Congregation gives more than half-a-million in 2 days

A Miami megachurch has raised more than $600,000 in two days to help "the hurting and under-resourced in Miami and India." Christ Fellowship Church had hoped to raise $337,000, but the result was overwhelming. The church has six campuses and operates an organization called Caring for Miami which offers counseling, homeless assistance, medical and dental care, and other services to people living in the area. A large portion of the gives will go to fund that outreach. Children in the church raised more than $3800 by bringing pennies for helping children in need. Middle and high schoolers were encouraged to take their shoes off after a special service. More than 1,800 pairs of shoes were collected as donations to those in poverty living in places like Haiti, El Salvador. There is more information on the church here.

Which States Give the most?

Here are the U.S. states where people gave the most to charities and the percentage of income they gave after taxes:

1. Utah - 10.6%
2. Mississippi - 7.2%
3. Alabama - 7.1%
4. Tennessee - 6.6%
5. South Carolina 6.4%
6. Idaho - 6.4

The rankings are based on IRS information on people who made at least $50,000 in 2008, analyzed by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The nonprofit organization says it found that "Religion has a big influence on giving patterns. Regions of the country that are deeply religious are more generous than those that are not."

The bottom two states were New Hampshire (2.5% of income) and Maine (2.8% of income).

Kardashian Tithing

Kim Kardashian told CNN's Piers Morgan last night that she tithes her yearly income. The reality star said, "Whatever it is, I give 10% away to the church, and that's what I was taught." Her sister was asked whether she tithes and Kourtney Kardashian said with a laugh, "I'm going to now. I was taught that, too, but I forgot about it."

Giving Research

Poor people are naturally more charitable than the rich, according to researchers at the University of California at Berkeley. They gave subjects credits, worth actual money, and the choice of keeping them or sharing them with an anonymous partner in another room. People who were ranked at the upper end of the socioeconomic scale gave away nearly 50% less than did those at the bottom.

$2 Million Giveaway

Corpus Christi's Bay Area Fellowship plans to hand out more than $2 million worth of gifts on Easter Sunday. The church meets at 7 different sites around the city. Senior pastor Bill Cornelius says every individual or family will receive $300 in gift certificates from local businesses, and drawings will be held at every service to give away cars, flat-screen TVs, laptop computers and furniture. Every child will be given a new bicycle at Bay Area Fellowship's new urban campus. He says its an illustration of what he calls "the ultimate giveaway" of salvation.

Charitable Giving

2008 - $307 billion
2007 - $314 billion

This is only the second drop since the survey first came out 54 years ago.

Religious organizations saw a 5.5% increase in giving for 2008 to $106 billion.

Source: Giving USA Foundation

A Survey of Pastors

More people from outside your church are asking for help.
Yes - 62%

You have more requests for help from church members.
Yes – 31%

Are some of your church members out of work?
Yes – 40%

Has your church has increased spending to help the needy.
Yes – 37%

You have recently given personally to people in need?
Yes – 27%

Source: LifeWay Research

Anonymous Donation

Some left a check for $3,255 at Dallas' Episcopal Church of the Resurrection. According to the Dallas Morning News, a note signed by “Michael” said the gift was to atone for past crimes. The writer lists 14 crimes including stealing a car and shop lifting. No one at the church knows anybody by the name on the check. The pastor believes the donation may be in response to a 12-step program.

Faith-based Charities Steady

An Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability survey finds 72% of parachurch ministries have exceeded, met or came close to their contribution goals in the final quarter of 2008. Forty-one percent put a hold on salary increases, 38% froze or reduced hiring and 18% laid off staff.

Thirty percent have stopped capital projects, 23% postponed or cut back on computer upgrades,

Meanwhile, the National Association of Church Business Administration says 57% of churches congregations had experienced a drop in contributions.

Christian Group Donates Headquarters

Gospel Communications International donates its headquarters in Muskegon, Michigan to house several charity organizations.

ORU Gets $10 Million

Oral Roberts University is getting a $10 million cash infusion for renovations. The money comes from the Green family let by Mart Green – who have already given a similar amount for the same thing last year.

Mart Green gots a spot on the ORU board for his past generosity with money made from craft supply giant Hobby Lobby and Christian bookstore and office supply chain Mardel. He’s a member of the Assemblies of God. Forbes says Green’s net worth is $1.8 billion.

The school has also added Charisma magazine founder Stephen Strang to the board of directors along with the World Compassion founder Terry Law.

Church Gives Shoes

WISH-TV in Indianapolis has the story of a Church giving shoes for kids.

Will Smith Gives to James Robinson & Scientology

The charitable foundation of actor Will Smith gave James Robinson’s ministry $250,000. It’s part of the variety of donations revealed in his tax returns. In all, the movie star handed out $1.3 million to charities and nonprofit groups. An LA ministry called Living Waters got $200,000 of it and $122,500 went to The Church of Scientology.

CompassionArt

Several major Christian artists are giving away some new music for free over the internet. A donation is requested for organizations that help the poor. Their entire effort will hit stores shelves on January 27th under the title CompassionArt: Creating Freedom from Poverty. There are 14 songs in all from such artists as project, including Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, Martin Smith, Kirk Franklin and tobyMac. The effort started in Scotland when they met for a retreat last January. A companion book will be released when the full project comes out in January.

A Dying Boy's Wish

Hundreds respond to a dying 11-year-old boy's wish to help the homeless. KOMO-TV has more.

(Brenden Foster died over the weekend)

Gates Gives Millions to World Vision

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is giving $6.4 million to World Vision. The funds will go to aid farmers in Angola's central highlands, most of whom are women. More than a third of the country has been displaced because of a war that has ravaged the nation for three decades. The Christian relief organization has had a presence in Angola for about 20 years.

Donations by Household

Average household donation rank.
1. Utah
2. DC
3. Maryland
4. New York
5. Connecticut

46. South Dakota
47. New Mexico
48. Vermont
49. Maine
50. North Dakota
51. West Virginia
Source: Center on Wealth and Philanthropy

Volunteerism

States with the highest rates of volunteer hours:
1. Utah
2. Nebraska
3. Minnesota
4. Alaska
5. Montana

States with the lowest rates of volunteer hours:
45. Arizona
46. New Jersey
47. Mississippi
48. Louisiana
49. Florida
50. New York
51. Nevada

Sources: VolunteeringinAmerica.gov, Corporation for National & Community Service

Church Members Giveaway $750k

A church near Abilene, Texas gave away nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in cash and goods at a recent service. The Kingdom Life Fellowship in Clyde asked those with pressing financial needs to come forward. The church then gave away $338,000 from a nest egg and the congregation added cars and other items until about $750,000 exchanged hands between the 300 or so members. They meet in a Junior High auditorium.

Church Gives Away Money

Christ the Rock Church in Memphis handed out hundreds of envelopes to parishioners yesterday containing various amounts of cash from $5 to $500. Pastor Chris Bennett gave them a total of $30,000, saying the money should go toward random acts of kindness.