Giving is an act of worship.  It is a reflection of the state of one’s heart (Mt 6:21).  Financial gifts are described as a fragrant offering, and acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (Phil 4:18).

Giving generously is a practical way to express our trust in God’s provision and blessing (2 Cor 9:10-11).  It combats our human tendencies towards greed, control, comfort and convenience. It affirms our dependance on God, instead of our own self-sufficiency.

Giving is a mark of a disciple of Jesus.  He expected, even assumed, it.  Jesus says ‘when you give’ not ‘if you give’ (Mt 6:2,3).   Giving is an essential, not optional, practice for those who follow Jesus.

To the church? To missionaries? To the poor?  To other charities?

In the Old Testament, a regular tithe was given to the temple and administered by the priests.  On top of this, the Israelites would give offerings for other specific purposes at different times of the year.

The New Testament instructs followers to give specifically to those who lead the church (1 Tim 5:17-18), those who serve as missionaries (1 Cor 16:2), to those in need within the church (1 Jn 3:16-18), and to the poor and oppressed in the community (Mt 6:2).  Money given to Compass Point is used for all of these things, in accordance with our annual budget and in alignment with our Christian ethics.  For these reasons, we encourage people to first direct their giving to the local church.

Giving to parachurch or mission organizations, and charities that align with Biblical, Kingdom values, is also a great investment and way of honouring God.

Remember that our call to give is about letting go of our comfort and security and trusting God to provide, even more so than it is about where the gifts themselves are given.  When in doubt, give.

This is a legitimate question.  No one wants their donation to be wasted or poorly-managed.

At Compass Point we strive to be transparent and follow good financial processes.  We want to earn and keep your trust.

Our annual budget is created by staff and volunteers, reviewed and compiled by our Operations Team, and then approved by our finance committee, board, and membership.  Both our annual budget and our financial statements are always available to anyone who wishes to see them.  If you want to see where your money goes, these documents will let you know.

If you have questions or would like to see some of these documents, please contact Barb at bengland@compasspointbc.com.

No.  We don’t want you to give out of compulsion, duty, or a pay-for-service mentality.  We don’t want to manipulate or pressure anyone.

We genuinely believe that followers of Jesus are to give as an act of worship.  We want to see all his followers experience the joy of giving.  Giving with a cheerful heart is more important than giving to Compass Point.

We also believe that the church was God’s plan to share His message and love with the world.  By giving to your local church, not only does your giving worship God, but your money gets invested in his plan to impact the world.

The Bible really doesn’t address this question, but if you are asking it, perhaps reflect on why you might be asking it.  Are you managing cashflow?  Are you hoping to give less?  How is your attitude towards giving?

Of course, there are two options.  Some people choose to pay the government first.  They give proportionally on their net income, then do so again on any tax refund they may receive.

Others choose to follow the Old Testament principle of giving one’s ‘first fruits’ to God.  They give to God right off the top by proportionately giving on their gross income.