“And of your own have we given you.”

As a church plant, we are dependent upon the generosity of God’s people.

Other Ways to Give

TEXT TO GIVE

Simply text any $ amount to 84321.

(When using this option for the first time you will be prompted to add a payment method and choose ‘Church of the Ascension’ as your church – it only takes a couple minutes.)

ON SUNDAY

Prefer to give in person? Simply bring your check or cash to church on Sunday and drop it in the offering plate when the usher brings it to you. Your contribution will be counted, stored safely, and deposited within the following week.

BY MAIL

If you would prefer to mail a check, you can write it out to ‘Church of the Ascension’ and send it to us using the following address:

Church of the Ascension
PO Box 4377
Anderson, SC 29622

For information about gifting stock or other investments click here, or for any other questions contact finance@ascensionanderson.org.

Church of the Ascension is a recognized 501(c)(3), and all gifts are tax deductible.

Why Give to Ascension?

Giving is an Act of Worship

Giving financially is a response to God’s boundless grace and generosity. It is a form of worship acknowledging and expressing that all we have comes from God. And because we are created in his image, our giving glorifies and honors God’s abundant generosity and allows us to become more fully human. Our Eucharistic liturgy invites us each week to see our giving as a joyful part of our worship as a church. During the offertory, our gifts are brought forward in response to the lavish generosity of God in the gift of his son, Jesus Christ. As recipients of this gift we sing “praise God from whom all blessings flow!” and offer ourselves – our whole selves, which includes our finances – as living sacrifices, given back to the Lord in gratitude. King David, a true worshipper, says in I Chronicles 29:12-14, “…Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

Giving is for Everyone, Rich or Poor

Giving is an opportunity and a dignity extended even to the poorest in the community throughout redemptive history. Consider the widow Jesus praised for her generosity. Though she gave only two nearly-worthless, copper coins Jesus called her’s an abundant gift. Anyone who has an income can give something. But should everyone give? We get uncomfortable when told we should do something, especially when it comes to money. It’s worth asking why we’re so touchy about that. Jesus says it’s because we trust money too much and even serve it like an idol. The Scriptures teach us we should give to honor God, to keep our loves rightly ordered, and to express our love for those who benefit from the Church - her provision of Word, sacrament, pastoral care, and equipping, to name a few.

Giving is a Biblical Path to Blessing

We are stewards, not owners. A steward is a person who has been entrusted with, and who manages, another’s resources according to the owner’s vision and values. Each of us was created for stewardship by God (Gen 1:28), both a ruler with authority to govern resources and a servant accountable to the owner of the resources. Jesus teaches stewardship and blessing in Luke 6, restating and renewing the blessing principle in Malachi 3:6-12. He says, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” The message that God blesses those who give has far too often been exploited. But unadulterated by greed, this principle is Biblical and therefore immutable. Because we are stewards of God’s blessing, he has promised to bless us when we are faithful with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I give?
Because the New Testament standard of giving is generosity, the amount is a matter of faith, prayer, and conscience. The Old Testament teaches that we are to give back to God our “first fruits” (Exodus 23:16, 19). Proverbs 3:9 encourages us to “honor the Lord with [our] wealth, with the first fruits of [our] increase” meaning the primary and choicest of our possessions. The New Testament does not negate the underlying principles (see the next FAQ). Most importantly, God has modeled “first fruits” by giving us his Son, Jesus Christ. Our response to God should reflect our love of and devotion to him and to the Church he has set apart. There are seasons in our economic lives, to be sure. There are financial responsibilities to our families, friends, communities, and in some cases, creditors – we all have them. But in any stage of life good, prayerful planning is necessary to maintain or increase our giving without neglecting our other financial obligations.

What’s the deal with tithing?
In the Old Testament, the principle of the tithe (10%) was established to give everyone, no matter their level of prosperity, a sense that they are giving equally - as a community. God’s people were called to give a tenth of their income to the support of the ministry and the needs of the poor. They gave everything from flour and olive oil to livestock and gold. The New Testament teaches that we should give as we are “able and even beyond [our] ability” (2 Corinthians 8:3). Therefore, the tithe (10%) is arguably seen as a kind of minimum guideline for giving, expanded in the new covenant. In the New Testament, Jesus told the Pharisees that they should tithe as they were already doing, while not neglecting justice and love (Luke 11:42). And in the earliest days of the Church, believers continued to teach and follow this principle.

Should I give all of my tithe and/or offering to Church of the Ascension?
The answer to this is a qualified "no." Your gift is an act of personal worship to God in response to his grace in your life and the gift of his Son. The allocation of your money and time to God’s service should be a byproduct of prayer and of consultation with other Christians to whom you are accountable. However, if you consider Church of the Ascension your “home church,” consider allocating a significant portion of your tithe and offering to the community to whom you belong, where you invest most of your time, and where others are investing in you.