Every gift and ability that a person or church possesses is a gift from God. Our Creator has put these things “on loan” with us and our duty is to serve others for the glory of God and the good of our neighbors. God asks that we be good stewards of our time, our talents and our treasures. A church body of many gifts useful for God’s glory and one another’s good is an important part of a church’s life. We must use our spiritual gifts, as well as our financial and physical resources, well. It takes time, service, facilities and money to operate a church. And so we seek the Lord’s will in these things.
Our congregation is blessed with a wonderful facility that has dedicated spaces for the worship of our God, the discipleship of Christians, safe-keeping of our children in nursery care, and space to show hospitality in our fellowship activities. Through many years of faithful gifts and stewardship, we enjoy a beautiful campus that is well-located in our city, debt-free, and maintained as an outpost of heaven where God is worshipped, proclaimed, and enjoyed by our company of saints.
GENERAL FUND GIVING
The church will accomplish its mission by accepting offerings— charitable contributions—from its members and donors. Givers are strongly encouraged to tithe and to support first and foremost the annually approved general fund budget of the church. Copies of the church general fund budget and monthly finance reports are available upon request.
WEEKLY GIVING
Each week in the morning worship service we give opportunity for all present to worship the Lord by giving to God his tithes and our offerings. Ushers collect the offering by passing collection plates through the congregation. You may give during the worship service gifts of cash or personal check. Printed offering envelopes with your church giving account number and weekly giving dates are provided to each giving unit in the church family. Please contact the church office if you would like to receive your giving envelopes.
GIVING FROM INVESTMENT FUNDS
Required and other distributions from investment accounts are tax deductible and 100% of the proceeds can be received by the church tax-free at your request.
GIVING BY U.S. MAIL
The church office receives mail daily and donations by personal or bank check to the church may be sent to:
First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
2250 Saddle Club Road – Burlington, N.C. 27215
At year-end, all mail must be postmarked by December 31 of that year.
ELECTRONIC GIVING
At this time, the church is unable to receive giving electronically.
DONOR GIVING STATEMENTS
The church will provide any donor a summary statement of recorded donations upon request. All donors will receive a mid-year contribution statement in July, as well as a statement in January for the previous year’s donation that lists individual donations by fund, including date. In compliance with IRS regulations, the church does not receipt the value of donated labor.
DONOR REFUNDS
Recognizing that a charitable contribution is unconditional and without personal benefit to the donor, the church does not refund contributions.
DESIGNATED GIVING
The church receives donor-designated giving in areas that are in harmony with the mission of the church and approved by the Session. While the church accepts enduring or endowment gifts for special purposes, the intention of the church is to utilize its resources to further its mission immediately. All designated gifts shall include a clause granting to the church Session the privilege of changing the use of the gift in the event the designated purpose has already been achieved, is not a viable ministry of the congregation or no longer fits the scope of the church’s mission. If it is not possible to follow the donor request, the Session will determine, at its discretion, an appropriate use for the gift—taking into account the donor’s ascertainable intent.
CURRENT DESIGNATED GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
LEGACY – First A.R.P. Church long-term investments for strengthening the long-term viability and sustainability of the church’s worship, mission, and facility needs
LOVE – special emergency needs within the church family
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS – support for those who are sent to serve
MAQSOOD – support for adopted student at A.R.P. Christian Boarding School in Pakistan
FLORAL FUND – seasonal floral needs and in honor or in memory gifts.
EASTER, JUBILEE, & THANKSGIVING – supports extra causes and denominational ministry initiatives
GOOD SAMARITAN FUND – domestic disaster relief support through our denominational ministry
LEGACY FUND
The mission of the Legacy Fund is to maintain, invest, and appropriately build our reserve funds to strengthen the long-term viability and sustainability of the church’s worship, mission, and facility needs. Our goal is to raise $500 monthly to invest in our market-based account with The A.R.P. Foundation, a ministry of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. We also can facilitate your life and estate gifts at your direction or in coordination with estate planning professionals.
REFUSAL OF DONATION
The church reserves the right to refuse any donation for any reason. To ensure that all gifts are effectively used, no gift will be accepted which is unduly restrictive, likely to result in a net loss for the church or designated for a purpose outside of the mission of the church.
NON-CASH GIFTS
Non-cash gifts to the church will be acknowledged with a letter of appreciation that describes the donated property but does not indicate a value for the donated item. For larger non-cash gifts (over $5,000 in value) the church will comply with donor needs for appraisal and completion of appropriate tax forms. Donors of vehicles will receive Form 1098-C within 30 days of the gift receipt as well as notification of any value received from disposal.
PLANNED AND ESTATE GIVING
Life gifts, whether made directly or by bequest are accepted in the form of cash, securities or real property. Gifts may be unrestricted or designated for a specific purpose. All designated gifts shall include a clause granting to the church board the privilege of changing the use of the gift in the event the designated purpose has already been achieved, is not a viable ministry of the congregation or no longer fits the scope of the church’s mission. If it is not possible to follow the donor request, the church board will determine, at its discretion, an appropriate use for the gift—taking into account the donor’s ascertainable intent.