The Difference Between Tithes and Offerings

While tithes are the basics of Christian Stewardship, offerings are gifts made above and beyond the scriptural tithe. Throughout the year, you may learn of financial needs beyond regular operations to which you feel led by God to contribute.

Designated Giving

Gifts made to such specific areas are call "designated" gifts, and when making contributions to those areas, you must specify or designate where you want that money to go. Some of those areas include but are not limited to:

World Mission Offering
Each year, the month of December is devoted to collecting money to support missionaries through the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. A portion of that offering goes to the Lottie Moon Mission Offering for foreign mission work, a portion of the Annie Armstrong Mission Offering for home (United States) mission work, and a portion goes to the Mary Hill Davis Mission Offering for state mission work. An additional amount is collected to fund GABC mission projects.

Mission Trips
Green Acres sends several teams to the mission field on home and foreign soil every year. While you may not be able to go on a mission trip, you may have resources and a desire to participate in these projects by sponsoring someone else who may be willing to go but is limited financially.

Discover Life
Discover Life is Green Acres' international television and multimedia outreach ministry, which operates independently of GABC.

Jim Brown Scholarship Fund
Money given to this fund helps send students to summer camp, participate in retreats, FTP weekends, etc. who would not be able to attend without financial support.

Joyce Freeman Scholarship Fund
Through this fund, you can invest in the college education of a young person in our church who is financially limited.

Library Memorials
You may make a donation to our Library in honor of someone living or in memory of a deceased loved one. Monies are used to purchase new books and other materials. A label is placed on each item as a lasting reminder of the person in whose name the gift was given.

Good Samaritan Outreach Center
Donations to this ministry help feed and clothe the indigent of Smith County.

Ministries
While these are a few of the "designated" areas to which you can give, gifts are also accepted to fund events, sponsor participants and purchase equipment for the various church ministries.