Stewardship

Faithful stewards of God’s resources have the unique privilege of making a difference in their generation and in the generations to come.  A faithful steward of God’s resources impacts how we implement and carry out the ministries and programs of First Baptist Church of Brandon.  However, there is more impacted than just our church family.  A portion of your giving supports the ministries of the Tampa Bay Baptist Association, the Florida Baptist Convention, the North American Mission Board, the International Mission Board, and the list goes on and on.  By being a faithful steward with our giving, our generation is impacted with the message of Jesus Christ.  As a staff we challenge EVERY church member to be a faithful steward of God’s resources.

Stewardship of God’s possessions allows us to participate in giving through tithes and also in giving through offerings.  Please note these are two separate means of giving and yet accomplished in the same way to the same loving Heavenly Father.  The first recorded instance of tithing in the Scriptures is the tithe of Abraham in Genesis 14:17-24 (“And Abraham gave him a tenth of all.”).   Tithing is a practice and responsibility that is initiated in the Old Testament and is carried over into the New Testament and should be a vital part of every child of God.  Jesus stated that He came not to replace the law but to fulfill the law.  In no instance did Jesus abolish the tithe.  Jesus came demonstrating to a lost and dying world what a “love offering” involves.  We are firsthand witnesses and beneficiaries of God’s provisions for us through His Son and through His Holy Spirit.  Therefore, our giving as New Testament Christians is based upon our love and faithfulness to our Heavenly Father.

In the “Let Us Rise Up!” campaign we are asking our church family to continue to give your tithe to the annual budget needs of church.  The ongoing ministries and programs of our church family require our continued financial support.  However, we are asking our church family during the “Let Us Rise Up!” campaign to join us through the giving of a “love offering”.  As a church family we have voted to proceed forward in the building of the Ministry and Activity Center.  To pay off the debt that we will incur in building the MAC we have agreed as a church family to the following three steps:

1. Increase the line item in our budget for debt retirement from $300,000 to the amount of $500,000.
2. Fulfill the two-year commitments and pledges we made as a church family totaling over $2.5 million dollars.
3. Encourage those who did not join us in the pledge campaign and new members that will come into our membership following our pledge campaign to join us in this life-changing and legacy project.

If as church members we are faithful to give an OFFERING to our Heavenly Father, He will prosper our church family.  Let us have the faith to look ahead into the future and claim the goodness and blessings of God for our generation and for future generations. Let us rise up and build the Ministry and Activities Center!  Let us demonstrate our faithfulness to this task through the giving of our tithes and offerings! 

Ways to Give

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