We serve God and respond to His call as we pray, teach, and care for those in need.  We also serve and honor Him as we give from the financial resources He has given to us.  

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

How can I donate to the church?  There are several ways to give at Grace:

1.       If I make a contribution in early January, can I claim it on the previous year's taxes?  Your church contribution statement will only include contributions for the year in which they are received. 

2.       If I mail my contribution in December  of this year, but it doesn’t reach the church until January of next year, for which tax year can it be claimed?  Your church contribution statement will include checks that were mailed in the year the check is mailed (and postmarked), even if it is received early in the next year.

4.       In regards to retreats such as Journey, Guys & Girls Retreat, Women of Grace Spring Retreat- are the payments I make to attend the retreat deductible?  Your church contribution statement will only include contributions that exceed the value of benefits received  (lodging, instructions, materials).  The fees for the items listed above do not exceed the value of the benefits and will not be included on your contribution statement.

5.       I designated my contribution to the church Benevolence Fund.  Is it deductible?  Benevolence is an approved designated fund for 2012 and 2013.  Contributions to the Benevolence Fund will be reported on your contribution statement (as with any contribution, we can only include items in the contribution statement where we have a record of your giving - offering envelope, check, etc.)

6.       Which church funds can I designate contributions to in 2012 and 2013?  There are currently 4 church funds to designate your contributions to.  They are: General Budget, Building Fund, Missions and Benevolence. 

7.       If there are any discrepancies in your annual statement, please contact Lisa Glidwell (Grace Baptist Church Financial Secretary) at 703-670-5032 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Any correction requests must be reported to the Financial Secretary no later than April 15 of the current year for the donations & contributions made from 1 January thru 31 December of the previous year being filed for.  After April 15, no further adjustments can be made for the previous or subsequent years.

At Grace Baptist, we see our purpose as a church to help fulfill the Great Commission.  We believe God uses us to do this as we seek to Transform, Equip and Send those to who we minister and serve.  Because our church has many m ilitary and government families who are transferred to our area for only a few years, we want to celebrate sending them out to their new assignments and other who leave to new locations.  Once way we do this is with a "Commissioning" to send them out for ministry and service.  At the Commissioning Cerenomy, we present coins like these:

 

 

 

 

and we use these words to recognize and commission our departing families:

 

From earliest church history, servants have been “commissioned” for ministry. This charge gave them authority to act for another.  Jesus commissioned His disciples with these words:  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

In the United States Military, “commissioning” is the act of placing an officer or a warship into active duty.  We use this commissioning ceremony to mark the charge of a servant of Christ with the mission of sharing God’s grace apart from Grace Baptist Church and continuing in service to Christ elsewhere.

 

Please accept these coins as tokens of our appreciation for your service here at Grace and our charge for you to step out in faith all the days of your life wherever God takes you, always remembering 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ”.