Giving is both an act of faith and obedience.  Giving strengthens our spiritual maturity which in turn strengthens our faith.  Obedience is a part of giving that often requires discipline:  discipline to give regularly and discipline to give as an act of worship rather than by habit.  Malachi 3:10 tells us that when we give out of faith, obedience, and worship God will provide our needs and cause blessings to fall upon us.

What are benefits of online giving?

Online giving provides convenience and helps families keep their giving to God in the right priority.  Proverbs 3:10 says “Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce.” (NASB) Giving to God should be the first thing we do before bills are paid or other plans are made.  Since many families now pay bills online the online giving feature allows you to give an offering to God at the beginning of this process.

Is online giving secure?

Yes! An electronic contribution is safer than writing a check, and it can’t be lost, stolen or destroyed in the mail.  The host of the online giving website uses a secure 128 bit encryption. All Electronic Fund Transfer ^EFT) transactions are governed by strict national rules and guidelines.  See the Federal Trade Commission website for more information regarding these rules and guidelines: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/payments.pdf.

What is encryption?

Encryption is a process that scrambles information into a format that unauthorized parties can not decode or utilize.  The number of bits refers to the size of the key used to encrypt the message.    The larger the key, the more secure your personal information.  128 bit encryption is one of the strongest, most secure form of encryption generally utilized in Internet browsers in North America.

How do I sign up?

Go to the Immanuel Baptist Church website, hit the “online giving” buttons and follow the directions posted at the e giving site. 

What if I want to cancel or change my online giving?

Go to the Immanuel Baptist Church website, hit the “online giving” buttons and follow the directions posted at the e giving site. 

Will my online gifts be included on my Statement of Contributions?

Yes, they will be included.

Can I view my past giving history online?
Yes, you can view your online giving history when you log in to the e giving site.  However, this will only show online giving history and not gifts made with cash or checks.

How can I get a receipt of my online gift?

You may print out the confirmation screen as your receipt.  In addition, your gift will appear on your regular statement of contributions as well.

What about my offering envelopes?

Envelopes are provided and mailed to all Immanuel members to assist in establishing faithful patterns of giving and providing records of gifts.  If you choose online giving you may contact the Finance office to move your envelope number from the mailing list or you may use the envelope as a way to participate in the worship service offering.  Simply write “online gift” on the outside of the envelope and we will file the envelope for future reference.  The key is not how we give but rather why we give.

Can I give to the Believe Campaign, Global Outreach, or other special offerings?

Yes, the e giving page identifies several offerings to which our members regularly give.  You can also specifically designate a gift by writing in the designation on the e giving page.

How can funds be withdrawn directly from my account?

Funds can only be withdrawn from your account with your authorization.  No one can deduct money from your account automatically unless you specifically authorize it.

When would this automatic contribution be taken from my account?

You can schedule the contribution to be made the day you enter it on the e giving page, schedule it to occur on a future date, or schedule it to be given on a recurring schedule.  An ACH transaction may take between 3 – 7 days for the money to be received by the church.

Can I use a credit card to make my contribution?

Yes, you may use a credit card to make a contribution.  Credit card contributions are usually received by the church sooner than ACH transactions but the church is charged a small % of the contribution.  As always, please use your credit card wisely.  Immanuel does not want to encourage or condone use of a credit card for families that are experiencing problems with debt.

If I don’t write checks, how do I keep my checkbook balance straight?

Your contribution is made on a pre-established day, so you can deduct it from your check record then.

What if I change banks?

You can update your profile and banking information at any time.  Follow the directions given after logging in to the e giving website.