We want you to be able to experience the joy of trusting Jesus in all areas of our life, which includes our finances. Tithing isn’t just about money. It’s a reflection of where our heart is in relation to God. We give in response to Jesus. We give because God owns it all, and we are putting him first in our lives above all other things.

So, to support you in this step of trust, try the 90 Day Tithe Challenge. By registering, you’re notifying us of this step you’re taking which allows us to come alongside you with encouragement and inspiring stories throughout your journey.

Your part is to commit to bring back to God your tithe, your first 10% for 90 days. Our commitment to you? At the end of 90 days, if you don’t feel like God is caring for you and nurturing you in your journey of faith, then we commit to giving back every penny you’ve given to Summit Church during the 90 days, no questions asked.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE

In the beginning, I didn't even think it would be possible to tithe! I felt like our budget was already too tight, but I trusted in God in other ways of my life so participating in the 90 day tithe challenge was a no-brainer. God has taught us the how to use discernment on what things are truly important in life. It helped us realize that it is not OUR money, but God's, and that made us re-evaluate what we do with our time and how we serve Him in our lives as well.

 Lacy Orlando

Common Questions

You’ve Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!

Here is a short list of questions you might have about the 90 Day Challenge and tithing in general. If you have any other questions that aren’t answered here, please feel free to email us: tracey@summitpa.church.

What is the 90-Day Tithe Challenge?

Countless people experience God’s blessings when they tithe, but often the first step is the hardest one to take. This 90-day Tithe Challenge is a money-back guarantee of sorts. Essentially, it’s a contract based on God’s promises in Malachi 3:10-11 where God says we can test him. God says we will see blessings in our life when we trust him with our finances. These blessings show up in different ways from deeper relationships in your life, your needs being met, to conflicts getting resolved, to a deeper relationship with God. This challenge is designed for you, if you have never tithed before, to begin taking steps toward trusting god with your finances. Money-back guarantee: If you tithe for 90 days and don’t see God’s blessing in your life, we’ll refund 100% of your money.

What is the difference between a tithe and an offering?

The tithe is the first 10% of your income. God says that He has given us all that we own, and that the first 10% is dedicated to Him, and we are to be faithful in “bringing the tithe.” Offerings are any generous giving that you do over and above your tithe. And while your tithe is designated for the local church, an offering is for you to be generous wherever you see a need. Many followers of Christ confuse giving regularly with tithing, and while giving regularly is highly commendable and is a big step, tithing is taking the first full 10% of your paycheck and giving it to the local church in order to be an importing part of building God’s Kingdom.

Where does my giving go?

Summit Church is 100% supported through your tithes and offerings. The money you give goes toward paying rent, salaries, equipment purchases, community service events, etc. We currently spend up to one-quarter of our annual budget on outreach, ministry partners, and missions locally, nationally, and around the world.  As we approach each new year and carefully and prayerfully develop our budget, we are looking through the eyes of faith into what we feel God wants us, as a church, to accomplish for Him. So, with new opportunities for ministry, we have new opportunities to change lives and build His Kingdom together with your help, “making every life different”. Summit Church strives to be good stewards of al that God has given us so you can be confident of your giving.

How should I tithe if my income varies from pay period to pay period?

Depending on which is more feasible for your situation, you can handle tithing with a fluctuating income in a couple different ways. Some people choose to give exactly one-tenth of their earnings for each individual pay period. Others estimate their total earning for the year and give a portion of the total tithe each week or month throughout the year.

How will you keep track of my tithe?

Summit Church carefully and confidentially tracks each gift in order to provide each giver with quarterly and year-end statements of your contributions through our Planning Center software. Cash must be placed in an offering envelope with complete information in order to credit your giving account. Cash or checks can be placed in any of the offering boxes or mailed to Summit Church. Online giving instructions are outlined below.

What is online giving?

Online giving is the ability to give a donation or schedule a series of donations using your debit card, credit card, or bank account. This can be accomplished by using the “GIVE” button on Summit’s web page, or texting any amount to the number 84321. Either way, you will be prompted to set up your online gift, or recurring giving.

Are there fees or hidden charges to me with online giving?

You do not incur any charges for your gift amount, your full dollar amount is recognized as your donation without costs or fees. Summit Church absorbs a minimal percentage fee for debit and credit card giving. ACH gifts (directly from your bank account) are the most cost efficient for Summit, the fee for this service is only 25 cents.

Is online giving safe? Is your site secure?

Yes! The security of your personal information and data is incredibly important to Planning Center, the giving platform Summit Church has chosen, which in turn uses Stripe to transfer funds. Stripe is a certified “PCI Service Provider Level 1″ payment processor. For more information regarding security please visit www.planningcenter.com/security.

Can I use an electronic check or give through my bank account?

Yes! Simply use the “GIVE” button on the summitpa.church website, or text any amount to 84321 and follow the prompts to set up your gift or recurring gifts to Summit.

Can I use my debit card or credit card?

Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. When used within the parameters, debit and credit cards can be an efficient tool for payments and purchases. Many people use them in place of checks or cash throughout the month, and then pay off the balance in full. For these people we offer the option of using debit or credit cards to give. We strongly discourage those who have ongoing credit card debt from exercising this option.

Are gifts to Summit deductible for tax purposes?

Yes. Summit Church is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization so contributions to Summit Church are deductible if you itemize as you file your tax return. Each year, by the end of January we provide donors with a record of their donations for the year as a receipt for tax purposes.

How can I keep a record of the amount I have contributed?

Giving history can be viewed at any time by logging into your Planning Center Online account and viewing your giving transactions. If you need help logging on, please contact the church office at 724-349-8180 or email us at info@summitpa.church. We’ll be happy to help you access your account.