View a copy of the Pledge Form (2008)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pledging? A pledge is a promise made before the Lord to do something for Him. It is a very serious promise, one that should be made prayerfully and sincerely, with every intention to fulfill that pledge (Numbers 30:2, Ecclesiastes 5:4-6). In the context of Hope Church’s Ministry Investment Plan (MIP), a pledge is made to PRAY, to SERVE and to GIVE a certain amount of money to help accomplish our mission.
Why are we asked to PRAY and to SERVE as well as to GIVE? We are looking for partners in ministry, not just for money. In order for Hope’s mission to be accomplished, we need our partners to devote themselves to the Lord in prayer and to serve Him with their time, gifts and resources as faithful stewards of His blessings. Our ministry cannot succeed apart from praying, serving, giving Christians like you.
I know about time, talents and treasures, but what about “trees”? We are caretakers of God’s creation. By pledging to serve the Lord in regards to the creation, we are pledging personally and as a community to use God’s resources wisely, and to find ways to do ministry in an environmentally friendly way.
Is pledging biblical? The Bible has many examples of believers pledging their gifts and service to the Lord and His Church. In the old testament people made vows to the Lord in response to specific situations (Genesis 28:20). They also pledged their gifts for the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:1-8). In the new testament church believers presented their pledges to the apostles (Acts 4:32-37), and later on pledged to support the needy in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8).
Why does Hope Church use pledges? We desire to be wise and responsible stewards of the gifts the Lord has given us. Our former method of setting the budget did not reflect the realities of giving, and comments from members at congregational meetings have challenged us as leaders to be wise and faithful stewards. After a spiritually and financially uplifting experience with pledging in our building campaign, as well as in conversation with Christian Stewardship Services and with other churches, we have decided to base our MIP on pledging. Our hope is that by basing ministry on pledging as an act of worship and service, we will actually expand our ministry. We are confident that the Lord will provide all that we need through pledging to fulfill His calling for Hope Church.
What if the amount pledged does not meet the ministry needs of Hope Church? We are aware that this model for giving is new to Hope Church. While our ultimate goal is to base our MIP totally on what is pledged, we are committed to phasing this in over the next few years. Our desire is to walk with our members into pledge-based budgeting, step by step. We will evaluate our progress after each pledge campaign to help us reach our ultimate goal. Our focus for this first year will be on our Treasures, but in the coming years we hope to focus on the other T’s, time, talents and “trees”.
How do I determine how much to pledge? In the past we determined the MIP total, broke it down into an average per person, and asked people to give accordingly. Now we will not start with a total but will invite people to prayerfully consider how the Lord wants them to support Hope Church through their giving. We have adopted two guidelines to help you determine your pledge: the 3 P’s and the 4 R’s.
Based on biblical principles, we encourage you to practice…
- Priority Giving: Decide first how much you will give to the Lord – your firstfruits (Exodus 23:19).
- Percentage Giving: Choose a percentage to determine how much you will give. The Lord challenged His old covenant people to tithe (10%) for the work of the temple and the service to the poor. While the new covenant does not command the tithe, we do believe that using a percentage to determine our giving is a wise and helpful practice.
- Progressive Giving: Consider how you can increase your giving from the previous year. As the Lord blesses us, He also calls us to grow in the grace of giving.
We also suggest the 4 R’s to help each person prayerfully consider how they will support Hope Church’s MIP:
- Review your giving in the past, not only how much you gave but how you gave and where you gave.
- Reflect on how the Lord has blessed you, how He is blessing you now, and why He has blessed you in this way.
- Re-commit yourself to the work of the Lord at Hope Church, deciding how much you will give for the coming year, with the Lord’s blessing and help, and
- wRite-it-down. Use the pledge form to formalize your pledge, presenting one copy to the Church and keeping one as a personal reminder and encouragement.
What if my financial circumstances change in the coming year? It is obvious that anyone who wishes to give more than they pledged may freely do so. In addition, the Bible also speaks to those who cannot give as much as they first pledged because their circumstances changed (Leviticus 27:8, 2 Corinthians 8:9-11). What matters is the willingness to give according to your means!
Will anyone know how much I pledge? No. While some churches ask for a name or envelope number with the pledge, we have decided to allow people to keep their giving personal and private. We want to encourage everyone’s participation in pledging and know this would be a roadblock for some. Only the treasurer will know what each person has given, as the yearly tax receipts are prepared.
Is pledging only for members at Hope Church? No. Anyone who wishes to partner with us in knowing and showing the love of Jesus may pledge their support to the MIP. Members, non-members, young and old – all people are encouraged to join us!
Are members required to pledge? No. The Bible clearly teaches that such gifts ought to be freely given, not under compulsion, for the Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). We invite people to partner with us in impacting our community for Christ. All who desire to support Hope Church are warmly invited to pledge! Our goal is to have 100% of our members pledging for the privilege of sharing in this high calling from the Lord.
