The FAITH PROMISE PLAN
for MISSIONARY GIVING

The FAITH PROMISE OFFERING is a method of missionary giving by individuals or families through their local church.  A FAITH PROMISE is made to contribute a certain amount, either weekly or monthly, to the missionary fund of the local church, over and above the usual tithe, building fund, and other offerings.   It is based upon faith and is given first, just as the tithe, trusting God for needs.  It follows the basic biblical principle of sowing and reaping, sowing always being first.  (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Consider the following principles and statements:

1.  The Faith Promise Offering is not a clever gimmick of men.  The principle of faith-giving, even promising to give, is set forth in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9.  (CF. especially the reference to the Corinthians' promise a year earlier -- 8:10 & 9:2)

2.  The Faith Promise Offering commitment is for one year. (Thus the necessity of having a yearly Faith Promise Offering)

3.  The Faith Promise Offering is over and above your tithes or regular contributions to your church.

4.  The Faith Promise Offering is normally not designated to any particular missionary.  The church usually votes on distribution of funds.

5.  The Faith Promise Offering is not a pledge.   A pledge is a legal, binding agreement, such as is signed with any credit purchase.

6.  The Faith Promise Offering is between the giver and the Lord.  You are never asked for it.  The cards are usually disposed of after the conference.

7.  You should give your Faith Promise Offering just as you give your tithe -- right off the top.  It is the scriptural offering God has promised to bless.  (Luke 6:38; Proverbs 11:24)

8.  The Faith Promise Offering depends not on our ability to give, but on our faith in God to provide the means to give.  In 2 Corinthians 8:3 the Macedonian believers were willing to give, not only what they could afford but what they couldn't.  They had to trust the Lord for the supply of their needs.

9.  The Faith Promise offering is motivated by our love for the Lord.  (2 Corinthians 8:8)

10.  The Faith Promise Offering is good for the believer and good for the church.  (2 Corinthians 8:10 -- "expedient" means good, advisable, in the interest of oneself.)

11.  The Faith Promise Offering includes every member of the family.  Children and young people should be taught the Biblical principles of tithes and offerings.  (Matthew 6:21)

12.  God not only encourages us to give, but He supplies the gifts.  (2 Corinthians 9:8-10)

13.   Making a promise or vow is actually encouraged in the Bible.  (Psalm 76:11; 2 Corinthians 8:10; 9:2) 

AN URGENT MATTER

Since the spread of the gospel is so urgent, NOW IS THE TIME TO IMPLEMENT THE FAITH PROMISE OFFERING FOR MISSIONS.  Even a year's delay can cost thousands of dollars for missions and deny many blessings to God's people.   (Acts 20:35)  God has chosen us to be His ambassadors.  (2 Corinthians 5:20)  But we are also the SENDERS.  Each one of us can give to help send others around the world with the gospel.  (Romans 10:15)

In His last words before His ascension into heaven, Jesus said:   "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.  Amen."  (Matthew 28:19-20)

The COMMAND is clear.  The NEED is obvious.  The FAITH PROMISE PLAN of giving answers the need in three specific ways:
1.   It provides more money for missions.
2.   It enables churches to send more missionaries to the field.
3.   It involves individual believers in the program of world evangelization.

HOW IT WORKS

1.  FAITH PROMISE cards are distributed to each person or couple.

2.  The individual or couple prayerfully consider how much they are willing to trust the Lord to enable them to give to missions above their tithes.

3.  They fill in the amount of their FAITH PROMISE OFFERING and turn in the card.

4. The church totals all the cards and promises missionary support based on the total FAITH PROMISE OFFERING of the people.

5.  Week by week the people give their FAITH PROMISE OFFERINGS as God prospers them and enables them to give.

The Blessings of the Faith Promise Offering

1. God is glorified as He provides both the gift and the needs of the believers and the church in fulfillment of His promises.

2. Missionaries' support needs are met enabling them to go forth with the gospel.

3.  The local church is enabled to carry out the Great Commission more effectively.

4.  The Lord meets the needs of individual believers.  (Matthew 6:33)

5.  The Lord meets the collective needs of the local church.  (Philippians 4:19)