Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion on eGiving. The credit card piece is one I have grappled with for many hours in prayer. For the first five years eGive did not offer credit card giving because I did not believe it would be good stewardship for the givers or the churches. We lost a number of large potential customers because of this decision but I was OK with that. I was doing the “right” thing. Then some of our church customers asked us to make it available. They felt that people should be able to give any way they wanted to and that credit cards are the way people are used to transacting business online. They believed the decision whould be the church’s and not eGive’s. I have been contacted by a number of givers that wanted to use eGive but could not get a checking account because of their banking history. They had credit cards they wanted to use for giving but were unable to use our service. They were unable to give to their church unless they used cash or a money order and wanted to give using their credit card. Based upon all of these factors I prayed about the decision of whether or not to offer the credit card piece. The next morning after an especially extensive prayer about this topic (because I had to make a decision) I received an email from a person who was not willing to use eGive to give to their church because they WOULD NOT give us their checking account number. They found it suspicious that we did not accept credit cards and wanted me to know they chose not to use our service because eGive did not accept credit cards. I have concluded that eventually all churches will accept credit cards because of various factors in the financial services industry and demand by their members. We offer credit card giving but it is each church’s decision. If the church decides not to accept credit cards the credit card option does not even show up on their givers’ make a gift screen. The churches that do offer credit card giving have seen a big increase in their eGiving and many of the gifts have been very large. I believe it is not a matter if churches will accept credit cards for giving but when. There are many people who are able to responsibly use credit cards and for some reason feel more comfortable using credit cards for online transactions. Credit cards are by far the most commonly used form of payment online. I believe that either method is safe and acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. Again, not a matter of how you give but what is in your heart when you do. I pray extensively before making any major decisions in my stewardship of eGive. I believe the answers to my prayers have always been very clear and easy for me to discern. I pray that I have made the decision that is pleasing to God. I believe that the people who use credit cards to give are just as blessed as those that do not and the churches certainly benefit. It seems to me that eGive’s acceptance of credit cards benefits the giver and the receiver.

For those of you who disagree, I was where you are not very long ago and I respect your opinion.

God’s Grace, Peace and Blessings to All!

Brad

Some of the churches that use our service receive over 60% of their giving electronically. Cultures change… Livestock and produce used to be the way people gave. Checks, online giving and the donation of stocks and other property are relatively recent developments.

I believe that honoring God with the first fruits of your labor and giving with joy from your heart is the main thing. Any way you can do that is how it should be done. The best time to do something the Lord leads you to do is right away. With the Internet available 24 x 7 giving in that manner is possible. I believe that God is honored by a digital tithe and offering as long as it is offered joyfully from the heart with love. So it is not how you give but what is in your heart when you do.

God’s Grace, Peace and Blessings To you! Brad

However… I see a HUGE, GIGANTIC, ENORMOUS, INCREDULOUS, problem with churches accepting credit cards. I won’t get into all the reasons in this comment (people can read my blog for that), but suffice to say that the credit industry exploits the poor for greedy gain, and God DESPISES their dealings… and they will not go unpunished.

We need to be a separate people, who stand for what is right. A people who don’t ask, “What’s wrong with it?” but rather, “Is it right before God… according to His Holy Word?”

Cheers!