Church Finances
Biblical Basis for Giving
The Bible emphasizes generosity extensively, with over 2,000 verses highlighting the importance of sharing our possessions. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus used parables to demonstrate that generosity is crucial to our relationship with Him and essential for sharing the love of Christ with others. In Acts, we witness a generous community of believers uniting to meet each other's needs, support their community, and spread the Gospel.
Today, the call to be generous remains unchanged, vital for both our personal growth and our collective mission to bring the Gospel to the world and to our neighbors. While the Church has evolved in many ways over its history, the foundation of our generosity remains constant. Our financial contributions to the church are not about achieving a budget or the specific amounts we give; these biblical teachings and Jesus' words remind us that our giving reflects our relationship with Him, our commitment to His mission, and our role in spreading the hope of Christ globally.
Why Give?
Your Generosity at Work
Transparency In Our Current Financials
At Fellowship Dallas, we are committed to being transparent with our finances as part of being “Generous on Purpose” together. December is a good time to remember that we are nearing the halfway point of our 2024/2025 ministry year, which began on July 1. Historically, December is our largest giving month by almost double. Therefore, we budget double the amount for December giving. Our elder board approved a $3,050,000 giving budget for the 2024/2025 ministry year, which is in line with last year’s actual giving. So far, our church body has generously contributed $1,101,328 or 36% of the total annual amount, which is typical for this point in the year. THANK YOU! Of course, we are praying that the Lord will bless us with the remaining $532,600 needed by 12/31/24 to be on budget by the halfway point.
We ask you to prayerfully join us in this year-end effort. We trust in God’s ever-faithful provision through the generosity of His people at Fellowship Dallas. As we celebrate the giving of the ultimate gift this Advent season—Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior—let’s remind ourselves that we are called to be generous because we are made in God’s image and He is the ultimate generous giver!
Giving Update as of December 17, 2024:
Budgeted To Date $1,437,857
Received To Date $1,101,328
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Current Need $336,529
Remainder of December
Double Budget (2 weeks) $196,071
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TOTAL needed by 12/31 $532,600
Taking Your Next Step in Generosity
1. Pray & Ask Questions – Any act of generosity should begin with prayer. God knows that our relationships with finances are complex, and He is always ready to show us more about himself and how He provides through our journey in this area of discipleship. Our elders, staff leadership, and Generosity Ministry Leadership Team members are happy to answer any questions you may have.
2. Give Cheerfully – Every gift has an impact. There are several ways you can give at Fellowship. Online by clicking on the button below. By mailing your check to the church. By using the offering boxes at the front desk or in the back of the worship center. If you are interested in making a non-cash donation such as stocks, etc. please reach out to finance@fellowshipdallas.org.
Maybe you’re not able to give financially at this time. Generosity isn’t just about our finances, it’s also about sharing our gifts. Pray about an area you might be called to serve. You can also reach out to serve@fellowshipdallas.org and we would be happy to learn more about your interest in serving and connect you with an open opportunity.
3. Consider Setting Up Recurring Giving – Stepping into a regular rhythm of giving is easy. You can choose your desired frequency and make changes to your recurring gift at any time.
4. Share Your Story of Generosity – How have you seen God at work in your journey of generosity? Have you been on the receiving end of someone else’s generosity? Share your story by emailing stories@fellowshipdallas.org.
2024/2025 Fiscal Year
The Elder Board approved a 2024/25 budget that includes a $3,426,723 revenue budget (2% less than 2023/24 actuals) and a $3,550,014 expense budget before minor capital expenditures (4% more than 2023/24 actuals), which will result in a ($123,291) operating deficit. The minor capital expenditure budget for 2024/25 is $73,000. If all of that is actually spent, the resulting operating deficit will be ($196,291). The allocation of 2024/25 budgeted revenue and expenses are reflected in the pie charts below.
We look forward to continuing to grow ever more Generous on Purpose together–giving cheerfully of our time, talents, and treasures–in the 2024/2025 ministry year!
2023/2024 Fiscal Year
We have finalized our 2023/24 financial results as shown in the related pie charts and other information, including how revenues were generated and expenses were distributed across different areas of ministry and operations. Overall for the year, we had a net operating surplus before capital expenditures of $58,528. We spent $90,011 to repair and paint the exterior of our building, which resulted in a total net operating loss for the year of ($31,483).
The graphs below show the fluctuations in giving and attendance over the 2023/24 ministry year that ended June 30, 2024. Our average weekly giving for the year was $57,161 and our average adult attendance on Sunday morning was 438 onsite and 129 online for a total of 567.
Questions?
If you have any questions about our church’s finances or the ways that your giving is making an impact, please reach out to questions@fellowshipdallas.org. If you have questions about setting up a recurring gift, managing your online giving, or setting up a legacy gift, please email finance@fellowshipdallas.org.