Is it safe?

eGive is a Christian organization that specializes in processing electronic giving for churches. They invest heavily in security, and their secure web site is certified “Verified Secure” by Control Scan Weekly to keep your information safe. Funds can only be withdrawn from your account with your authorization. Nobody can deduct money from your account electronically unless you specifically authorize it, and nobody at St. John’s will ever have access to your personal financial information. In fact, an electronic contribution is actually safer than writing a check. It can’t be lost, stolen, or destroyed in the mail. To sign up for eGive you are only providing information that is already printed on your check. National laws and guidelines govern all Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) transactions. In fact, over eighteen billion EFT transactions are processed annually in the United States.

 

When would this automatic contribution be taken from my account?

On the eGive online secure giving form you can specify whether you want your contribution made one-time, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly or as designated. When the date you have selected falls on a weekend or holiday, the transaction will occur on the next business day.

 

Can I test this by giving one time?

Yes. You may test online giving by selecting “One-Time Gift” in the Giving Amount and Date section during the sign up process. You can make changes to these settings at any time.

 

How can I keep a record of the amount I have contributed?

Your bank statement will include an itemized list of automatic gifts given from your account. St. John’s will continue to provide you with a personal giving statement for your tax records, but you will also have the ability to run a report of all your gifts in the eGive system at any time.

 

Can I direct my giving?

Yes. If you want a portion to go to the Deacon ministry or a special offering you can designate that amount in the “Breakout of Giving” section online. The total is what shows as the transaction with your bank; however, the church receives the breakdown directly from eGive. You may give a special offering 24 hours a day on eGive.

 

What if I change banks or accounts or want to change the amount of my contribution?

You can change your giving choices or bank account at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the eGive web site.

 

How do I participate in the weekly offering if my contribution is automatically deducted?

If you wish, you can write “I’m giving online” on the giving envelope and place it in the offering basket, but it is not necessary.

 

Is there any charge to me from my bank to give online?

No. Electronic funds transfers carry no bank fees and this service is free.

 

How do I get started?

Click the eGive icon below and follow the instructions to set up your eGive account.

 

Why give to the church at all?

Sometimes it can be uncomfortable to talk about money in the church. We’ve all seen news stories about unscrupulous televangelists or insincere “ministries” that take advantage of the generosity of believers. But did you know that there are over 1000 references to money in the Bible? In fact, nearly 2/3 of Jesus’ parables concern finances and, aside from love, money is the most frequently mentioned subject in Scripture.

 

The message of the Bible affirms that 100% of everything we “have” already belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). God has entrusted us with a certain amount that he asks us to manage. In the church, we call this stewardship. The word steward comes from the old English “sty ward,” which once referred to a person who is entrusted to care for a pig sty. The sty ward didn’t own the pigs, but the master appointed him to be responsible for their care. Those pigs eventually became food, and if the sty ward didn’t do his job to take care of them, the household didn’t eat. They might not even survive a tough winter. In short, the master appointed the steward to take care of what the master owns for the benefit of the master’s household. In the same way, we are stewards who have been entrusted by our heavenly father to care for his community through the wise management of the resources he’s entrusted to us.

 

At St. John’s we have something called a faith budget. That means we build our budget around the ministries that we believe God is calling us to support. And we believe, in faith, that he will provide for our needs. We believe that a budget is more than just numbers on a page. Instead, it’s a theological document reflecting what’s important to God’s people at St. John’s. When you give, you’re not just giving money to help satisfy a line item. You’re partnering in some exciting stuff that God is doing in our midst! You’re helping children in our neighborhood learn about Jesus through the powerful ministry of our VBS program. You’re participating in the exciting outreach that is going on with international students in our community. You’re supporting our young people as their lives are transformed by the opportunity to reach out through mission work. You’re helping to support our lifegroup program where people gather together in homes for prayer, Bible study and mutual encouragement. You’re helping fund mission organizations around the globe. And, yes, you’re even helping us keep the lights on, maintain our facilities, and pay our staff - all of which is a part of important ministry work as we seek to reach out to our community and our world. When you give, you are giving to the ministry of Christ!