What is Faith@55?
          • It's a 5-month campaign to help Christians know how to start giving to Jesus
             consistently by making a vow to give 5% to the Lord each month.

Can you give an example?
          • If your monthly household income is $4,500, 10% would be $450, so 5% would be
             $225 each month.  If your monthly household income is $7,500 a tithe would be
             $750, so 5% would be $375 per month.

Why is it 5% giving when the biblical tithe is 10%?
          • While we whole-heartedly agree that 10% is a "real" tithe, 5% is a starting point.
             Obviously, many CBC families are already at the tithe (10%) which is very cool
             and we're very thankful for your obedience to Christ.

What will happen after 5 months?
          • We'll celebrate God's goodness and the ways he has shown his faithfulness.

Will I be done from giving after 5 months?
          • We believe people will be so convinced of God's blessing that they'll want to keep honoring God by increasing their giving
             each month and eventually reach the tithe (10%).

Will my giving be confidential?
          • Absolutely, just as it always has been.  Only a few, very trustworthy people have access to records of giving.

Will I be pressured for giving or ever receive a bill?
          • No way.

Won't people who already give faithfully be tempted to go 'backwards' and only give 5% instead of their normal amount?
          • We hope not!  If so, those people don't have a very high motivation for giving or understanding of the Bible.

How many have responded so far?
          • 35 people have responded to either begin giving 5% or continue tithing, and in some cases, to increase beyond a tithe.

Why ask for giving now when the economy is so sick?
          • Faithful giving is part of our calling, regardless of the economy's health.  In addition, God promises his blessings on
             his children as they trust him and give.

How can I respond?
          • Pray, and listen to the Lord.  If you're prepared to worship the Lord through consistent giving, then give fill out a
             response card and return it asap, either in the offering basket or the Faith@55 box in the lobby.  Cards are available from
             the ushers and in the lobby during weekend services.  Begin in December.

What if I have more questions?
          • Please contact Sam Williams, 909.945.5001 x233.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,”
says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so
much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
(Malachi 3:10)

Praises from family members at Community:

Hi Pastor Rob,

I just have to share with you the faithfulness of God to me in this pledge of 5% I made to the Lord two weeks ago.  I lost a little over 1/2 of my income in October and so had to reduce that amount of tithes to the church.  I have had such sparse income since then, anything additional has been difficult.  When you presented this challenge to us 3 weeks ago, I just wanted to laugh and cry at the same time because finances have been extremely tight this past month, but I have always enjoyed paying my tithes.  So I listened to your presentation and I took the 55 card home and I began to pray about it.  I opened my Bible to Malachi 3:10-11 and read this passage over and over again and I read it to the Lord.  I asked Him if He was serious about us testing Him, and then I reminded Him that this was His Word and it is Truth and it does not return void.  Pastor, I have to say, I had much trepidation over taking this pledge.  I didn't want to make a commitment and not be able to fulfill it.  The Sunday before Thanksgiving I put my card in the offering basket.  Well, the next day I received a call from the agency I've been working through and they asked me if I could fill in for someone over the week of Thanksgiving.  This would give me over 30 hrs. extra work than already scheduled.  I was surprised and so grateful.  Well, I thought, this takes care of this week, I wonder what God's going to do for the rest of the time?  To shorten a long story, just this Monday the office manager asked me if I would like to pick up the schedule of someone who just left the agency.  I couldn't believe it.  I have had so much trouble getting the hours I needed just to get by and now, all of a sudden I have all I need and a little more.  Praise God!!!

He did it, Pastor.  It just amazes me that the Lord so easily supplied my needs and I have no doubt that it was Him.  I had been knocking on doors all over town with no response and in two weeks He turned everything around so simply.  If He did this for me, I know you must be getting emails galore of like stories of how God is providing for the other pledgers.  I just couldn't hold back this story.  I hope you are encouraged, I sure am!  God IS good ALL the time!

In His Grace,
Karen