GIVE NOW

After clicking "GIVE NOW" you will be redirected to the online giving portal. 

If you are a regular attender and give regularly online, please SIGN IN before making a donation.

WHY WE GIVE

King David exclaimed to the Lord, upon the overwhelming giving for the building of the temple, "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand... All of it belongs to you." - I Chronicles 29:14ff


Our LAC giving philosophy is based on this reality, that EVERYTHING belongs to God. We are merely stewards of that which He entrusts to us. He gives us all we have; we use it wisely and give a part back in thanksgiving and trust that He will continue to meet our needs.


How much should we give?
In the Old Testament, the tithe is defined as the giving of 10% of one's income, or the giving of one's "first fruits." Interestingly, Malachi 3:8-10 is the only Scripture that specifically challenges us to "test" or "prove" the Lord. God reprimands those not tithing as "stealing" from Him, and then challenges them to "test me and see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be enough room for you to receive it."


The New Testament makes no mention of tithe as a requirement, but emphasizes that the heart is the key issue. The driving question becomes not "How much do I give?" but "How much dare I keep?" New Testament principles teach us to*:

  • Give First. Jesus says in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you...For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says, "For where   your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The major purpose of giving was to   remind the people that God comes first in our lives; that He alone deserves preeminence.
  • Give Cheerfully. Paul teaches in II Corinthians 9:6-7, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows  generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
  • Give Faithfully. When the master says to the good stewards, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21-23), he is speaking of reliability. Paul speaks to this when he exhorts the believers in Corinth: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..." (I Corinthians 16:2).
  • Give Wisely. Good stewards invest money wisely. In I Corinthians 9:11, Paul says, "If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?" The spiritual principle is: give where we are being fed spiritually, where we see Kingdom investments multiplying, and where we can loudly and joyfully proclaim what God is doing through the church.
  • Give Without Seeking Recognition. Jesus saw the hypocrisy of the Pharisees' public giving and said, "...do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:3, 4). Secret giving guards against religious pride and is one of   the primary ways God builds faith into our lives.


*Summarized from The Christian and Missionary Alliance document, "Stewardship and the Kingdom of God"

WAYS TO GIVE

ACCOUNTING INTEGRITY

Our leadership ensures faithful accounting and transparency of how our resources are utilized. Updates are provided in the bulletin and detailed information is posted near the front office.


OFFERING

  • Check or cash: Donation boxes are located at the rear of the Sanctuary and the Theater.
  • You may also mail or drop off your offering envelope to the church office.


ONLINE GIVING

  • Bill Pay through your bank
  • Mobile app using Elexio (LAC Give) via:
    • Debit card (fee charged to LAC)
    • Credit card (fee charged to LAC)
    • PayPal (fee charged to LAC)
    • Electronic Funds Transfer (fee charged to LAC)

Your donation can be recurring or one time. The church is charged a minimal fee for checks and e-checks. The cost for the church for credit and debit cards is 3%. When giving through the portal (click "GIVE NOW" below), you have the option to include funds to cover the church incurred fees for the convenience of online giving.


 

TRANSFER APPRECIATED STOCK DIRECTLY TO LAC, tax savings

  • No capital gains to declare
  • Transfer to the church’s Schwab Account
  • Email jburchill@lancastercma.org for details and let him know of the transfer and mention how you would like the donation designated for approved established funds.


RMD  - REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION, tax savings

  • Those age 73+ can donate part or all of your IRA RMD as a QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution) directly to the church, and you can still use your IRA to make QCDs at age 70½ even though RMDs are not required. Consult your retirement account company to determine the specific steps required.
  • The advantage is you do not need to declare the charitable donation as gross income for federal tax purposes. In this case, you do not deduct the charitable donation, however, you can take the standard deductions which have increased the last several years. This way you can save money while still contributing to the church.


DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, tax savings

  • Because of tax law changes in 2018, this has become a popular way to make substantial gifts in one tax year, invest the funds if you like, and distribute at future dates.
  • The charitable gift is recognized in the year it’s given. The new, larger standard deduction can at times be taken in subsequent years.

 


CHARITABLE TRUSTS, tax advantages

  • For example, a Charitable Remainder Trust is a tax exempt irrevocable trust designed to reduce the taxable income of individuals by first dispersing income to the beneficiaries of the trust for a specified period of time and then donating the remainder of the trust to the designated charity.


WILL

  • Making a bequest is straightforward. You simply specify the share of your assets, or absolute value you would like to go to a good cause. When doing this, it’s worth writing a note explaining why the issue matters to you and any specific element of the church or nonprofit’s work you prefer to assist.


 


General questions, please contact assistanttreasurer@lancastercma.org or the church office at 717.397.1121. Thank you, as always, for your generous contributions!