Faith Promise Commitment

Supporting Global Missions

How's our Faith Promise commitments doing this year?

Currently we are seeing an increase in the number of cards (participants) to our Faith Promise program (313 cards as of August 7) but our total commitments for this time of year is down at $657,789 committed to date.  We are about $50,000 shy of last year this time.  In October we will ask for additional gifts or new commitments for people who have not given.  We would like to see at least another $300,000 in commitments for this fiscal year. There are always people each year who do not make commitments, but give, so we always base our budget accordingly and with faith ourselves that God will supply in ways unknown to us.  Please pray and consider if you would be able to give more this year.  If you made a Faith Promise commitment in March your new commitment begins Sunday, July 3.

How does Calvary fund their Global Missions program?

Calvary 's Global Missions program is separately budgeted and funded.  The church offerings do not suppliment the REACH Global Missions program. In order to support this ministry financially, you must indicate the amount on your check thast you want designated as such and write "Missions" on your check memo line or offering envelope.  Money not desinated for Missions goes into the General tithed offerings.  (As a matter of IRS policy, Calvary cannot accept checks designated to individual missionaries for donation purposes.  Also, Calvary missionaries are to refrain from direct or indirect solicitations of additional support from within the Calvary Church body.)

How do you determine your Missions budget?

Each year during the month of March, during our REACH Global Missions Conference, we ask you to pray and then make a Faith Promise Commitment in your giving for the next fiscal year, which runs from July 1-June 30. By faith, we as a church trust God to meet your needs and commitment to this promise.  Our budget for missionary support  and other Global Missions efforts are first based on the amount that people promise to give.  People new to Calvary or who did not make a commitment in March, are given the opportunity to participate with new Faith Promise commitments during our Missions Emphasis Weekend in the Fall.

What is Faith Promise ?

Faith Promise is a way of giving to Global evangelism.  Rather than waiting to respond to individaul appeals as they come along, believers ask the Lord how much they should give to Global Missions over the next year.  They then commit to that annual total as a "Faith Promise". This makes missions giving strategic rather than sporadic.  Please promise only what you believe God wants to give through you.  Then trust God to be faithful in His promise.  This is a promise to God, not a pledge to the church.  The amount is between you and God.  No one will notify you or keep track of your commitment.

Your Faith Promise involvement says that you believe:

* Global evangelism is vital to accomplishing the mission of the church,

* the Gospel can change lives,

* giving, although important, is secondary to faith and praying,

* and God will help you pay the amount promised.

Missionary Support

Calvary Missionaries are supported at various monthly levels based on where they are serving, their length and type ofservice, and financial considerations.  Calvary does not totally support any missionary.  All of our missionaries are encouraged to have at least three other supporting churches and a minimun of 40 individual supporters to help make this happen.  In addition to the monthly amount we give, the Missions Ministry Team sets a budget and distributes to our missionaries extra financial help in the areas of: scholarships and gifts; emergency needs financial support; travel assistance; re-entry gifts for those coming on home assignment; out going help for new missionaries leaving for the field; housing assistance; and other support when possible.  In addition to monetary help, we provide care for our missionaries through cards and letters, phone calls, missionary home visits, specific prayer and other forms of encouragement.  You are part of making all this happen when you personally connect with a missionary family.  You can find a list of all of our missionaries in the Worship Center lobby on the Missions Display table or some are listed on this web site under Global Missions.

REACH:Global is funded through your Faith Promise gifts which includes support for missionaries serving worldwide and special partnership projects.  In addition, Faith Promise helps to support the practical means of some Local outreach partnerships (i.e. tools, supplies, publicity) to allow for the training of missionary candidates, follow up opportunities for short term members, and means by which our members can begin the process of Global Missions.

REACH: Local is funded through the General Tithes and Offerings to the church which allows for the participation in local outreach by our people.  Our criteria for local outreach involves the Three Cs: Close proximity to the church; Consistent volunteer opportunities; and Christ can be proclaimed. 

 

Is Faith Promise Biblical?

In 2 Corithians 8-9, we see God channel His blessings from local churches to thise in faraway places.  Specifically, the earliest churches were sacrificing for the sake of the church in Judea.  It is our desire that Faith Promise is a modern equivalent of such generosity.  There are a couple characteristics about the giving in 2 Corithians 8-9 worth noting.

      • The gift is more than one can naturally afford (8:2-4)
      • The gift flows from presonnal commitment (8:5)
      • The gift is optional, but it is a "test" of God's love in our lives (8:8)
      • The gift is previously promised (9:5)
      • The gift is a tool for blessing in our own lives (9:6)
      • The gift is presonally planned and purposed (9:7)
      • The gift can be given cheerfully (9:7)
      • The gift is provided by God (9:8)

This offering is also referred to in Acts 11:27-30; 24:17; Galatians 2:10; Romans 15:23-33; 1 Corinthians 16:-9.

How Do You Make a Faith Promise?

1.  Pray for what the Lord would have you do and know what He commands He also enables.

2.  Commit yourself to make a faith promise, realizing that your faith will grow as you stay committed to that promise.

3.  Look for the different ways God will use you to supply your faith promise.

4.  Be faithful to give as God enables you.

 

Who can make a Faith Promise?

God gives to all of His children - rich and poor - the privilege of giving. Our giving is a test of our love. It is also a test to see if God can trust us with the money He gives us. Everyone must make up his mind as to how much he should give. God says to never force anyone to give more than he really wants to give. He loves a cheerful giver. We should not give, wishing we could keep it. God loves it when we give because we want to give. When we make a Faith Promise commitment we promise to give God more than we have right now! We pray and decide on the amount that we trust God to help us get and then we promise God that if He provide it, we will give it back to Him. We need to be careful not to use this money for our own purposes. Remember, this is a promise only between you and God.

 

What are the results of Faith Promise giving?

Joy, blessing, increased ability to give, thankfulness to God, and it will bring glory to God and help spread the gospel.