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As I was arranging the abundance of durable goods at the foot of the manger beneath the alter (and this month, through the generosity of our people, the manger was lost!) I was approached by someone asking me if our members might be lowering their giving to our general ministry budget in order to support “The Greatest Gift Project”.  An excellent question that deserves an answer.

Lyal Shaller, a well-recognized church leadership author and consultant out of the late 70s and early 80s called the concept “second pocket giving”. 

As our church family steps into exciting new opportunities to further expand the footprint of Faith Lutheran to our surrounding community—like “The Greatest Gift Project”, mission trips or outreach events—you may wonder: Will giving to a special project take away from our regular tithes and offerings?

The answer is: not at all.

In fact, churches often find that special projects inspire greater generosity without affecting general giving. Here’s why:

  • Different Buckets: Most people give to special projects from separate funds—like savings set aside or bonuses—In the case of “The Greatest Gift Project”, most just add one or two items to their regular shopping cart or find a slightly used product from their home.
  • Clear Purpose: General giving supports our day-to-day ministry. Special projects are one-time opportunities to make a specific impact.
  • Increased Engagement: When people see a clear goal and feel part of something meaningful, they often give more—not less.
  • Open Communication: We’re committed to transparency. You’ll always know where your gifts are going and how they’re making a difference.

We cannot say “thank you” enough to our daring and courageous leaders who have stepped up to lead groups for our various campaigns in recent month.  Let’s continue to give faithfully to our regular ministries while also stepping up for the special opportunities God places before us.

Thank you for your generosity and heart for the mission! MORE TO COME!