First Things First
The first belongs to God. We find this principle all through God's Word. Tithing, giving God the first ten percent of our income to the local church, is the primary way we acknowledge that God is first. (Proverbs 3:9,10)
Know Giving, Know Life
Giving is the antidote for materialism. Whereas the tithe is giving ten percent of your income to the local church, an offering is given out of the ninety percent of your income. Therefore the offering is giving over and above the tithe. The Bible says that by giving generously we are able to "take hold of the life that is truly life." You aren't really living unless you are freely giving. (I Timothy 6:18,19)
The Treasure Test
Giving is the only area in the Bible where God invites us to test Him. Give your tithe (the first 10% of your income) to God and see if He does not open the floodgates of heaven to bless you in ways that you never dreamed possible. (Malachi 3:10)
An Eternal Investment
Even when the stock market's down, you can make an investment that pays dividends for a lifetime and beyond. By investing in the life-changing message of Jesus, you can leverage your money for eternal purposes. (I Timothy 6:7)
Giving FAQs
How much do I tithe?
The word tithe comes from the Hebrew word ma’aser (literally, “tenth”). For that reason, we follow Malachi 3:10 and its command to “bring the tithes into the storehouse,” or follow the general guideline of offering 10% of our income to Him.
What if I don’t have enough money to tithe?
Giving 10% of your income to your church can be a big - and often frightening - commitment! But if scripture tells us to honor Him with our first fruits and our blessings will be overflowing, we must learn to trust that He is faithful to provide. God wants us to trust Him. Seek His guidance in how much you should give, and he will honor your faithfulness and obedience.
Should I tithe based on my pre-tax or after-tax income? (Gross or Net?)
The most common view is that gross earnings is the amount of God’s provision, and the tithe should be based on one-tenth of God’s provision, while taxes are generally considered payment for the privileges and services provided by the government. It is important to note, whatever you believe, that the spirit in which we give is of greatest value to God. He tells us in II Corinthians 9 that “each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give; not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Are my donations tax-deductible?
Generally, yes. ZadokWCI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations that we receive are tax-deductible. However, you should consult your tax advisor to see if you can deduct your donations. You will receive a receipt of your gift either by e-mail or by postal mail.
What is the deadline for annual contributions?
Cash contributions must be received or postmarked by December 31 to be included on your giving statement for that year. Online transactions must be initiated by December 31.
Why does ZadokWCI accept credit cards?
Many people in the modern world use credit cards as a safer alternative to cash, or choose to utilize the convenience features and reward programs offered by many cards. These cards can be a powerful and useful financial tool, as long as the balance is being paid off at the end of each statement. The Bible says in Romans 13:8, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” For that reason, we offer the ability to tithe from the credit card. We very strongly discourage anyone with a history of credit card debt from exercising this option.
What are ZadokWCI basic beliefs about money?
We believe that God has blessed our church because, from the beginning, we have followed three core principles in the handling of money:
(1) Bless people
(2) Base your budget on what God wants to happen, not based on what you might get
(3) Money is a tool for a church to use to carry-out the work that God has called us to do.
(4)We believe these things strike at the heart of how God wants money to be used as seen in the Bible.
Where does ZadokWCI get all its money?
It’s the financial generosity of everyday people in our community that fuels the incredible life change that we experience around here. Our support comes from the tithes of average people (giving 10%), as well as other contributions from ZadokWCI attendees.
CONFIDENTIALITY and SECURITY
Is giving on the site safe? Is your site secure?
Absolutely. Our site uses industry-standard SSL technology to ensure that the information you enter is kept secure from prying eyes. In addition, all sensitive information that we keep in our database is stored in encrypted form so that it is not human-readable.
Will I get spam by giving you my information?
While we may occasionally use your information to contact you, ZadokWCI does not buy, sell, barter, trade or otherwise distribute your information to any organization other than for the purposes you’ve given us permission to do (i.e. we have to tell the credit card company your name in order to charge your credit card).
I received a message saying that your site’s certificate wasn’t recognized. What should I do?
Your computer’s list of Certificate Authorities isn’t current. You should update your computer’s operating system software to get a current list. In the meantime, it is safe to use the site - the message is just a warning to make you aware of the situation.
What’s Online Giving?
Online Giving is a completely voluntary, pre-approved way to electronically make contributions to ZadokWCI directly from your bank account or credit card, avoiding the hassle of putting cash or check in the offering basket each week.
Does this really honor God?
Many people feel that if giving is not done in the midst of a worship service, then it is somehow insignificant. The primary principle in giving is to be cheerful. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 it says, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." The joy of giving comes from the faithfulness of people offering back to God some of the resources he has blessed them with. The method of giving is an individual choice. The ease and consistency of using e-gift may help you meet your giving goals.
Is there a minimum amount I need to contribute?
No. You can designate any amount to be given online.
What if I change my mind?
You can cancel your participation at any time
What if I want to give more to ZadokWCI on special occasions?
You are always free to make gifts to ZadokWCI in excess of your monthly contributions. Some people do this as part of their year-end tax planning. Your contribution can be placed in the offering basket, mailed to the church office or given through the one time gift via "ZadokWCI" Online Giving".
What’s in Online Giving for ZadokWCI?
Our primary motivation is to make it easier to support ZadokWCI financially. The "Online Giving" cut the hassle of members, visitors and partners across the globe having to make cash contributions or write individual checks to "ZadokWCI" each week. There are also some benefits to Z each week. There are also some benefits in the form of administrative savings – not having to collect, count, record and deposit as many contributions from the offering bag, and having a more predictable cash flow to help in budgetary planning. While one result may be that some people give more regularly, is all about serving those who support ZadokWCI
