Giving to Christ at Christmas
Every Christmas it is our mission as a church to honor the gift God gave us in the Christ child through our annual Giving to Christ at Christmas offering.
We have the opportunity to go above and beyond our normal giving to give our first and best gift to Christ Himself at Christmas.
Below is a letter from Senior Pastor Jim White which he calls, "one of the most important letters I write every year." We hope you'll take the time to read it and consider partnering with us as the money is used strategically for the extension of His mission on Earth through the ministry and missions efforts at Meck.
MecKidz, Meck's Children's Ministry, has created a kid-friendly version of this as well so you can even get your children involved to help teach them about this effort as well.
Here are the ways that you can participate:
- Click HERE to give online.
- You can text-to-give by texting GTCAC24 followed by your dollar amount to 1-463-888-6325.
- You can give by check, made payable to Mecklenburg Community Church, and designating "Giving to Christ at Christmas" on the memo line. This check can be mailed into the church.
A LETTER FROM OUR SENIOR PASTOR
Friends:
The Christmas season is upon us, and I am writing to ask if you and your family are willing to be a part of something that will be one of the most important investments you can make around the holidays: to give to Christ at Christmas. And this year’s investment is going to be vitally important to so many people.
I know that you are so busy, but would you please pause for just a moment to read this letter all the way through?
Since 1994, Mecklenburg Community Church has made it our mission to honor the gift God gave us in the birth of Jesus by beginning our gift giving at Christmas with a gift to Him. This simple idea has become what is known as our annual “Giving to Christ at Christmas” gift.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
The idea sparked when I saw a cartoon (pictured here) in the paper during the busyness of the holiday season and thought, “Wow… that’s what giving to Christ at Christmas really is all about.” Since that day, Meck comes together as a church to give the most generous gift we can—above and beyond our normal giving—as a direct gift to Christ Himself at Christmas to celebrate His birthday. The money is then used strategically for the work of His mission on Earth.
In past years, the gifts given through Giving to Christ at Christmas have allowed Meck to help rebuild orphanages and churches, supply relief to hurricane and earthquake survivors in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, provide safe houses for children rescued from human trafficking, and help those in need in our city. Giving to Christ at Christmas has also provided ongoing, strategic support to the building, development and payment for our online and in-person campuses, freeing up our annual budget to serve the daily needs of ministry and outreach to thousands of families in our community.
THIS YEAR'S GIFT
Every year, we turn to God for leadership and guidance as to where this gift should be invested. Here are the strategic areas where we feel God is calling us to serve, and where Giving to Christ at Christmas gifts will be used:
Meck strives to make a difference in the lives of people most of us will never encounter, but who count on us so much for support. With ongoing rising inflation and economic difficulties around the globe, our partners’ needs are significant. Your gift will be used to support some of these amazing ministries around the world: the children of the Puerta del Cielo orphanage in Argentina; families cared for at medical clinics across Guatemala; children who have been rescued from the brothels in the Philippines; a ministry in Southeast Asia facing intense persecution; the homeless and those in extreme poverty in Jamaica; those working in ministry in Bulgaria to share with students the difference a relationship with Jesus can make for their lives. Additionally, your gift will be strategically used in ways we cannot even foresee yet to serve future partners or others in need of our aid.
While it’s important to serve the needs of those around the world, we feel it is equally important to serve organizations and ministries in our own backyard. Your gift will provide ongoing support for relief to the working poor, children of the poor and elderly through organizations such as Crisis Assistance Ministry and Second Harvest Food Bank. It will allow us to build homes through Habitat for Humanity, to care for the needs of homeless children and adults through Hope Vibes, to provide affordable housing through Supportive Housing Communities and to help support foster families.
Finally, as in years past, your gift will support the heart of our mission, which is to reach those who are far from Christ. A strategic investment will be made toward the ongoing needs of our physical and online campuses as we continue to grow and fulfill Christ’s mission to the world through Meck.
So once again, this Christmas, let’s give to Christ. We depend on this annual gift to serve so many people and partners, so I am asking you to please give the most generous gift you can. To give online, you can do so on this page. This is the easiest way to give. For those who prefer to give by check, please make it payable to Mecklenburg Community Church and put “GTCAC” on the memo line. You can either bring your gift with you to the Christmas at Meck service you plan to attend or simply drop it in the mail.
I realize that you are being absolutely bombarded with requests to give to so many causes during the holidays. Many might be worthy, but most will not truly represent giving to Christ—and that’s what Christmas is all about. This is why Susan and I have made the annual commitment to have our biggest and best Christmas gift go to Christ through this effort.
ONE FINAL THOUGHT
Whatever you do, please make sure your support for this effort is above and beyond your regular level of giving to Meck. The Giving to Christ at Christmas effort is meant to be a special, one-time gift in response to God’s gift to us. The church’s regular budget needs will be as present in December as any other month and need our continued support and faithfulness.
Thanks so much for reading this letter. And thank you in advance for what I know you’ll pray about and eventually give as God leads. It is a joy and a privilege to be your pastor and to partner to do such incredible things as this.
In Christ,
