I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A PERSONAL TESTIMONY WITH YOU…

When Kelleye and I decided to step out and plant Life Change Church we knew it was going to be a sacrifice. And please know that although it is, and has been a sacrifice, we are so blessed to be a part of God’s Church called Life Change Tullahoma, and all of YOU who make up His church! Kelleye and I believe in giving financially to the efforts and mission of the church, and we give no less than 10% of our combined income to the Ministry of Life Change Church Tullahoma on a monthly basis. And most of all, WE GIVE JOYFULLY!

Unfortunately, I have to tell you that we didn’t always give 10% of our income, nor was giving a “joyful” thing for us. Why? First of all, we were financially strapped, living beyond our means, and living without a budget in place. We were in debt up to our eyeballs! Instead of us controlling our money, our money controlled us! In 2002 Kelleye and I began a course called FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY by Dave Ramsey. Side Note - We will be offering this course at LCCT come this fall! As we began to live on a budget, pay off our debts, and find financial freedom, we began to experience what the Bible calls “Giving Joyfully”. 

And here's the thing... We didn’t wait until we were “financially stable” to begin giving faithfully to God and His church, rather we began giving 10% of our income even though we were still financially strapped! And guess what? God proved Himself faithful!! Even though we made very little income back then, God blessed us for being faithful! We always had everything we needed and then some! We never missed a bill or were late on a payment. In fact, we actually began being able to put money in savings! I mean, we never even thought we’d ever have a savings account!! God was faithful then, and He is faithful now.

As of September of 2017, my income has been cut by 75%. Seventy-Five Percent!! That’s a lot! But still we give, and I can honestly say that it is our joy to give regularly and faithfully unto the Lord! And guess what? We are doing just fine! We have everything we need because God is faithful, and what He says He will do!

Over the past 15 plus years we have seen our income vary for various reasons in the various seasons of our lives. But again, as we have been faithful to give to God, He has been faithful to give back to us and then some.

Our money/finances are quite honestly one of, if not the hardest thing to let go of. For some strange reason we think that if we “hold onto it” we can manage it better than God can. That’s crazy!

It really comes down to trust. And here’s the question… “Do I trust God enough to give financially to Him and His church? Only you can answer that…

Below are some resources and links that I have prepared for you to help you on your journey. One last thing… sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet! Kinda like when the water in the pool is really cold and you just have to jump in and get used to it? And after a while you adjust to it and feel more uncomfortable outside of the water than in it? Think about it…  

One of the easiest ways to give to Life Change Church Tullahoma is via our online giving. You can access our online giving through our website at www.lifechangetullahoma.org or you can simply click the following link now: https://www.paypal.me/LIFECHANGETULLAHOMA

Helpful Information

If you would like to view Life Change Tullahoma’s budget for 2018 please visit the LCCT Members Page on our website: https://www.lifechangetullahoma.org/member-documents 

The page is password protected so you will need to put in the following password: LCCTMember18

5 Principles of Giving Financially to the Church

1. Giving financially is an act of obedience to God

2. Giving financially demonstrates our faith in God 

3. Giving financially reveals our heart before God

4. Giving financially should be a regular part of our worship to God

5. Giving to God financially results in blessing 

2 Corinthians 9: 12-13 - This service that you perform (Gk. Diakonia, leitourgia - worship through giving) is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, (worship through giving) others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Corinthians 16:2 - On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

2 Corinthians 10-11 - Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.