THOUGHTS ON MONEY
No Monkey Business Here!
We’ll be the first to admit it. There has been a lot of monkey business with money and churches. At Journey’s Crossing, we are not monkeys! From day one, the leadership of Journey’s Crossing has exercised full accountability, ethical business practices and wise stewardship with the resources we receive. Our financial integrity is above reproach. The money received does not pad the pockets of anyone but goes to further our mission in the Washington/Baltimore Region of creating places for our friends to experience Jesus.
How you spend your money reflects what’s important to you.
It’s true for churches and individuals. At Journey’s Crossing, we love to generously bless people and to spend money to impact lives instead of letting it pile up in the bank. Tools only work if you use them. If you’d like to give online or set-up an automated giving account please click here. If you are contributing to a mission trip and want to designate your funds toward a specific volunteer, please click here.
We Truly Believe You Can’t Out Give God
The Bible says in Matthew 6:24 that the top competitor for our commitment to Jesus is money. Giving allows us to demonstrate that He is more important to us than material things. Not having cash or check on hand doesn’t have to hold you back from giving. You can be obedient today by giving online. There is no organization with more potential to change the world than the local church!
Money Questions
Why does Journey’s Crossing give things away?
We are a church. We invest in people. We are not simply a business trying to increase its bottom line. We give away bibles, coffee, curriculum, books, CDs, food, and other gifts including major donations because we follow the example of a generous God.
Do you have high accounting standards?
Yes. We have a leadership team that includes staff members and faithful volunteers to oversee all financial systems. Every financial contributor receives a copy of our “Giving Update” letter (at least once a quarter and often every other month) from our Lead Pastor along with a copy of your current giving statement for your records. In this letter, you’ll be some of the first to know about upcoming opportunities, inside information and the current challenges the church is facing.
What happens to leftover money?
Every year the staff takes an around-the-world tour with their families and closest friends. Once that is taken care of, the rest is bet playing roulette in Vegas in hopes of hitting it big and funding the newest building campaign. (We are kidding!) Seriously, there is not a lot of leftover money. But what is leftover goes toward ministry expenses for the following year.
Where does Journey’s Crossing get its money?
Our support comes from people who tithe (giving back to God 10% of earnings) and from the free-willed offerings of attendees and supporters. It is normal for anyone that calls Journey’s Crossing “home” to support the church financially. We do not have a few individuals funding everything.
Schedule Your Giving
Your life is busy these days, isn’t it? Between paying bills, running errands, and remembering birthdays and anniversaries, giving can easily get put on the back burner. The truth is, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can literally schedule your next gift in two minutes. Go ahead, give your brain a break. It deserves it.
What is Tithing?
A tithe—which just means “tenth”—is defined as the first 10% of a person’s income before taxes or anything else comes out. The Bible says we can take the promises of God to the bank. When we bring our first and best back to God, He promises to bless the rest. We can’t outgive God. We know tithing is a huge step of obedience, but you’re not in this alone!
The Foundation Of Our Giving
The Bible teaches us a baseline standard for giving. (Deuteronomy 26) When we give the first fruit to the church, we put God first in our lives. Generosity is an act of worship that expresses our gratitude, faith and love for others. God provides for the ministry of Journey’s Crossing through your generosity. We honor your gifts with faithful stewardship, ethical business practices and full accountability so that the financial integrity of Journey’s Crossing remains beyond reproach.
There can be significant tax benefits when gifting securities directly to a charity, as the CRA does not apply capital gains tax. For more information or to gift a security, email Sue Obloy.
Not From You, For You
“Plans fail for a lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22
We’ve all needed help with our finances at one time or another. There’s no shame in that. So if you’re feeling stuck in your finances, or just not sure where to go for help understanding it all, we’ve gathered together some tools and resources to help you.