Give Online with easyTithe

easyTithe 

(For one time gifts or recurring tithes and offerings!)

All of us can give our tithes and  offerings online now. There are a few different ways we’re able to give.  First, you can give through the church website. It’s easy to sign up  and doesn’t take much time. You can also give through our mobile giving  app, available for both Apple and Android devices. We’re also going to  be offering text giving. We will be publishing the number to text in the  bulletin.

We know  a lot of us are stuck in our ways, but by being able to give online  now, we can set up how often we want to give, how much we want to give,  and where we want to give to. I encourage all of you to pray about how  God is calling you to give and be a faithful and obedient steward in our  mission of making disciples. 

In 2  Corinthians Paul gives us a great reminder of the call of stewardship to  the Church. He says these words: “The person who sows sparingly will  also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap  generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not out  of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God  is able to make every grace overflow in you, so that in every way,  always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” -2  Corinthians 9:6-8 (HCSB) 

For more information, you can go to the church website, or ask one of our staff members.

* There is a small fee of $3 per transaction for this convenience! 

Cash & Checks

Cash and checks are the most common way donations are received by the  church. Our church sends out giving statements to ensure we are  properly recording any gifts you have given. We also normally include  flyers or a “Faith & Finances Newsletter” with helpful information  about church finances and financial ministries

Electronic Funds Transfer

You can give electronically to our church or if you would like, set  up  your checking or savings account to give your regular tithes and/or  offerings through a regularly scheduled electronic funds transfer.  Contact the office or your financial institution for information on how  to do this.

Year-end Gifts

Some individuals like to make special year-end gifts to support our  ministry. Because all gifts to the church are subject to IRS deadlines,  please remember that all year-end gifts must be received in the church  office before midnight on December 31st, or must be  postmarked before the end of December to be deducted in the present tax  year. Any gifts received after December 31st and not postmarked in  December will be included in the next tax year. The date written on a  check will not determine in which tax year a gift is included. Only the  actual date of receipt by the church or the postmark will establish the  correct tax year for the IRS.

Envelopes

The church provides giving envelopes in the Sunday School Classes.  Any gifts received by the church in these giving envelopes will be  tracked and sent out in an annual statement.

Stock & Mutual Funds

It is possible to transfer stocks and mutual funds directly to the  church. If this is done with securities that have been held for more  than one year, the giver will be able to deduct the full fair market  value of the securities and avoid paying any capital gain tax. If,  however, the securities are sold first and then the proceeds are given  to the church, the giver will still have to pay capital gain taxes to  the I.R.S. A little planning in this area can help you take full  advantage of the tax benefits allowed by the government. Please call the  church office on how to EASILY transfer stocks and mutual funds from  your account to the church’s account for the best tax advantage.

Personal Property (Gifts-in-kind)

Over the years, the church has been given automobiles, computers,  office furniture, furniture/furnishings, and more. WE gratefully accept  all gifts-in-kind that we can truly use, or we try to direct givers to  other ministries that have specific needs.  Gifts-in-kind can be a  little more complicated due to I.R.S. regulations, but we will be happy  to help you with the process. Please contact the church office to  discuss any possible gift-in-kind donations. We will then determine if  and how we can use the items and if you need assistance in having the  items picked up or if you’ll drop them off yourself.

Real Estate

In general, gifts of real estate have the same tax benefits as giving  appreciated securities. If the property has been held for more than one  year, the giver can typically take an income tax deduction for the full  fair market value and avoid capital gain tax on the appreciated portion  of the property. It is also possible that other benefits can include  savings in estate taxes and avoiding probate. Please call the church  office on how to transfer real estate from your account to the church’s  account for the best tax advantage.

Life Insurance

Churches can benefit from life insurance policies. If the original  purpose for a life insurance policy no longer exists, you can make the  church the owner and beneficiary of the policy and receive a tax  deduction. The deduction can be taken immediately and the amount of the  contribution is typically the replacement value or cost basis of the  policy.

Gift Annuities

Charitable gift annuities can be set up where the giver receives an  immediate tax deduction on irrevocable gifts to the church, but will  also receive fixed income payments from their gift for the rest of their  life. Please call the church office at (903)849-6042 for more details  or assistance.

