Giving is an important aspect of the Christian life. Luke records that Jesus himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). At Living Hope Restoration Branch, we want to encourage all members to pray about giving and give as God leads them.
God's people have always been characterized by giving, but the way they've given has changed over time. For example, people no longer bring goats, sheep, calves and grain to God as they did in the Old Testament. Today, giving money is a much simpler way to donate, and much easier for the church to manage. With technological improvements, we are extending members a new way to offer their financial gifts to God.
At the Living Hope Restoration Branch, we'll continue to take an offering during the worship service for people who prefer to give by cash or check. But for those who would rather transfer money electronically, giving through the church website or through texting is an option. Our systems make it easy to quickly transfer money from a bank account or credit/debit card to the church safely and securely.
One-time gifts and recurring withdrawals can both be set up, and gifts can be given either to the church's general fund or a specific church fund. Feel free to set up an account and make a donation. If you have any questions, you’re are welcome to contact the church for help.
When giving, you will have options as to which church fund you would like to donate to. Living Hope Restoration Branch provides an opportunity in its weekly worship services to honor God with financial gifts to the church. Weekly offering envelopes are available in the church lobby, which allow you to select one or more specific church funds for your contribution.
In addition to our weekly offering, our online giving tools provide the ability to donate on our website or even with a quick text message! After creating an account, you’re able to give a donation or schedule a series of donations directly from your checking account or by using your debit or credit card.
(Please note that each contribution transaction does incur processing fees. With “Online Giving” through our website, you are given the opportunity to select an option to pay an additional “Convenience Fee” to help offset our processing fees. With “Text Giving”, the amount you submit is the amount donated, as there is no option to help offset the processing fees.)
When donating through our website, you can also select one or more specific church funds for your contribution. It is quick, simple, and most importantly safe. All information is saved by our processing company, "easyTithe.com", where they utilize high levels of security, and provide complete PCI compliance.
When making donations via "texting", you will utilize a special telephone number set aside for donations. This number is (816) 688-3737. The first time you text this number, simply text the word “Give”, and you will be taken to our website to set up an account and make your first donation. After that, simply text an amount you wish to donate to that number, and your donation is made without any other effort. All donations made through “texting”, without further information will be donated to the church general fund.
When texting a donation, you can donate to a specific fund by putting the fund “keyword” after your donation amount. For example, you could text a $50 donation to the Operating Fund by sending the following text: “50 Operating”. To receive a list of available fund keywords for your donation, text the word “keywords”, and you will receive the list of fund keywords.
Please note that each “text” can only reference a donation to a single fund. Since each donation submission incurs a processing fee, we recommend donating to multiple funds in one transaction through our website online giving portal so only one processing fee is incurred by the church.
Below, you will find a brief description about each of the various church fund options.
General Fund-Donations to this fund will be applied to either the "Operating" or "Building" fund, according to the need as determined by the church leadership. If you do not have a specific preference on how your donation is used, donating to the "General Fund" is the best option.
Operating Fund-Donations to this fund will be utilized to pay all necessary expenses of the branch as earmarked in the budget.
Building Fund-Donations to this fund will be utilized for upkeep and repair of the building and properties.
Tithing Fund-Donations to this fund will allow the church to total your donations that you wish to attribute to your Tithing. will be applied either the "Operating" or "Building" fund, according to the need as determined by the church leadership. If you do not have a specific preference on how your donation is used, but you wish your donation to be attributed to your Tithing, donating to the "Tithing Fund" is the best option.
Oblation Fund-Donations to this fund will be utilized for branch members needs. Money only added to the Oblation fund through direct donation to this fund. No money is transferred to the Oblation fund from other funds, and it is not included in the yearly budget, as the fund is only active when donations are directly made to this fund. Appropriation of these funds is done through the Oblation Committee.
Freedom Stewardship Ministries Fund - (FSM) is not about paying off debt for people, but rather helping people pay off their own debt through education and interest free loans. Interest free loans can dramatically reduce the payback period on loans. Paying off debt would incorporate a “snowball effect”, where smaller debts (within a family) are paid off first, allowing that payment to be applied to the next largest debt, with this process repeating until all consumer debt is repaid. It is our belief that Zion cannot exist without sharing our excess with those who have need. Your contribution to this fund will help provide loans to those individuals and families that qualify for the FSM program.
Debt Reduction Fund-Debt reduction is a specific program that is self-contained within Living Hope Restoration Branch. $300 is offered to individual members of the branch on a rotating basis alphabetically. It is to be used to pay off existing debt items. We write a check to the next person on the list when we have $300 in the fund. We also require education through debt reduction classes. So far we have given $67,500 through this program. No money is transferred to the Debt Reduction Fund from other funds, and it is not included in the yearly budget, as the fund is only active when donations directly to this fund reach $300. Appropriation of these fund is done through the Debt Reduction Committee.
CPRS Tuition Fund-Donations to this fund are utilized to assist in the tuition of students from Living Hope Restoration Branch who qualify for tuition funding by the CPRS rules.
Special Projects Fund-Donations to this fund are utilized to assist in building/grounds renovation and improvement as specified in the church budget.
Zion's Ridge Campground- Zion's Ridge Campground is a restoration campground in Jackson County. It was dedicated in 1999, with the first reunion held there was in June of 1999. There are 6 cabins, one of which is the nurse's cabin. There are electrical hookups for RVs and there are bathroom and shower facilities. Donations to this fund will go to updating and adding to the campground.
