FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome Home: A Transformational Generosity Guide

What is Welcome Home?

In short, Welcome Home is a two-year transformational journey that enables us to make a place for more people to discover Jesus through the renovation of our new, permanent home. Through discipleship in generosity, we believe we can see the TFHSF family raise $14 million over the next two years to accomplish this goal debt-free. This will position us to use every future dollar that would have been spent on loan repayment to build the Kingdom of Jesus through missions, outreach, church-planting, benevolence, and generosity.

What Makes This Generosity Endeavor Different?

We are deeply focused on everyone at TFHSF seeing their giving as an integral part of the transformational process. Our first priority is 100% participation in the process. Even if someone wrote us a check today for the full $14 million, we would still make this our emphasis. Whether you are just starting in your giving journey or you are a very committed giver, we all have a next step to take and room to grow in this area.

The Foundations of a Sacrificial Commitment

How Do I Grow My Heart in Generosity?

First and foremost, you pray and seek God's direction on what He is asking of you. Prepare your heart to hear Him and then listen to what He says; engage in personal reflection with God. Recognize that this may involve a struggle as you sense God’s call to rearrange life priorities, spending habits, and give from stored resources. Expect your commitment to grow over time from token, to generous, to sacrificial generosity. Follow His leading, and prepare to be amazed, because we serve an awesome God and He is going to move in huge ways.

What Should I Know About My Welcome Home Commitment?

As you consider your financial commitment over the next two years, factor in the following:

It is over and above your current giving for two years.
It is discerned by prayer.
It is not equal giving, but equal sacrifice.
It is planned from income, altered spending, income generation, and stored resources.

What Does the Slogan "Not Equal Giving, But Equal Sacrifice" Mean?

It recognizes that we all have different financial capacities, meaning we cannot use a fair share approach to giving. The goal is for everyone sacrificing. From the smallest gift to the largest, every person can say, "This gift is sacrificial for me".

Can You Define Sacrifice?

A simple definition is: giving up something I want, something I need, or something that represents security. Basically, it is deciding upon what I can give up, do without, postpone, or alter in order to give to TFHSF over the next two years.

Is Sacrifice a Biblical Practice?

Absolutely. King David said, "I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing". The essence of sacrifice is that it costs us something. This type of giving demonstrates our reliance and faith in Him.

Guidance on Commitment

What If I Tend to Take a Rational Approach to Decision Making?

It will be tempting to give based on REASON—looking at your budget to figure out what is "reasonable". It takes no faith to give by reason. Alternatively, you could give based on REVELATION, which asks, "How much am I willing to trust God?". When you make giving a matter of prayer, your decision becomes an act of worship.

What Do You Mean by Faith Commitment?

You will likely start planning for an amount that fits within your budget, a conservative amount that is not sacrificial. A faith commitment requires you to grow your commitment number by thinking through how you could alter your spending, liquidate assets, and postpone spending. It will require God to work in your life and circumstances to enable you to give that amount. You must commit this amount by faith, believing God will enable you to fulfill your sacrificial commitment.

Is It Okay to Make a Commitment to Give an Amount That I Don't Have Right Now?

Yes! That is called faith, and it pleases God. The Macedonian Christians, while living in poverty, insisted on giving "even beyond their ability," meaning they committed by faith future resources.

What If I Make a Faith Commitment, But My Circumstances Change, How Does That Work?

Your commitment is not a contract, but a covenant that is between you and God. We believe this will be the most prosperous season of your life, but life happens, and we understand that you may need to adjust.

Resources and Next Steps

What Are Stored Resources?

Stored resources are the funds or assets you have other than income. This includes savings, stocks, bonds, crypto, or other investments. You may also consider a boat, a vacation home, or a collection that you let go of.

Tax Tip: If an asset has appreciated in value, consider giving it to the church first to avoid capital gains tax and obtain its full value as a deductible contribution.

What If I Am Currently Experiencing Financial Stress or Hardship?

If you are struggling with unemployment or substantial debt, we are here for you. Financial Peace University is an excellent resource, and our pastors are available to meet with you. Welcome Home is fundamentally about a heart change—one that is only accomplished by surrendering our lives completely over to God.

What About Giving to the Under-Resourced and to Missions?

The unanimous and unwavering commitment of our leadership team is to continuously fund missions, community outreach, and giving to the poor. This is one of our top values and will never change. Those needs are funded through our ministry budget, ensuring this new building won't pull funds from ministry or missions.

Should I pick up extra shifts or a part-time gig to earn additional money for the building campaign?

Not if it would impair your Sabbath, your children, your daily devotional time or church attendance. Tithing is not one of the Ten Commandments, but observing a weekly day of rest is. The 4th Commandment provides, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” (Exo. 20:8-10.) In fact, God told Moses, “whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people.” (Exo. 31:14.) That is why, when the Israelites returned from Babylon and some began selling goods in the marketplaces on the Sabbath, Nehemiah rebuked them for “this wicked thing you are doing” and warned them, “If you do this again, I will lay hands on you!” (Neh. 13:17, 21.) The Bible also teaches that parents have a duty to their children to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4.) In fact, the first eight chapters of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs consist of a father’s instructions to his sons. Our church does not want you to hand over your children to daycare or a sitter to raise them so that you can work longer hours. Nor do we want you to sacrifice your daily time of Bible reading and prayer. God told the Israelites to recite scripture and pray “when you lie down and when you rise.” (Deu. 6:7.) Daniel prayed three times a day. (Dan. 6:10.) Luke 5:16 says that “Jesus made a practice of withdrawing to remote places in order to pray.” We too are exhorted to pray regularly. (Eph. 6:18, Php. 4:6, 1 Th. 5:17, Jam. 5:13-16.) Finally, we don’t want you to work instead of attending church. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together.” In sum, an opportunity to earn additional money is not from God if it would impair your Sabbath, your children, your daily devotional time or church attendance.