Wills, Bequests & Estate Planning

A charitable gift can be given to the church through your will or  other estate plans. Such a gift can be used to honor the Lord from the  financial increase He has given you during your lifetime (Prov 3:9, 10)  and can benefit your church in wonderful ways. This type of gift can  also  be helpful to appropriately avoid estate taxes. If you choose to  include the church in your  will or estate plan, please let  your  attorney know the church’s name and address. Further, Please communicate  to your attorney that the church is a 501(c) (3) organization  incorporated in the state of Texas, Please contact the office for the  tax ID and our FED ID.

If you have already included the church in your will, please let us  know so that we can say “thank you.” Don’t forget that qualified  retirement plans will be considered part of your estate at death, but if  handled correctly they can also be deductible from the estate as  charitable gifts. If you would like assistance from our church or  denomination with estate planning, call the church.

Final Thoughts

Many of the ways to give mentioned above can be very effective if  utilized correctly. If you don not know a qualified Christian CPA,  financial planner, tax attorney or estate planner, to help with your  financial plans & charitable giving goals, please contact the church  office at (903) 849-6042.

Information about our church’s finances

Our church is financially dependent on God’s provisions.  These provisions primarily come through the generous and faithful gifts  of the people who care about the ministry of this church.

Our church’s annual operating budget is approved by our  congregation in our December church conference. We also have a list of  pending special projects and future purchases that are planned. You can  find information about them on the church webpage at www.wlbcc.com

A finance team of 7 church members oversees the proper  use of our church’s finances. A report is given to the church in the  monthly business conference.

11% of our annual budget goes to support Christian mission workin  our community, country and world. In addition to that we have special  Mission offerings throughout the year to support mission work through  the Southern Baptist Convention.

Giving statements are sent out annually and monthly  financial reports are made available to the church. If you ever have any  questions about your giving records, please contact the financial  secretary in our office at (903) 849-3421.

Designated gifts are welcome in our church. Special  gifts can be designated for approved building projects, capital  improvements, benevolence needs, missions and ministries within our  church. We ask the designated giving be “over and above”people’s regular  giving so as not to hurt our general giving that takes care of our  staff, missionaries, ministries and facilities.

The church thrives on volunteer service. We believe each person has  been gifted by God to serve in and through the church, and we want to  help you get connected where you can find the joy of serving. Please  check areas in which you are interested in helping and submit this  form. 

Thank you for your cooperation and faithful service!

 We also required that you be over 13 years old to complete the  form online. If you are a child you need to speak with the leadership  to let them know you are interested in volunteer opportunities that are  age appropriate. 

• Helpful Resources for Your Personal Finances
• Crown Financial Ministries:www.crown.org
• Dave Ramsey also has some valuable resources:www.daveramsey.com
• eChristianFinance: The Financial Principles of the Bible
  www.echristianfinance.com
• Our church also offers occasional Financial Bible studies and classes.

• Give cheerfully
  2 Cor 9:7
• Give generously
  2 Chron 31:5, 1 Chron 29:14-17, 1 Tim 6:17-19
• Give systematically
  Deut 14:22, Gen 28:16-22, Prov 3:9-10
• Give reverently
  Matt 2:11, Deut 14:23, Lev 22:20, Mal 1:6-9
• Give proportionally
  1 Cor 16:2, Deut 16:17, Ex 35:5, Ezra 2:69
• Give faithfully
  1 Cor 16:2, Deut 14:27, 2 Chron 31:4-8
• Give joyfully
  2 Cor 8:2. 2 Chron 24:10, 2 Chron 29:36, 1 Chron 29:17
• Give willingly
  2 Cor 8:12, Ex 35:21-22
• Give regularly
  Deut 16:16, 1 Cor 16:2, Neh 10:35-39
• Give expectantly
  Mal 3:8-10, Gen 28:20-22, Luke 6:38, 1 Kings 17: 13-16, 2 Cor 9:6-11
• Give eternally
  Matt 6:19-20, 1 Tim 6:19,  Mark 10:21, Heb 11:13-16
• Give extravagantly
  Jn 12:1-8, Mark 12:41-44, 1 Chorn 29:2-9, Ex 35
• Give thoughtfully
  Hag 1:3-11