Donor Gives Gift for Ministry Shares

March 4, 2010—An anonymous donor has given $14,000 to Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church in Hudsonville, MI, to be used by the church to include as part of Hillcrest’s annual ministry shares commitment to the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

The announcement of the donation came at the church’s Ministry Council meeting in late January. "I have no idea who it was. The donation of $14,000 for ministry shares came very unexpectedly," says Rev. Brian Bosscher, pastor of the church. "Clearly someone whom the Lord had been blessing financially decided to be generous in their year-end giving."

Bosscher says he suspects, though, that the person is among those at Hillcrest who feel firm ties to the denomination and helping to fund its work.

"There is a very strong connection and sense of loyalty that many people in this church feel toward the CRC," says the pastor.

Ministry shares is an arrangement by which large, small and medium-sized CRC congregations across the United States and Canada contribute a per-member assessment to help fund classical and denominational ministries.

Ministry shares provide a steady stream of funding without the overhead costs associated with multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns, says John Bolt, director of finance and administration for the CRC. For a short video explaining the ministry shares program, click here: Ministry shares.

In the past, Hillcrest had always met its total obligation in paying its ministry share allotment. But in recent years, as is the case with many churches, that has changed, and for a number of reasons.

The faltering economy has had an impact on the church’s budget, since some members of Hillcrest have lost their jobs while others are not receiving pay increases. A growing sense that the local church and its ministries ought to be funded first is another reason.

Besides ministry to youth and children, Hillcrest supports a Faith Promise Missions program, a budget-counseling program through Love INC and has recently begun an Orphan Care Ministry. In addition, the church is strongly committed to supporting Christian schools in the Hudsonville area. "Like everything else, costs keep going up for us to fund Christian education, which remains an important priority for us," says Bosscher.

Begun about 55 years ago, the church has also helped to start a number of other CRC congregations in the area.

"Many churches have felt the pinch of the economy and have to look hard at what are their budget priorities," says Bosscher.

The special donation will not in any way lessen the church’s intentions of meeting this year’s ministry shares commitment.

"This is a very thoughtful and loyal church," he says. "We want to be good and faithful stewards of our gifts.… Being a part of the CRC family is central to our identity as a congregation."

—Chris Meehan, CRC Communications