Will you join me? Let’s give the GIFT of LIFT together, Alan Bondar Lead Pastor
2
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GOAL: $10,000
GIFT of LIFT
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2018 Outreach Marketing ❘ LIFT Curriculum ❘ Permanent Space
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The GIFT of LIFT Special Offering is a call to sacrificial giving with a goal of $10,000 for three important ministry initiatives: • Outreach Marketing to share the LIFT Effect with more people: $3600. • LIFT Curriculum to empower people to live out God’s Word: $400. • Permanent Meeting Space to use for whatever we want: $6000. This Special Offering will be received now through January 31, 2018. To give to the GIFT of LIFT Special Offering, use an offering envelope on Sunday and write the amount designated to GIFT of LIFT on the "Special Offering" line. Then, either mail the envelope (postage-paid) or drop it in the offering bucket on Sunday. You can also give anytime to the GIFT of LIFT Special Offering through our online giving at myliftchurch.com/give. Just select GIFT of LIFT from the drop-down menu. Of course, text giving is always an option as well: 239-206-1700. Text the amount with the words GIFT of LIFT (ex. 50 gift of lift). The enclosed documents will give you an overview of the Special Offering and answer many common questions. However, if you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (239) 898-5388 or [email protected].
3
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GIFT of LIFT
THE PURPOSES OF THIS OFFERING
1. To REACH more people so they can experience the LIFT Effect.
Your giving to GIFT of LIFT will give us the funds to utilize social media marketing to reach more people!
LIFT Church is unique in its ability to share the LIFT Effect. We want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to come experience the LIFT Effect with us. Social media marketing will help us do that. This investment is $3600.
2. To EMPOWER you to live out God’s Word. Your giving to GIFT of LIFT will help us invest in producing professional quality curriculum for our LIFT Groups.
Since LIFT Church has the unique ability to teach the real meaning of God’s Word, it is important that we begin to develop curriculum that will empower people to live out God’s Word. This is a small, but important investment set at $400.
3. To ENABLE us to look for a permanent meeting space.
Your giving to GIFT of LIFT will help us set the stage for a permanent meeting space.
While our goal of $6000 for a permanent meeting space will not enable us to purchase a space, it will set the tone for a search. This will enable us to know the commitment that our church has towards finding our own space and will allow us to search for a space that fits our budget. We’ll be able to place a down-payment and possibly even a first and second-month payment. It’s time for us to seek a permanent home in which to grow, both spiritually and numerically.
4
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GIFT of LIFT
Q
uestions
&A
nswers
Why a Special Offering? As part of God’s plan to grow the faith of the people in His Church, He calls us to sacrificial giving from time to time. This Special Offering is an opportunity for us to grow in our faith and to prepare us for what God wants to do through our church in 2018. This offering is not because we’re behind on budget, but rather is meant to position us to make a greater impact in our community and in our church in 2018.
What’s the difference between the regular offering and this Special Offering? The regular LIFT Church offering is the proportional amount (the full tithe of 10%) that we set apart on a systematic basis and give throughout the year. From time to time there are opportunities to give in a sacrificial way. This Special Offering is one of those sacrificial occasions that stretch us to grow in our faith. The Special Offering should be over and above what you regularly give.
How much should I give? Since the goal is $10,000, this Special Offering will involve everyone. Please prayerfully consider a sacrificial gift that will stretch your faith. The precise amount you give is between you and God. Some in our church can give a $200, $500, or even $1,000 gift. Others will be able to give between $50 and $100. The issue is not equal giving, but equal sacrifice.
Based on 40 people, if every person were to give $250 towards this offering, we would accomplish our goal. If you split $250 over November, December, and January, each person would give $84/month beyond their regular giving. Not everyone can give that much, but some can give more. The point is that together, we can do this!
What amount can you give that will stretch your faith?
When should I give? The best time to give will be the first Sunday after you receive this packet. Please pray about making your best gift on that day. However, you can continue to give until January 31, 2018. Please write the designated amount of your gift on the "Special Offering" line on your offering envelope or include a note designating that your gift is for the Special Offering. Remember, consistent gifts over time add up: a person giving $50 per week over a twelve-week period will give $600 to this Special Offering.
Can I give online via bank check or through auto-debit? Yes. When you give at www.myliftchurch.com/give, simply select the “GIFT of LIFT” Special Offering under the “Fund” drop-down menu. Likewise, you can use your bank online payment option to send a check directly to the church. Again, simply mark in the memo area that your gift is for the “GIFT of LIFT” Special Offering. If you would like to make a special, one-time auto-debit over and above your regular giving, simply call (239) 220-8921 and speak with Wanda (our bookkeeper) — it’s simple and easy. 5
LIFT Church's Special Offering
GIFT of LIFT
Q
uestions
&A
nswers
Can I give to GIFT of LIFT through text giving? Yes. To give to GIFT of LIFT through text giving, just text the amount followed by the words, GIFT of LIFT to 239-206-1700 (ex. 50 gift of lift).
Is there app for that?
Yes. The name of the app is "Easy Tithe." Just find it in your app store and you can set up a giving account through the app. It's as easy as ABC.
Are my gifts tax-deductible?
All gifts to LIFT Church, whether via the regular offering or this Special Offering, are completely tax-deductible. Your gift will be deductible in the tax year given (i.e., gifts given in 2017 will be deductible on your 2017 taxes). Please be sure to include your name and address when you give so that a receipt can be sent to you for your tax preparations. You’re not required to utilize a tax deduction for your gift, but it’s available for all gifts.
How did we arrive at a $10,000 goal? Over a series of discussions with our Leadership Team, the two goals that kept coming up as next steps for LIFT Church were 1) more marketing to reach more people and 2) a permanent meeting space. Beyond that, developing our own LIFT Group curriculum will help us to better focus on accomplishing our vision and mission at LIFT Church. These appear to be three of the most important things we needed to focus on in 2018. The $10,000 is the amount necessary to accomplish those three ministry initiatives. While this is a goal that will certainly challenge us as a church, it is a goal that can be accomplished through 100% participation and sacrificial giving by our members, regular attenders, and non-local supporters. Since we’re expecting God to bless this Special Offering, it’s been determined that any amount over and above our goal will go towards reaching our community so we can introduce more people to Christ.
How will I know if we reach our goal? Please pray for God’s guidance as we all give sacrificially. You’ll be updated on our giving progress through our weekly email updates and during the Sunday services. Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what we can do together as we stretch our faith under God’s leadership. Have additional questions? Please contact Pastor Alan. [email protected] or (239) 898-5388.
6
