- As a committee decide in advance
which missionaries and/or projects you wish to support. Gather up-to-date
information on these missionaries and/or projects and prepare a handout
for the congregation.
- Prepare Faith-Promise giving commitment cards. (There is a sample
here or you may request a sample from your regional representative.)
- Distribute a Faith-Promise giving packet several weeks
before your Faith-Promise Commitment Sunday. Include enough cards
for the whole family. Include a thorough explanation of the Faith-Promise
giving program plus good information on the missionaries and/or projects
your committee is suggesting.
- On your Faith-Promise Commitment Sunday, after prayer
and further explanation, ask the congregation to complete the commitment
cards. (Have plenty available for those who forgot to bring them from
home.) Collect the cards and announce the total as soon as possible.
- Keep the congregation informed about the level of giving
and the disbursement. Most congregations disburse their missionary
support on a quarterly basis.
What is Faith-Promise giving?
In Faith-Promise giving, individual church members--including adults,
young people and children--are asked to prayerfully consider what
amount of money God may be calling them to give for specific missionaries,
projects or agencies as suggested by the congregation, usually through
its missions or evangelism or outreach committee. These commitments
stand alongside other church giving commitments.
How does Faith-Promise giving work?
Every member of the congregation is challenged to prayerfully consider
making a commitment to support missions as clearly described by the
missions committee. This commitment is between the giver and God.
The church member fills out a commitment card which describes the
weekly, monthly or yearly commitment. This card is not signed. These
cards are collected and totaled. This total becomes the congregation’s
missions budget for the year. Ordinarily there is a duplicate side
of the card which the church member takes home as a reminder of the
commitment.
Why promote Faith-Promise giving?
Congregations which use Faith Promise testify that the missions awareness
and enthusiasm increase significantly, as does the amount of money
given for missionary support. The congregation’s involvement
in world evangelism grows and, through it, God is honored.
Why does Faith Promise result in increased giving for missions?
Churches which use Faith Promise cite two reasons: First, it seems
that missions committees do a better job of informing the congregation
about the various missionaries or projects before Faith-Promise commitments
are made. Secondly, church members tend to be more involved and give
more when they make personal and prayerful commitments.
Does Faith Promise hurt other church giving?
All the studies show that Faith-Promise missions giving actually enhances
other church giving, especially regular budget giving.
How do churches collect their Faith-Promise gifts?
Many churches set aside one Sunday per month as their Missions Sunday
or Faith-Promise Sunday. This is also a good Sunday to have a moment
for missions.
Some churches prepare special Faith-Promise envelopes which they make
available to the congregation. The members put their special offerings
into any offering taken.
Some churches prepare regular budget envelopes which allow for multiple
designations, including Faith-Promise gifts.
For more information, contact your regional representative or check
our website at: www.crwm.org
Christian Reformed World Missions
2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE
Grand Rapids MI 49560
616-224-0701; 800-346-0075
FAX 616-224-0707
E-mail: crwm@crcna.org
3475 Mainway, P.O. Box 5070
STN LCD 1
Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8
905-336-2920; 800-730-3490
FAX 905-336-8344
E-mail: crwm@crcna.ca
