CONGREGATIONAL FIRSTFRUITS

A church that practices firstfruits giving supports individuals who are asked to

practice firstfruits giving.

IMPLEMENTING CONGREGATIONAL FIRSTFRUITS1. Estimate Giving

2. Set percentages for Distribution

3. Link Distribution to Vision

4. Follow Through

ESTIMATE GIVING

1. Normal Approach – historical trend with adjustments

2. Best Practice – “what do you plan to give next year from your first and best in response to God?”

SET PERCENTAGES FOR DISTRIBUTION1. Firstfruits 15 – 50% (what a congregation gives away

for ministry and service for the surrounding community and around the world)

2. Facilities and programs 10 – 25% (maintaining a center for worship and local operations)

3. Staff 40 – 60% (all related costs of being generous with those called to serve the church)

LINK DISTRIBUTION TO VISION• Linking distribution of money for firstfruits,

facilities/programs and staff to the congregation’s vision for ministry.

• Telling a story is more effective for more people than merely listing numbers.

NARRATIVE SPENDING PLANOur mission is to proclaim the reign of God in our worship, in our mission and in our community life. We will seek to accomplish these tasks this next year by:

• Proclaiming the reign of God in our worship through planning and hosting as many as 65 worship events. $75,000

• Proclaiming the reign of God by engaging in mission through nine ministry organizations. $64,000

• Proclaiming the reign of God through our community life. $61,000

We hope to collect more than the $200,000 we estimated to give in worship this next year. When and if this happens, we look forward to extending even more generosity than we dreamed.

FINANCIAL REPORTThis year our congregation estimated we would give $200,000 in worship to God.

Last week we offered $3,745.51 in worship, of which 32% ($1,198.56) was sent to the 9 ministries our congregation supports.

At the halfway point in our year we have collected $99,692.17 and sent on $31,901.49 as our congregation’s firstfruits gift.

RESERVE FUND

1. 6 to 12 weeks

2. Policy for how it will be accessed

3. Policy for how it will be replenished

BENEFITS OF A FIRSTFRUITS SYSTEM• Better financial management

• Deeper connection to the offering as worship

• Better alignment with stewardship theology

• Better communication with the congregation

PARKVIEW’S EXPERIENCETotal Receipts Firstfruits Giving

2002 $278,347 $2,600

2003 $294,961 $32,861

2004 $308,229 $40,002

2005 $342,173 $47,637

2006 $379,400 $55,918

2007 $391,860 $62,141

2008 $417,102 $66,736

2009 $406,813 $65,090

2010 $438,919 $70,227

A FINAL NOTE

• There is no uniform model.

• The key question underlying this entire system is: What is the first and best we can give (as a church) to show our worship and love for God?