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Generous on every occasion
At The Refuge, we believe that true biblical prosperity is outlined in the Word of God and can be defined as this: He who supplies bread for food and seed for sowers, also supplies and increases our store of seed so that we may be made rich in every way … SO THAT we can be generous on every occasion. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11). Below you will find various areas you can give to. Also check out the FAQ section to find out more information about giving to The Refuge Church.
FAQ
According to Hebrews 11:6, God says without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When you tithe to God, you are truly walking by faith and not by sight. Most of us normally don’t have enough money to spare. So when we tithe, we’re putting God to the test. We’re saying, “Yes, Lord, I believe you are the God of your Word, and I am giving by faith”.
You have to use your faith to please God. As you step out in faith to give your tithes and offering, you are showing God that you believe him, and great shall be your reward eventually.
Be faithful day in and day out, week in and week out, month in and month out, year in and year out, and you will see the windows of heaven shower blessings on you and your family that are so great, that there will eventually be an overflowing in your life.
WHAT IS TITHING?
“Tithe” means 10% or “a tenth part”. God’s Word tests us that the first 10% of everything we earn or receive belongs to Him. God says in Malachi 3:8, if you don’t give your tithes and offerings to Him, you are a thief. In verse 9, He says that we bring lots of problems on ourselves if we don’t tithe. The only way God’s work will be done on this earth is if God’s people give of their finances. Certainly, the world isn’t going to finance the end time harvest. It’s the responsibility of the church, or God’s people.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “TITHE” AND “OFFERINGS”?
The tithe is to be the first 10% of everything you receive financially. An offering is any amount you would give above the tithe.
REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TITHE
God commands it. In Malachi 3:10, God says, “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse”. The storehouse refers to the place where you worship. The tithe is to be given to your home church, the place where you are spiritually fed. When you give to support charities and other ministries, you should be giving out of your offerings. The whole tithe belongs to the local church.
Tithing proves God’s Word is true. God says, if you will put Him to the test in tithes and offerings, eventually you will see great blessings overtake your life, even to the point that you will see God open the windows of blessing upon you and your family.
Tithing is essential to spiritual growth. God tells us in Luke 16:11, “if therefore you have not been faithful in the use of money, how can you expect Him to entrust greater riches to you?” Many Christians don’t grow spiritually, and remain spiritual babies because they are not faithful to obey God in the tithes and offering.
Tithing is an investment for eternity. In Matthew 6:19, Jesus told us to “store up treasure in heaven.” When you give your tithes and offerings to the Lord’s work, you are investing your money in souls for the Kingdom, and helping to get people to heaven
In Leviticus 27:30-34 (KJV), you will find that the tithe belongs to the Lord. So God was saying that a tenth of the land, seed, fruit of the tree, the herb, the flock, etc. belongs to God.
Galatians 6:6 says: “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teaches in all good things.” The word communicate here is a Greek word (koinoneo) which refers to the material support of the ministry.
So with these scriptures in mind, The Refuge is completely transparent regarding our finances. Every year we are independently audited by an outside firm and the results of the audit are available for our congregation to view. The Sr. Pastor also makes available yearly ‘highlights’ showing income, expenses and distribution.
EXPENSE CATEGORIES
Outreach / Missions – We support over 31 missionaries annually. This includes local, national and international initiatives. Every year The Refuge directs over 10% of our annual income to Outreach / Missions alone.
Ministries – We have several ministries ranging from children’s, youth, small groups, young at heart, women’s, men’s, etc. These ministries continue to grow as a result of your tithes and offerings.
Operating Expenses – This allows us to maintain our facilities to the best of our ability and provide a welcoming atmosphere to members and visitors alike.
Administrative Expenses – This entails required expenses, such as supplies, insurance, and fees.
Staffing – We are blessed with an amazing staff ranging from Pastors to support personnel. Every person on staff is focused on spreading the love of Christ and making a positive impact for the Kingdom.
At The Refuge, we want to keep giving as simple and streamlined as possible.
Currently, you can give:
By check or cash
Online
Through The Refuge Mobile App
You are welcome to set up recurring gifts towards both tithes & offerings and missions, however, they will need to be set up separately. The reason for this is that these categories are separate entities on our giving platform. Follow the links online or on the app to reach the separate landing pages and schedule your gifts regularly. If you have any questions, please feel free to watch the videos for support or contact our office with questions.
We have updated the Missions link. You can now directly support the selected missionary by selecting the Ministries Tab, select Missions, scroll down and now you can directly support the Missionary of your choice by selecting their direct link.
You can access your yearly giving statement online through Planning Center Online. Open your profile and simply click on the ‘statement PDF’ in the right hand corner. If you need further information, please contact the Finance Team at The Refuge: 704-788-2400.