Stewardship

Ways to Tithe

Give Online

Online contributions can be made on a “One Time Gift” or “Recurring Gift” basis.

Option One: “One Time Gift”
To make a single, one-time contribution to Covenant, simply click on the button labeled “One Time Gift” and fill in the required information. Contributions can be made securely through Credit Card, Debit Card or via transfer of funds from your preferred Bank Account. None of your confidential card or account information will be stored or warehoused at Covenant. Your secure, encrypted online transaction is handled directly by the financial institutions represented.

Option Two: “Recurring Gift”
This option will enable you to set up an on-going contribution to Covenant on whatever basis you select. You elect the amount and frequency of the contribution and are able to change or alter your selection by simply logging back in to your established account on the Member Portal.

For Members of Covenant
To take advantage of the convenience of the Recurring Gift option, you will simply need to visit the Member Portal and establish your personal user and password, the go to the menu option”Giving” tab and follow the prompts..

For Attendees, Guests or Non-Members of Covenant
If you are not already a member at Covenant you will need to contact Jeremy Wilkerson at the Church Office (864) 244-3162 to enable him to identify you within the confidential database so that you can securely establish your account.

Additional Information Is Available in our Frequently Asked Questions ” section of this web page.  If you have difficulties establishing your account, feel free to contact us.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE ONLINE

Text to Give

Texting is an easy way to make your gift to Covenant! 
Please text covumc to the number 73256.
You will receive a return text with a link that you will follow to specify the amount of your gift and provide your payment information.

Stocks, Bonds & Real Estate

GIVING APPRECIATED STOCK

Gifts of securities are often the most advantageous donation from a tax perspective–and made easy with the help of your fund administrator. Contributing long-term, appreciated securities to your fund account allows you to avoid paying capital gains tax. In addition, you still receive an income tax deduction equal to the full fair market value of the security at the time it is contributed. Gifts of long-term, appreciated securities are fully deductible in the current year up to a maximum of 30% of your adjusted gross income.*
* Amounts contributed in excess of the threshold may be carried forward up to 5 years.

EXAMPLE
Purchase price of stock……..$5,000
Current value of stock……..$25,000
Stock contribution amount……..$25,000
Charitable deduction……..$25,000
Capital gain avoided……..$20,000

This information is not meant as tax or legal advice. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Please consult a professional tax advisor to determine how this tax law affects your situation.

If you would like to give stocks, bonds, real estate, or any other assets, or if you have a question regarding any of the previous items, please call the church office.

Offering Plate

Each Sunday, you can place your offering into our offering plates during each service.

Stewardship

The biblical doctrine of stewardship defines a man’s relationship to God. It identifies God as owner and man as manager. Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” God makes man His co-worker in administering all aspects of our life. Deuteronomy 8:18 “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” Starting with this concept, we are then able to accurately view and correctly value not only our possessions, but, more importantly, human life itself. In essence, stewardship defines our purpose in this world as assigned to us by God Himself. Stewardship is not God taking something from us; it is His method of bestowing His richest gifts upon His people.
 

Tithe

“Tithe” means ten percent of your income. Deuteronomy 14:22-23  “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.  Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.” It is important that you give your tithe to the place that feeds you spiritually. When you plant your seed in the Lord’s house, God will multiply it supernaturally beyond your wildest dreams. Our giving should be done cheerfully to glorify and worship God by serving His people – our brothers and sisters. 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

More about tithing

When should I tithe? We are to return the tithe to God first — before we start spending money on other things. Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops”
 
We should give in proportion to the blessing God has given us. Deuteronomy 16:17 “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.”
 
What if I can’t afford to pay tithe? God promises to richly bless us if we are faithful in tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:10 “ ‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’ ”
 
Do I tithe when in debt? We should pay what we owe to God first, and God will help us take care of our debts. Psalm 50:14-15 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
 
Christ endorsed tithing and stewardship. Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” Tithing is important, but giving a tithe does not exempt us from fulfilling God’s other directives, such as giving of our time to help others.

Offering

What is the difference between tithe and offering? Tithe is giving a tenth of your earnings back to the work of God. An offering, or generous giving, is over and above the tithe. Offerings are something that you search your heart and decide to give beyond the tithe, but not in place of the tithe. They include your gifts to institutions other than the church, such as universities, etc.

How your efforts have been monetarily rewarded.