First Presbyterian Church Fort Dodge

Earlier this year, the Valley Male Chorus of Rock Valley, offered an amazing concert in our sanctuary. I had never heard them perform before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I was blown away at the talent and dedication of the entire group.

At the end of the concert, they offered a chance for those in attendance to give a freewill donation in support of the Hope Haven ministry. I was eager to give – as a way of saying ‘thanks’ to the group and supporting a wonderful ministry. Guess how much money I gave: Nothing.

As I reached into my wallet, I realized I had no cash, and I most certainly didn’t have my checkbook with me. Now, fortunately, Sara had given some money on our family’s behalf, so my conscience is clear!

That night, as I sat in the pew, I realized that my experience was not unique. There are numerous occasions where we feel compelled to contribute to a worthy cause, but we just aren’t able to do so at that moment.

Our stewardship ministry team has been doing some very exciting work this year, and we are just about ready to show it to you. Soon, we’ll be set up so that you can participate in the ministry of our church through giving in any way that works for you.

You’ll be able to give online from our new website, www.fpcfd.org, on your smart phone through a mobile app, through texting on any cell phone, through direct deposit, or through cash and checks. These will all be secure, simple, and safe ways to give. We’ll be giving demonstrations and tutorials as we launch these new programs.

Our giving is an act of worship. The stewardship ministry team deeply appreciates this and in no way seeks to diminish that central element of giving. Rather, we seek to make this act of worship as available as possible for people who come from a variety of financial and technological backgrounds. We are simply creating as many options as possible for people to financially contribute to the ministry of our church.

So in the coming months, be on the lookout for these new opportunities to give. In addition, if you haven’t done so yet, check out our new website at www.fpcfd.org. It’s still under construction, but we are thrilled about the new ways we can connect with one another. Please spread the word about both of these exciting new tools.

--Blessings, Austin D. Hill