1 of 2

Consumers spent a record $117 billion buying goods and services online in 2004, an increase of 23 percent over online consumer spending in 2003, according to a report by comScore Networks. As large as these numbers are, they will continue to grow. Is there any doubt that the average American is getting very comfortable with Internet-based commerce and financial transactions? What does this mean for churches? We can get some clues from a completely unrelated industry and their experience with electronic transactions.

I enjoy the convenience of fast-food restaurants, but I hate paying with cash, because I would often have to make an extra stop at an ATM to get cash, sometimes paying an access fee for the privilege of getting my own money. Then I'll end up with a pocket full of change I don't want to carry around.

I much prefer to pay electronically—with a debit or credit card. It's often faster than a cash transaction, and it's easier for me to track my expenses that way.

Five years ago, most fast-food restaurants didn't take plastic. That was a hard time for me. I had very few choices. But it seems the tide has turned, and now nearly all of them welcome credit or debit payments. It's very liberating.

Did you know that churches can receive donations via credit card, too? In fact, many of your members have been eagerly waiting for the convenience of tithing or donating electronically. And with today's Internet technology, it's absurdly simple to do. All your church needs to do is set up an account with an online donation service (there are many to choose from), and they take care of the rest.

Most of these service providers can have your account up and running by the end of the day. They handle the details of the merchant and credit card accounts and deposit the money directly into your church's bank account, or they can send your church treasurer a check. All the behind-the-scenes work is done for you.

Your online donation service provider will track all your donations and generate many useful reports that can be viewed online or imported into the financial software of your choice. Donors can even print out their own reports for tax purposes later. These features will save your treasurer many hours.

For your members, giving a tithe or donation using online services is even easier than buying a value-meal. Congregants simply navigate to your church's current website (or one provided to your church by your electronic giving service provider) and click a button labeled "Donate Now" or "Give." You can even allow options for giving to certain categories so the giver can direct their donation to different funds. Once they give online, they can print out a "receipt" that can be dropped in the offering basket at church. This preserves the in-church giving experience, and can be used to alert those who count the offering of the electronic donation.

next page... |  1 of 2

share this page