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Growing In Our Faith: Our Beliefs about Giving


So many people have asked us about what, when, how, and how much to give we thought we would share with you what we believe about giving.

Visitors
We do not expect visitors to give.  We simply ask that you come, relax, and be a part of what we are doing.

The Spiritual Journey
Giving is a spiritual discipline, and like anything else that is hard to do, it takes determination, practice, and time.  We encourage those who are traveling along their Spiritual Journey with us at Shepherd of the Valley to give as much as they feel comfortable giving.  The longer they walk and the closer with God their walk takes them, we hope their giving will increase.

God Doesn’t Need Your Money
You heard us.  God doesn’t need your money.  Our God is more powerful than the dollar. 

God does know us, though.  God knows that our attachment to our possessions can often come between us and God.  God doesn’t want your money, but God does want you. 

Besides, the farther we walk on our Spiritual Journey, the more we have discovered that we desire to tithe our possessions and our time because we ourselves become invested in what God is doing.  A tithe is a percentage of our time and possessions given to God’s work in response to the work God has done in our lives.

We ask our community to consider giving a percentage of their income, and make a pledge, so that you have some goals for your Spiritual Journey.  Just like wanting to pray every day or reading the Bible, wanting to give is part of our Spiritual Journey.

This is not a pledge drive and we do not have membership fees or dues.  We encourage people to give out of their own need to give.

The Church Doesn’t Need Your Money
Yes, of course, the Church has bills, too.  We are supported by the generous giving of those in our community. 

It’s true, all the ministries you have read about from the Nursery to the Senior Bible Study, from Youth Group Hang-out to Worship are all supported by giving. 

But, as we see it, these programs are not things which need money to run, but rather we are blessed by the gifts God has given us through those in our community to be able to pay our staff and equip our volunteers with space and resources to make these programs happen.

We trust that God will provide for us and our ministry by inspiring those who draw near to God on their Spiritual Journey to give back to God out of what God has given them.

Give.  It’s good for the body; it’s good for the soul.
The Spiritual Journey (like all journeys) is taken one step at a time.  First give a dollar once.  Then give a dollar every week.  Then give five.  Then give 1%, then 5%…

Everyone we have known who has tried to give as a part of their Spiritual Journey has always told us they found it rewarding-not defeating or constraining.  We hope you, too, will discover the joy of giving.

God has given us so much and we try to give a small portion back to God.

If you would like to learn more about what to give, when, how, or how much, please call one of our Pastors at 818-348-8343 or contact Pastor Bryan or Pastor Stacy directly by email.