As Christians, firstly we give as a response to God’s amazing grace and his generosity in sending his son, Jesus Christ, for us. Giving can be of our time, our talents, and our financial resources.

Giving not only blesses others, but it is also an act of obedience and of worship to God. It is also a faith exercise reminding us that it is God who provides for our needs. 

In the New Testament, the early Christians practiced communal support and generosity. Acts 2:44-45 describes how they shared everything in common and provided for anyone in need. Regular giving fosters a sense of ownership and belonging, reinforcing your commitment to the church community. When everyone contributes, it spreads the financial burden more evenly and encourages a culture of collective responsibility.

On a really practical level, giving to Glow helps us outwork the vision. Together, our giving enables us to run various ministry programs, including worship services, children/youth programs and serving our local community. Financial giving also makes it possible to employ staff and maintain our facilities at Glow.

The term "tithe" refers to a portion of one's income that is set aside for religious or charitable purposes. The concept of tithing originates from biblical times and still has significance today. Tithing is more than a religious obligation, it fosters generosity, strengthens the believer's dependence on God, and helps the church realise its goal. It's also intended to be a joyful offering and blessing to us. 

Tithing creates a framework to work out a heart and lifestyle of generosity in our lives. By establishing regular, disciplined giving, we promote a lifestyle of generosity, fostering personal growth in empathy and gratitude, and encouraging further acts of generosity. This framework not only benefits those who receive but also enriches the lives of those who give, embedding generosity as a core value in their lives.

While tithing can help us set a specific percentage, it also serves as a baseline, encouraging us to give beyond the minimum we are able to give. While 10% is a traditional amount of our income to give, some may feel called to give more than this, especially if they are in a position to do so.

In his first letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul writes that “each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income” (1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV). The amount that you give will depend on your financial means, but we would encourage you to diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom in how much you should be giving. For some 10% may be an appropriate amount, for others it may be more.

Giving should also be a joyful experience and be seen as an act of worship. Paul writes “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” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).

The best way to start tithing is by setting up a standing order with your bank using the bank details for Glow UK. If you want to give online, you can also set up a recurring donation by selecting donation type monthly. If you set up a standing order or recurring donation and you are a taxpayer, please do not forget to complete an online gift aid declaration so that your gifts will be eligible for Gift Aid.

Not to you. You will not pay any fees with an online gift unless you select to do so when making the donation. There are no fees when giving via standing order either.

Yes. You have the option of either making a one-time gift or setting up a recurring gift. For a one-time gift, you can designate if the gift should be made immediately or you can schedule the gift to come out of your bank account on the date(s) specified by you. Likewise, reccurring gifts can be scheduled on the dates that work best for you.

Yes. You can change or cancel your contribution at any time before the date of your next contribution. Simply log into your bank to make the necessary changes.

Yes. You are able view the complete history of your contributions through Churchsuite. If you have a Churchsuite account, your history will be there.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our finance team for advice about your giving. Call: 01325 329503 or email [email protected]