Electronic Giving – eGive

“But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Cor. 8:7 (NIV)

eGIVEFusion Church is offering its members the ability to give electronically (eGive).  Now you can give your tithe, give to Children’s Ministries, give to a building fund, give to missions, or give any specific offering at the convenience and privacy of your home computer.  You can choose to give:  one-time, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly or in any way the Lord leads you.

Four benefits to eGive:

  1. You’re fulfilling your good intentions…most of us want to give regularly but busyness, absences and distractions frustrate our good intentions.
  2. You will simplify your life…by giving automatically on the schedule and date you decide. No writing a check, remembering to bring it, or sending it to church if you miss.
  3. You will be helping Fusion Church…making record keeping much easier and income more consistent.
  4. You are taking a step of faith…deciding in advance to faithfully give.

To sign up for eGive:

eGiveClick on the eGive button .  This will take you to the eGive website where you may setup a My eGive account to give to Fusion Church.  You may monitor your gifts to the church by signing into your My eGive account and may give special one times gifts anytime from the convenience of your home computer.

eGive Frequently Asked Questions:

Q:  How can funds be withdrawn directly from my account?
A:
Only with your authorization.  Nobody can deduct money from your account electronically unless you specifically authorize it.

Q:  Are electronic contributions risky?
A: No.  An electronic contribution is safer than writing a check, and it can’t be lost, stolen or destroyed in the mail.  To sign up for eGive you are only giving information that is already printed on your check.  National laws, rules, and guidelines govern all Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) transactions.  Over eighteen billion EFT transactions are processed annually in the United States.

Q:  When would this automatic contribution be taken from my account?
A:
On the eGive online secure giving form, you can specify whether you want your contribution made one-time, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly or as designated.  When the date you have selected falls on a weekend or holiday, the transaction will occur on the next business day.

Q:  Can I test this by giving one time?
A:
Yes.  You may test online giving by selecting “One-Time Gift” in the Giving Amount and Date section of the sign up process.

Q:  If I’m not actually writing a check, how do I keep my checkbook balance straight?
A:
Your contribution is made on a pre-established day, so you can deduct it from your check record then and you will receive a general e-mail reminder thanking you for giving to Fusion Church each time your giving is posted.

Q:  Why can’t I give by credit card?
A: We chose to set up eGive through electronic funds transfer rather than credit card for two primary reasons:

  1. Although many people pay off their credit cards each month, many also do not.  We do not want to potentially put someone in the place of going in debt and paying credit interest on gifts given to the church.
  2. With electronic transfer, your entire gift goes to the church.  When using a credit card, as much as 4% of your gift would go to the credit card company.

Q:  How can I keep a record of the amount I have contributed?
A:
Your bank statement will include an itemized list of automatic gifts given from your account.  We will continue to provide you with a personal giving statement for your tax records.  You may also run a report of all your gifts in the eGive system at any time.

Q:  What if I change banks or accounts or want to change the amount of my contribution?
A:
You can change your giving choices or bank account at any time, 24 hours a day/7 days a week, through the eGive web site.

Q:  Is there any charge to me from my bank to give online?
A:
No.  Electronic funds transfers carry no bank fees and this service is free.

Q:  Can I designate my giving online?
A :
Yes, you can designate between tithes and offerings, building fund, and four other offerings that you can write in yourself.  The total is what shows as the transaction with your bank; however, the church receives the breakdown directly from eGive. You may give a special offering 24 hours a day on eGive.

Q:  Why not just give at church?
A:
Some of our people are extremely faithful and consistent in their giving at church each week. Some also want their physical act of bringing their offerings to be a part of their worship experience. Others prefer to give online as it helps them give more consistently.

Q:  Who do I talk to if I have more questions?
A:
E-mail Ramon at Ramon.Jordan@gmail.com

“World Religions” Study

religions_earth_300Join us Wednesday Nights as we survey and study several of the world’s key religions. In addition to learning the “facts” about these other religions, our goal is to walk away with a better understanding of these faiths, as well as insights into reaching their followers.

Religions around the world have practices and beliefs that help people understand the meaning of life and give people answers to the important questions that they have about life, death and the existence of God. Specific questions include: What is ultimate reality? What is the nature of the world? What is the nature of humanity? What is humanity’s primary problem? How is that problem solved? What happens after death? We will look at each of these questions through the lens of each of the studied world religions.

We’ll be meeting Wednesdays, July and August, from 7-9pm at Grace Community Church (in the Lobby Atrium). If you have any questions please contact Ramon.

Return here often as we post information and questions for your pre-study review and for your comments.

July 1st – Introduction;   July 8th – Hinduism;   July 15th – Buddhism;   July 22nd – Judaism;
July 29th – Christianity;   Aug 5th – Islam;   Aug 12th – Atheism;   Aug 19th – Wrap Up, Final Thoughts