2023 Christmas Offering
The CHRISTMAS OFFERING is an opportunity to give sacrificially with a goal of $30,000 for four ministry initiatives:
• To meet the urgent needs of single mothers in our church this Christmas
• To provide a generous gift to the relief work of Manna in Israel
• To provide a generous gift to the relief work of Friends of Israel
• To subsidize the cost of our summer camps for students so that every student can attend
This CHRISTMAS OFFERING will be received now through December 31st, 2023.
Mark you giving envelope, your checks, or your online gifts as “CHRISTMAS OFFERING.”
THE PURPOSES OF THIS CHRISTMAS OFFERING:
To meet the urgent needs of single mothers in our church this Christmas
Our hearts go out to the single mothers in our church; many of whom are raising their children with little or no support from the father of the children. James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that:
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27)
While our single mothers and their children are not technically orphans and widows, in many cases their needs are the same as women who have no husband and children without a parent.
We want to encourage and bless the single mothers in our church by seeking to meet an urgent need and eliminate the stress associated with that need. Last year we provided tires for vehicles, vehicle repairs, home repairs, child care payments, utility bill payments and more for 27 single mothers.
Single mothers who are partners and regular attenders at The Quest will be asked to submit an urgent need for consideration and we will attempt to meet those needs with at least $5,000 of the funds from our 2023 Christmas Offering.
To provide a generous donation to the relief efforts of our missions partners-Manna & Friends of Israel
In the middle of the conflict in Israel, innocent families on the border of Israel are fleeing to safety in the face of increased attacks. This migration is creating an urgent need for food, clothing, and shelter in the central cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Our missionary partners – Manna Worldwide and Friends of Israel - are on the ground providing aid and sharing Christ's love with displaced families.
This is a pivotal opportunity to meet urgent physical needs and open gospel doors. Your gift will empower our partners to keep supplying relief to the influx of refugees in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. With your help and prayer, good will come from this turmoil as more people hear the hope of Jesus.
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.
Romans 12:12–13
We will join our mission’s partners in helping God’s people in their time of need with $10,000 of our 2023 Christmas Offering.
To subsidize the cost of camp so that every student at The Quest Church can attend.
Each year our KidsQuest students in grades 3-6 and our TeenQuest students in grades 7-12 have the opportunity to attend summer camp at Mt. Lebanon camp in Cedar Hill. This camp experience makes an impact on every student’s life and is often life-changing.
In the year 2023 we took our largest group of students, in the history of The Quest Church, to camp - 63 KidsQuest students and 80 TeenQuest students!
Camp fees have increased significantly over the past few years and will increase again in 2024; to keep the cost to the students as low as possible we have subsidized camp fees from the church’s missions fund. In 2023, $10,000 of the cost of the camps was not covered by camper’s fees. Passing these costs on to the students will mean that many students are not be able to attend camp and make the cost untenable for families with multiple children eligible to attend camp.
Like the 1st century Christians, let’s come together this Christmas and share what we have so that there are “no needy persons” among us, when it comes time for camp!
All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had… There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
Acts 4:32–35
Your generosity this Christmas will provide at least $15,000 towards the total cost of camp in 2024 and allow us to keep the cost to our students from increasing in 2024.
In the anticipation of your extravagant generosity and the expectation that we will exceed our goal; anything above the total goal of $30,000 will be added to the camp subsidy and provide camp scholarships for students who are unable to afford the cost of camp.
FAQ
Why a Christmas Offering?
As part of God’s plan to grow the faith of the people in His church, He calls us to give sacrificially from time to time. This CHRISTMAS OFFERING is an opportunity for us to grow in our faith, meet urgent needs and prepare us for what God wants to do through our church in 2024 and beyond. This offering positions us to make a difference in the lives of single mothers, help the people of Israel in their time of crisis and assure that every student is able to attend camp in 2024.
What are the Differences Between the Regular Offering and this Christmas Offering?
Your regular offering (Commitments / Tithes) is the proportional amount (percentage of your income) that you should set apart on a systematic basis and give throughout the year. From time to time there are opportunities to give in a sacrificial way. This CHRISTMAS OFFERING is one of those sacrificial occasions that stretch us to grow in our faith. The special offering should be over and above what you regularly give.
How Much Should I Give?
Since the goal is $30,000, this CHRISTMAS OFFERING requires all of us. Please prayerfully consider a sacrificial gift that will stretch your faith. The precise amount you give is between you and God. Many in our church can give a $1,000, $5,000 or even a $10,000 gift. Others will be able to give $100, $250 or $500. The issue is not equal giving, but an equal commitment to generosity. Prayerfully consider giving an amount that will stretch your faith.
Why is the Goal So Large?
Since the beginning of The Quest in 2006, we have been a church that has dared to dream big dreams. The ministries supported by this offering are BIG – meeting the urgent needs of single mothers, helping the people of Israel in their time of crisis and assuring that every student is able to attend camp in 2024. Big dreams require big faith and big funding. The accomplishment of these big dreams will be determined by your gifts to this CHRISTMAS OFFERING.
When Should I Give?
The best time to give will be the official start of the Christmas Offering – Tuesday, November 28. This day has become a global movement known as #GivingTuesday. Last year the people of The Quest kicked off the Christmas Offering by giving over $30,000 in one day! Please pray about making your first and best gift on that day. However, you can continue to give from then throughout the month of December.
Please mark your gift CHRISTMAS OFFERING in the regular giving envelopes or include a note designating that your gift is for the CHRISTMAS OFFERING. Remember, consistent gifts over time add up – a person giving $100 per week over a five-week period can give $500 to this CHRISTMAS OFFERING.
Can I Give Online Via Bank Check or Through a Debit/Credit Card?
Yes. When you give at TheQuestChurch.com via online giving, simply select CHRISTMAS OFFERING under the “Fund” drop-down menu.
Likewise, you can use your bank online payment option to send a check directly to the church office. Again, simply mark in the memo area that your gift is for the CHRISTMAS OFFERING.
Are My Gifts Tax-Deductible?
All gifts to The Quest, whether via the regular offering or this CHRISTMAS OFFERING, are completely tax-deductible. Your gift will be deductible in the tax year given (i.e., gifts given in 2023 will be deductible on your 2023 taxes). Please be sure to include your name and address when you give so that a contribution receipt can be sent to you in January 2024 for your tax preparations. You are not required to utilize a tax-deduction for your gift, but it is available for all gifts.
How Did We Arrive at a $30,000 Goal?
The $30,000 goal was prayerfully set by The Quest Leadership Team. It is a God-sized goal that can only be accomplished through 100% participation and sacrificial giving by our Quest attenders and partners.
How Will I Know if We Reach Our Goal?
Please pray for God’s provision as we all give sacrificially. You will be updated on our giving progress through the worship guides at our worship gatherings each Sunday and via email. Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what we can do together as we stretch our faith under God’s leadership. We will announce the total dollar amount raised on January 07, 2024.
Have additional questions? Please contact our Executive Pastor, JJ Williams, jj@thequestrc.com, or 972.635.7222.