Give | Finish Strong

My father never told me to "finish strong". But he did remind me to "finish what you start". Finish strong is a shorter headline and sounds optional, a little more inviting, and less like a command. So that's the title of this letter to all the DOWNTOWNERS that worship with us. Relative to the end of this fiscal year, finish strong is a more appropriate cliche. In 2013 we witnessed substantial growth in the number of giving units (one family or one individual is a giving unit) that contributed regularly to the church. We also experienced an almost 50% increase in the number of giving units that registered for online automated recurring giving. We now receive more from automated recurring giving than we do from our Sunday offering.

If you haven't yet fulfilled your 2013 commitment to DOWNTOWN CHURCH, now is the time. Any checks dated December 31 or prior will count towards your 2013 contribution statement. Checks can be mailed to the church at 1415 Blanding Street, Suite 6 - Columbia, SC 29201.

Another option is to make a single gift online using your credit or debit card. That can be done by clicking here.

2013 contribution statements will be mailed to the address we have on record for contributors by January 31.

No matter how you do it, it's important that we enter 2014 in a strong financial position. Remember, we are only 12 months away from being a self-sustaining church. 2014 is the last year that we will receive a subsidy from our partner churches and our denomination. In 2014, that amounts to $95,000. The guidance team of DOWNTOWN CHURCH recently approved a budget for 2014 of $433,000. So it's easy to see why 2014 is the year when we need to finish what we started.

Giving financially to the church you call home is a not a commitment we consider easy or perfunctory. Don't do it out of guilt, and please don't approach it as a payment for services rendered. If DOWNTOWN CHURCH is your church home, do it because you now belong to a family of faith that is larger than the sum of each part (or giving unit). If you've never contributed before, don't let the pressure of giving on a percentage of your income keep you from giving something. Just start. Eventually your gift will grow, not merely with your income but with your commitment to following Jesus.

Peace,

Amos