More than $13,000 was raised through the generous donations of individuals and congregations as part of the special Fifth-Sunday Offering conducted on Sunday, August 31, 2008. Sixteen congregations responded to the call during this special time of giving in support of the World Ministries Budget of the Church of God. Of those, nine were churches that previously did not give in support of the Basic Budget.
“The gifts and supportive prayers were a blessing to receive and reflected the very heart of those congregations expressing their love and support for the collective ministries of the Church of God,” said Dr. Ronald V. Duncan, general director of Church of God Ministries.
The concept of using special fifth Sunday to collect additional money for the World Ministries Budget was suggested by the Budget Task Force during their report to the General Assembly (June 24, 2008) and reiterated in an informational video distributed to pastors and GA delegates on July 24. The Budget Task Force was commissioned during the 2007 GA to examine the decline in giving to the unrestricted portion of the World Ministries Budget.
“I was greatly touched by the responses I received back from pastors and lay leaders committing to doing what they could to help raise the funds to continue the vital ministries of the church,” said Duncan. “It is a double blessing to know that some of our people and congregations are attempting to increase their support in spite of the recent economic downturn.”
One pastor responded to the call for the special offering by saying, “Thank you for making the video concerning the shortfall of the budget. Our church currently gives 5 percent to the Church of God budget…but we will also include a fifth-Sunday offering for August and November. That was a very good suggestion that our church can do willingly and prayerfully to help increase our giving and the vision the Lord has for our national and international work. We really are one body, and that is an incredibly powerful truth with which we can get on board.”
A lay leader responded: “I am passing the info onto our local council and will recommend the receipt of two fifth-Sunday offerings for the short term and a review of our annual giving commitment for the long term. Our prayers are with you during this time.”
The next fifth Sunday is November 30. Churches are again encouraged to take up a special offering to support the collective ministries of the church. Promotional resources for this special offering can be found by clicking here.
Please prayerfully consider how you and your church can support the unrestricted portion of the World Ministries Budget and the vital ministries of the church. Your generous gifts provide the vital funding to resource the supportive services necessary to facilitate all our fronting ministries, including missions, church multiplication, Christian higher education, pastoral health and growth, broadcast media, publishing, curriculum, youth programs, leadership development, and a host of other ministry-enabling programs and services.