Do churchgoers have less left over for the collection plate?

For months we’ve been reporting on how many of us are “feeling the pinch” in a tough economic time.  The costs of housing, food, taxes, energy---are all going up.  So do churchgoers have less left over for the collection plate as a result?

One local church is making a unique and timely appeal to its parishoners.  Amity Reformed Church has cut costs after a Winter where it cost $700 to $900 just for one fill-up of their oil tank to heat the church.  Despite making economies, the weekly collections have fallen short of budget.

Pastor David DeVries says “When costs escalate like they have, with a dramatic spike, it affects all of us doing ministry as well.”

It’s not clear whether parishoners have less money left over for the collection plate after paying their bills.  But the church hit upon a unique idea of asking those who could afford it to give even a portion of their upcoming Federal Stimulus check, to help.

Since the letter went out, has there been any reaction? “I haven’t heard anything specific,” says Pastor DeVries, “But in last week’s offering it was dramatically higher than it had been the previous week.”

But what if a churchgoer felt the need to keep every bit of the stimulus check to pay for higher-than-ever household bills?

“Giving is always something that is done in ministry freely, “ says Pastor DeVries, “IT’s not something we force people to do.  We feel they give from the heart.  Indeed, if they’re in that type of situation I would hope they would meet their basic needs.”

Pastor DeVries says those parishoners can make many important non-monetary donations to the church of their time and talents.
“We want to be a source for hope for people in these hard times, not come to wring our hands but look at ways and solutions.  I think that’s the way God wants us to face life.”