Dear Coastal Family,

I am so excited to share with you our plans for our 4th Annual Christmas Offering!  We have not done a Christmas Offering for the past 2 years, because of our “All In” Giving Campaign, but this is the 4th time our church has collected a special Christmas Offering during the Holidays.  We have the opportunity through this offering to impact our world for Jesus!  Beginning Sunday, November 22nd, through the first Sunday of the New Year, January 3rd (7 weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to our special Christmas Offering.

To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping receipt, pay pal, or TEXT (keyword “Christmas”).  You can give your gift during those 7 weeks (Nov. 22nd – Jan. 3rd) at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing or PayPal.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 4 Christmas Eve Services (Wednesday, December 23rd, 5:30pm & 7pm / Thursday, December 24th, 5:30pm & 7pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering.

Why a Special Offering?  This Special Offering is a small way for us to grow in our faith and to prepare us for what God wants to do through our church in a bigger way in 2016.  This offering is not because we are behind on budget, but rather it is to position us to make a greater impact in our community and in our church in 2016.  Christmas is all about giving.  Many people, during this time of year, are in fact looking for charitable opportunities to give.

What is our goal and where is the money going?  Our overall goal is $50,000!  Someone has already generously agreed to match whatever we give up to $25,000!  The money is going toward digging a water well in Haiti, funding our budget for LOVE CAN Help A Child, and remodeling our current facility to expand our Children’s Ministry.  We feel like these ministries give our church the greatest opportunity to make the greatest eternal impact in the lives of children and families internationally, locally, and at home.

How much should you give?  Prayerfully consider giving a gift that will stretch your faith and include your whole family.  For some people, coming up with “extra” money is difficult.  We’ve learned that as we give, God provides.  For some people $1000 above your regular giving is a huge sacrifice.  For others, it’s not.  Just like our “All In” Giving Campaign, we can’t all give the same amount, but we can all make the same sacrifice.

Remember, this offering should be over and above what you regularly give.  If you’re not regularly giving, use this time of year to start.  If you’re not tithing (10% of your income), step out in faith and start tithing.  Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what God can do through us as together we stretch our faith.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Chris Rollins

PS – If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.