E-tithing on the rise as more Christians contribute to the church online.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
When the collection plate is passed at the Figueroa Church of Christ in Los Angeles, it’s not unusual for minister James A. Maxwell to see members tapping on their smartphones.
Don’t worry: These tech-savvy brothers and sisters aren’t distracted. Rather, they’re contributing what they’ve purposed in their hearts via a mobile app.
“It takes just a matter of seconds,” Maxwell said of the digital transactions.
At a growing number of Churches of Christ nationwide, Christians skip taking cash out of their wallets or writing a check.
Instead, they use tools such as automatic bank drafts, debit card readers and even text messages to give to God electronically.
“While I sometimes worry about the example I set for others by not putting anything in the plate, I feel the automatic withdrawal is a huge blessing,” said Mike Avery, youth minister for the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston.
This story appears in the November 2016 print edition of The Christian Chronicle.
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