There are lots of reasons not to turn in a commitment card to the church on Pledge Sunday, February 16. Let's look at some of them:
Reason Number 1
I may give a little from time to time, but I don't fill out a commitment card because the number I would put in would be small. Such a small gift doesn't really do anything, right?
47% of our giving units (an individual or a family) give dollar amounts from $.01 to $1,000, and that totaled nearly $68,000 in 2019. This figure is enough money to fund almost half of our giving to local SMBC missions for the year.
73% of our giving units give between $.01 and $5,000—totaling more than $540,000. That represents 13% of our 2019 budget.
26% of giving units give between $5,000 and $50,000—totaling more than $2.5M, 60% of our 2019 budget.
Please turn in a pledge card this Sunday, February 16 because it really does takes all of our gifts to accomplish our ministry.
Reason Number 2
I don't turn in a commitment card because I don't have that much disposable income. I'll be sure to give when I have more. Sound OK?
29% of 2019 pledges were from children 18 and under. 148 children gave to the 2019 budget—that's 21% of our total giving units. And they're not giving just a nickel a week. In some cases, children contributed $200 or more to the 2019 budget.
Please turn in a pledge card this Sunday, February 16. As the hymn says, "if we tarry 'til we're better" we will never come at all, or in this case, give at all.
Reason Number 3
I don't turn in a commitment card because that's just for the super-committed. It's probably the case that only a few people around me each Sunday give.
Over the past 5 years, our giving units have INCREASED from 586 in 2016 to 702 in 2019. That's 116 new giving units, a 20% increase in 5 years.
Over the past 5 years, our average of total dollars given per giving unit has decreased from $6,443 to $6,104. It might seem strange, but that's actually a good thing—it indicates that more people are giving smaller amounts, rather than just a few bearing the full load.
More and more of those sitting around you in the pews or with you in Sunday School are giving and contributing to the life and ministry of the church. If you haven't, but are committed to worship and the activities of the church, then you should as well.
This Sunday, February 16 is Pledge Sunday. No matter what the amount, make a commitment to your church and the work God has given us ALL to do.
