CONGREGATIONAL FIRSTFRUITS A church that practices firstfruits giving supports individuals who are asked to practice firstfruits giving.

IMPLEMENTING CONGREGATIONAL FIRSTFRUITS 1.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 DISTRIBUTION 1.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 PLAN Our 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 REPORT This year our congregation estimated we would give $200,000 in worship to God. Last week we offered $3, 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, and sent on $31, 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 EXPERIENCE Total ReceiptsFirstfruits Giving 2002$278,347$2, $294,961$32, $308,229$40, $342,173$47, $379,400$55, $391,860$62, $417,102$66, $406,813$65, $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?