Article by: Sarah Koontz
A recurring gift is an ongoing, specific donation amount that is charged monthly to a donor’s credit card. Recurring gifts are easy to set up and provide a manageable way to give a dependable source of income to Living by Design Ministries.
Setting up a recurring donation to support Living by Design Ministries or any nonprofit you are passionate about is as easy as setting up a monthly payment for an online subscription or auto pay on a monthly bill.
Currently, 39.4% of our funding comes from monthly recurring gifts. We would love to see this number increase to 50% or more in 2023
Your recurring gift helps us budget for current projects and new opportunities by providing consistent and reliable funding for our most pressing needs.
Recurring gifts are:
- Easy – You get to choose the amount you want to donate each month.
- Convenient – Set it and forget it. You can modify or cancel at any time.
- Sustainable – Recurring gifts are paperless and help save on admin expenses.
- Rewarding – Monthly donors enjoy regular communication from organizations.
In today’s blog post, I will share five powerful reasons why your recurring gift to Living by Design will help strengthen the global church.
Your recurring gifts help us budget for current projects and new opportunities by providing consistent and reliable funding for our most pressing needs.
#1 – Recurring Gifts Provide Stability for Christian Organizations
“‘You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.’” Malachi 3:9-10 HCSB
Fundraising is one of the most difficult and humbling aspects of managing a Christian organization.
There is no way around it: God’s people fund God’s work.
He purposefully gifts us in different ways and gives us access to all the resources we need to fulfill the great commission—if we work together!
People who are called to full-time ministry require financial support to succeed. I believe this is a purposeful and integral part of God’s design for us as the body of Christ.
We cannot fulfill Christ’s call on our lives in isolation. We must cultivate community and find people to partner with us if we want to fulfill our life purpose.
When you set up a recurring gift to our organization, it tells us that you are invested in the mission and vision of Living by Design.
Your commitment to give consistently provides stability and strength for Christian organizations.
At our annual board meeting, we present three versions of our budget to board members: 1) what we will do if we are fully funded, 2) what we will do if we meet our fundraising goals, and 3) the bare minimum required to keep our ministry running.
Budget option #3 never exceeds the total of our monthly recurring gifts—because they are the safety net we depend on to “keep the lights on.”
Your commitment to give consistently provides stability and strength for Christian organizations.
#2 – Recurring Gifts Allow Donors to Plan and Prioritize Giving
“Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10 HCSB
The Bible teaches us to give God the first fruits of our lives. He is our priority, and we should give Him the best portion of our time, talents, and treasures.
An important aspect of the Christian life is determining how we will use our gifts for God’s glory.
Whether or not God has put you in a position of financial need or abundance, you have a responsibility to use your resources wisely.
Setting up recurring gifts to the organizations you believe in is a fantastic way to prioritize giving.
It’s a commitment to give consistently—a promise to give generously—even though life is filled with uncertainty.
My husband and I have set up monthly recurring gifts for every ministry we support.
We do this because our giving budget is just as important as our mortgage payment or cell phone bill. If we don’t budget for it at the beginning of the month, nothing will be left for it at the end of the month.
We believe that it is our responsibility to honor God with all our finances, and automatic recurring gifts help us do that every single month.
Setting up recurring gifts to the organizations you believe in is a fantastic way to prioritize giving.
#3 – Recurring Donors Develop Stronger Ties to the Ministries They Support
“Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 HCSB
Consistent giving cultivates a sense of community as we co-labor together for the gospel.
Many organizations have special benefits reserved for their recurring donors. At Living by Design Ministries, we offer three incredible perks for our monthly donors:
- Monthly Video Updates: Every single month, I sit down and record a personal video update for our monthly donors. I share my real-life struggles, challenges, and victories in these videos. I do this because I view our recurring donors as true ministry partners who deserve to know what’s happening behind the scenes.
- Early Access to Bible Studies: Our monthly donors are the first to see our Bible studies, usually months before the general public. They also have access to printable PDF versions of all our existing studies through our private Facebook group.
- Giving by Design Program: We donate a minimum of 10% of our monthly recurring gifts to Bible literacy projects worldwide. As a monthly donor, you have the joy of knowing that a portion of your donation funds this incredible program.
We lovingly refer to our monthly donors as our “Discipleship Team.”
We prayed over this designation for a long time, and it accurately reflects how we feel about this special group of supporters.
This isn’t just a financial partnership—it’s a group of like-minded believers who are personally invested in helping disciple Christians through Living by Design.
Many organizations have special benefits reserved for their recurring donors.
#4 – Recurring Gifts Increase Donors’ Dependency on God
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand.” 1 Chronicles 29:14 HCSB
Half of our monthly donors give just $10 a month to Living by Design.
For some, this is a small sacrifice—an easy decision. It’s giving up one fast-food meal to invest in a ministry they believe in.
But, because our primary audience cannot afford to pay for Bible study materials—this $10-a-month commitment is a tremendous sacrifice for many Discipleship Team members.
I am continually amazed by the people God calls to support Living by Design Ministries.
Widows.
Retirees.
Missionaries.
These people give, not because they have money to spare, but because they believe God keeps His promises.
Everything we have comes from the Lord! Are we willing to open our hands and give it all back to Him?
When we do, we experience the true freedom and joy of trusting God!
Everything we have comes from the Lord! Are we willing to open our hands and give it all back to Him?
#5 – Recurring Gifts Allow Donors to Enjoy the Blessings of Ministry
“Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do.” Deuteronomy 15:10 HCSB
I want our recurring donors to rejoice and share in the blessings of this ministry.
Every time I communicate with our Discipleship Team, I try to share at least one story I’ve received from our Bible study participants. Here are just a few of the encouraging testimonials I’ve received:
I have been highly blessed to have found Living by Design Ministries. I have completed each Bible study offered; I love the fact that the studies and resources are free. I would not be able to join them otherwise. -Marion from New York
These Bible studies have been of great help to me. I’m able to study at anytime, any place, at my own pace. They’ve helped me grow in the knowledge of Jesus and faith. I am thankful their Bible studies are easy to study and comprehend. – Evelitza from Puerto Rico
Thank you for your wonderful messages. I live in the Ivory Coast. I am here on assignment with my husband and two kids. Your newsletter is my bridge with the Lord. – Michelle from West Africa
I am in awe of God for leading me to your website at the perfect time in my life. I am a full-time missionary to international students, in love with my Savior and His Word. This is just what I’ve been searching for! – Erin from Ohio
It is incredibly hard to find such a rich, thought-provoking Bible study that is actually biblically accurate. I can not believe something so amazing is free! Thank you so much not only for all of the time and effort you put into it but also for loving our Lord so much that worldly gain is less important to you than seeing others grow in their walk with God. I am excited to do all of your other studies! – Tabitha, Missionary in Germany
This ministry exists because people like you believe in what we are doing and act on that belief.
This ministry exists because people like you believe in what we are doing and act on that belief.
Set Up a New Recurring Gift to Living by Design
Recurring giving strengthens the global church because it cultivates the kingdom, creates community, encourages consistency, and stimulates spiritual growth.
If you have felt the Holy Spirit nudging you to partner with us by making a monthly commitment to our free Bible Study ministry, please take a few minutes right now to set up your recurring gift.
If just 10% of our readers donated $10 per month to this ministry, 100% of our financial needs would be met.
Whether you have much to spare or little to give, setting up a recurring gift is a simple way to step out in faith and see what God has in store for you.
